Jofra Archer, the fiery speedster for Rajasthan Royals (RR), found himself in the spotlight for an unexpected reason during the IPL 2025 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Chandigarh. While Archer later showcased his raw pace by dismantling Priyansh Arya and PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer in his opening over, it was a viral image of him catching some shut-eye during RR’s batting innings that stole the internet’s attention.
This season has been a rollercoaster for Archer. After a rocky start where he leaked 109 runs without a wicket in his first two games, including a record-breaking 76-run spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the English pacer bounced back in style. His spell against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was a masterclass, conceding just 13 runs in three overs and claiming a crucial wicket. Today, against PBKS, Archer carried that momentum, delivering a fiery start with two wickets in his first three overs while giving away only 20 runs.
Rajasthan Royals Post a Commanding 205/4 Against PBKS
Earlier in the match, RR set a formidable target of 205/4, thanks to a blistering start by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. The duo stitched together an 89-run partnership in just 62 balls, setting the tone for the innings. Samson’s 38 off 26 balls at a strike rate of 146.15 was followed by Riyan Parag’s steady contribution, adding 34 runs alongside Jaiswal. However, it was Lockie Ferguson’s clever slower ball at 120.6 kph that ended Jaiswal’s innings, rattling the stumps.
Nitish Rana’s brief cameo of 12 off seven balls was overshadowed by Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag’s explosive 47-run partnership off just 25 balls, propelling RR past the 200-run mark. Dhruv Jurel’s late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 13 off five balls at a staggering strike rate of 260, ensured RR finished on a high.
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