IPL 2024, Match 65: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Match Preview

PBKS & RR. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is set to host its first match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Wednesday, May 15, as Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to take on Punjab Kings (PBKS).

The Royals started their campaign with seven wins out of their first eight matches. However, they have lost three matches on the trot and will be desperate to end their losing streak and book their place in the IPL 2024 Playoffs.

Skipper Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag have been the star performers with the bat for the inaugural champions. The wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 486 runs at an average of 60.75 from 12 innings and boasts a strike rate of 158.31. Meanwhile, Parag has smashed 483 runs from 11 innings at an average of 60.38 and a strike rate of 153.82. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal has had a forgettable campaign and will want some runs under his belt ahead of the playoffs.

On the bowling front, Yuzvendra Chahal, who had a fantastic start to the season, has experienced a flabbergasting dip in form all of late. He hasn’t picked more than one wicket in any of the last seven games. In his first five games, he had picked up 10 wickets but has only scalped five in the next seven. Trent Boult hasn’t been able to pick wickets with the new ball in the last three games and that hasn’t helped Rajasthan’s cause.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Schedule

Meanwhile, Punjab have already been eliminated from the competition and are currently languishing at the bottom of the table. They have managed to win just four out of their 12 matches and lost eight. Sam Curran and Co. would want to move up from the foot of the table with a win on Wednesday.

Apart from Shashank Singh, no other PBKS batter has been consistent in IPL 2024. The right-hander has scored 352 runs from 12 matches at an average of 58.67 and a strike rate of 168.42. Rilee Rossouw scored a scintillating half-century in the last game and would want to build on it. Punjab fans would have had a lot of hopes pinned on Jitesh Sharma but the 30-year-old has had an abysmal season with the bat, averaging just 13.30.

In the bowling department, Harshal Patel is the joint-highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets from 12 matches at an average of 20. However, his economy rate is a high 9.76. Arshdeep Singh has picked up 16 wickets at 27.31 from 12 games but has conceded runs at 10.32 per over.

Rajasthan and Punjab played a low-scoring thriller earlier this season in Chandigarh. The former champions chased down a 148-run target with three wickets and one ball to spare. Fans have witnessed some thrilling contests in recent years when these two teams have squared off. Another mouth-watering contest can be expected on Wednesday.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Points Table

Barsapara Cricket Stadium Pitch Report and Conditions

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has produced some fantastic batting pitches, especially in recent years. Two IPL matches have been played at this ground and the average first innings total is 198. Meanwhile, the average second innings total is 167. Both games were won by teams batting first. Also, four T20Is have been played at this venue. Two of them have been won by chasing teams, while one team has been able to emerge victorious after batting first. One game ended without a result. The average first innings in T20Is is 192, and it drops down to 189 in the second innings. There is a 40% chance of rain in the afternoon, but it should clear up ahead of the game.

Check Here: RR vs PBKS Live Score, Match 65

RR vs PBKS Probable Playing XI

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Jos Buttler has left for the Royals camp to reunite with his national teammates as England prepare for a T20I series against Pakistan. While this will be a huge miss for the Rajasthan-based franchise, they can slot in the destructive Tom Kohler-Cadmore and back him to give good starts alongside Yashasvi. Rovman Powell could return to the playing combination after missing the last game.

Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Player: Sandeep Sharma

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab will be without the services of Liam Livingstone. The England all-rounder has returned home after suffering a knee injury. The Kings could hand a debut to the experienced Chris Woakes in place of Livingstone. Guwahati is a high-scoring venue, and adding the English pacer will give Punjab more depth in their bowling resources.

Predicted XI: Jonny Bairstow (WK), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sam Curran (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Chris Woakes, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Player: Vidhwath Kaverappa

RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record