Punjab Kings (PBKS) let go of their entire team, barring two players, ahead of the mega-auction last year. For a team that has rarely seen any success in the league in the last ten years, this punt was, if anything, very much expected. What was not expected was how this gamble would shape up for them. There were what-ifs, of course. What would happen if the newly roped-in players failed to storm amidst the big guys in a similar fashion? But so far, such worries have not found their way to PBKS’ camp, as the team very worry-freely stands at the top of the table with two wins in two games.
Of course, they would need something bigger than just two wins to erase the years of sloppiness that have become synonymous with them. Against RR, they have the third-worst win-to-loss ratio of all their opponents (min. games: 6). But it would be better not to take any notes from Punjab’s history, especially when they have already disowned and grown out of it.
Rajasthan Royals, though, would need a miracle to win this game by hook or by crook. They only have one win in four games and currently occupy the second-worst place. It’s a test—a difficult one, no less. They have conceded the highest total in the IPL this year. But they have fought back in all of their fixtures, though results don’t capture that. Will they, this once, be able to get over the line, especially when the odds are so very against them?
Team Overview:
Rajasthan Royals get their original captain, Sanju Samson, back after he was cleared to keep wickets. Royals would hope this gives them the much-needed moral boost. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s pedestrian opening to the season so far has hurt them, and so has their batting depth, which slots Wanindu Hasaranga as early as No. 6. Add to that the lack of an Indian spinner in their bowling lineup, which is already very shaky.
PBKS, on the contrary, do not have any such issues with their batting lineup. Shreyas Iyer’s presence in a top order with less experienced batters gives PBKS the right amount of stability. The middle order is full of firepower, but that power has not yet been used in full, due to the strong top order that hardly leaves pieces to be picked up by the middle order. At this point, the only weak link in their team could be the bowling lineup—which is only weak by PBKS’ standards and is generally a decent enough attack to play havoc with opponents, which they will very often do this season.
Head-to-Head Matches:
RR have managed 16 wins over PBKS in 28 matches, while PBKS got over the line in 12 games.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Mullanpur is not a fan of rolling out red carpet for batsmen. Long boundaries, a tricky pitch, and the frequent bounce on offer make stroke-making a tough nut to crack here. Batting teams will need to keep rotating the strike and suppress the urge to go big here, especially in the early overs. While the city sears in the upper 30s during the day, the evening are comparatively cooler and could bring some dew into the pictre as well. One can expect the spinners to do well early on, and pacers to better when the ball starts skidding.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
Pakistan: Tapmad
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
