Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns in the 65th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Wednesday, May 15, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. This match is extremely important for RR, especially considering their current position in the points table.
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Rajasthan Royals are captained by Sanju Samson, and have performed brilliantly for the majority of the season. RR has won eight of its first nine matches. However, they have faced consecutive defeats in the recent three matches, leaving them with 16 points from 12 matches and are placed second in the points table.
2008 champions RR will have to win both their remaining matches to retain the top two spots and get an extra chance to qualify for the finals.
On the other hand, this season of Punjab Kings has also been disappointing. The absence of team captain Shikhar Dhawan has further increased their problems. Under Sam Curran, Punjab have won only two of their last seven matches. PBKS have just eight points with four wins from 12 matches and are last on the points table. 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings will be looking to finish the season on a good note by winning their remaining two matches.
Rajasthan Royals have won 16 of the last 27 matches between RR and PBKS. Furthermore, RR have won six of the last eight encounters, making them clear favorites in the upcoming encounter.
RR will miss their star opening batsman Jos Buttler, who has gone back to England for the T20 series against Pakistan. Tom Kohler Cadmore is likely to replace him. PBKS, on the other hand, will be without Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada, who have both returned home ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Shashank Singh, who was injured in the last game against RCB, is also fit to play again now.
Expert Opinion & Match Prediction
High-scoring encounters are expected despite the long boundaries on the Guwahati pitch. The average first innings score in the last four T20 matches has been slightly above 213. Dew is also likely to play its part during the game, with the captain winning the toss opting to bowl first. This has been a tradition in the tournament so far.
This match between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings can be very exciting for the audience. This match is extremely important for RR as they have to win to remain in the top two. PBKS, on the other hand, will look to end their campaign on a good note. Looking at the conditions of both the teams, this match is expected to be very exciting and competitive.
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