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PBKS Win, Gill Sudharsan Show And Powell’s Replacement – May 18 Cricket Highlights

Aakash Saini

Punjab Kings players and Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan [Source: @IPL/x]Punjab Kings players and Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan [Source: @IPL/x]

Gujarat Titans flattened Delhi Capitals in Delhi to regain their number one spot on the IPL 2025 points table. Punjab Kings survived Rajasthan Royals’ early onslaught in a high-scoring Jaipur thriller. In other news, the KKR franchise has roped in uncapped Indian spinner as a replacement for West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Sunday, May 18.

Harpreet-Starrer Punjab Kings Outclass Rajasthan

Punjab Kings trumped Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in match 59 of the IPL 2025 season in Jaipur. Batting first, Kings charted 219-5 from 20 overs after winning the toss. Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh smeared sizzling half-centuries to overcome Punjab Kings’ top-order setback against Tushar Deshpande (2-37) and Kwena Maphaka (1-32).

Chasing 220, Rajasthan Royals raced to 76-0 in just five overs, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi tonking 40 from just 15 deliveries. Yashasvi Jaiswal also slapped a 25-ball half-century while Dhruv Jurel top-scored with 53 off 31 balls. As it turned out, a fighting three-wicket haul from Harpreet Brar (3-22), and two wickets each from Marco Jansen and Azmatullah Omarzai restricted the Royals to just 209-7.

Shubman Gill, Sudharsan Run Riot Over Capitals

Gujarat Titans regained their number one spot on the IPL 2025 points table by pulverising Delhi Capitals with a 10-wicket margin in Delhi. KL Rahul shaped 112* regal runs for the hosts from 65 balls to take them to 199-3 from 20 overs.

In response, Titans opener Sai Sudharsan bludgeoned 108* off just 61 balls and shared an unbroken 205-run partnership with fellow half-centurion Shubman Gill (93* off 53). Romping Gujarat Titans to a victory in just 19 overs, both cricketers also soared past the 600-run mark this season, becoming the first set of batters to breach the landmark figure.

Sudharsan Snatches Away The Orange Cap From Jaiswal

Sai Sudharsan became the first player of the IPL 2025 season to scale the 600-run mark. The elegant opener smoked a 61-ball 108* against Delhi Capitals to claim the coveted ‘Orange Cap’ from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who himself had secured the same from Suryakumar Yadav earlier in the day.

Sudharsan’s opening partner Shubman Gill became the second highest run-maker of the season, and also the second to breach 600 runs. While Sudharsan’s tally currently stands at 617 runs, he is followed by his captain at 601 runs, both taking 12 innings each.

Shubman Gill Becomes 2nd Fastest Indian To 5,000 T20 Runs

Shubman Gill compiled 93 unbeaten runs from just 53 balls against Delhi Capitals. Through the course of his run-chase masterclass, the senior opening batter completed 5,000 runs in T20 cricket, achieving the feat in just 154 innings.

In doing so, Gill went past Virat Kohli to become the second fastest Indian batter to complete 5,000 T20 runs. KL Rahul, with 143 innings, continues to remain the fastest Indian cricketer in history to breach the landmark figure.

KKR Name Powell’s Replacement For Remainder Of IPL 2025

The KKR franchise has roped in Madhya Pradesh leg-spinner Shivam Shukla as a replacement for West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. It is worth noting that Powell did not return to India upon IPL resumption.

Shukla, aged 29, is yet to play a single IPL match in his career. In eight T20 matches for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket, the leg-spinner has picked up eight wickets at an impressive average of 23.62. Furthermore, Shukla holds an exceptional economy of just 6.30.