In a gripping encounter at Guwahati, Punjab Kings emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals with a hard-fought five-wicket win. The skipper, Sam Curran, played a pivotal role in Punjab’s successful chase, showcasing composure with an unbeaten 63 runs, well-supported by Jitesh Sharma’s contribution of 22.

Sam Curran leads from the front with a match-winning knock for Punjab

Despite facing early setbacks, including the dismissals of openers Prabhsimran Singh and Jonny Bairstow, Punjab’s chase on a challenging pitch was anchored by Curran’s determined innings. Rajasthan Royals, batting first, struggled to build momentum, managing only 144 runs despite efforts from Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin to revive the innings with a 50-run partnership. Avesh Khan’s early breakthroughs and the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ashwin kept Punjab’s chase in check, reducing them to 49/4 initially.

Avesh Khan and spin duo restrict Rajasthan Royals

However, Curran’s leadership and match-winning knock guided Punjab to victory with 1.1 overs to spare, reflecting his pre-match determination to play with pride. Despite glimpses of brilliance from Parag and Ashwin, Rajasthan’s inconsistent batting ultimately led to their defeat.

See Also: SRH set to continue playoff chase after extended break in IPL 2024

This crucial win for Punjab Kings keeps their hopes alive in the tournament as they continue to push for a playoff berth.

RR vs PBKS Match Preview

The 65th match of the IPL 2024 will feature the Rajasthan Royals taking on the Punjab Kings. The game will be held at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium and will begin at 7:30 PM IST on May 15. The two teams are positioned at opposite ends of the points table. The Rajasthan Royals are second with 16 points, while PBKS has been eliminated after losing eight of their twelve games. This is a critical match for RR because a win will secure a spot in Qualifier 1, where the winner will advance to the final and the loser will have another chance in the Eliminator.

RR vs PBKS Match Details

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings – 65th Match

Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium – Guwahati

Date & Time: 15th April 2024 at 07:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Jio Cinema

RR vs PBKS Venue Stats

RR vs PBKS Pitch Report

The pitch at the Barsapara Stadium is generally flat and ideal for scoring runs. However, the new ball may move slightly, allowing spinners to gain grip and turn in the second innings. A score of 180 could be considered average here.

RR vs PBKS Weather Report

It will be a humid evening with temperatures hovering in the high 30s. The humidity will be 62%, and the wind speed will be 10 kilometers per hour. There is a 10% chance of rain.

RR vs PBKS Last Five Matches

RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

Also Read: Watch: KL Rahul’s incredible juggling catch against DC

RR vs PBKS Probable Playing XIs:

Punjab Kings Probable Playing XIs

Jonny Bairstow (wk), Shikhar Dhawan (C), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran, Ashutosh Sharma, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa

Rajasthan Royals Probable Playing XIs

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tanush Kotian, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Topmost Picks for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Punjab Kings

• Shikhar Dhawan – Shikhar Dhawan would be raring to make an impact after missing most of PBKS’ matches this season due to injury.
• Harshal Patel –  Harshal Patel might leak a few runs but almost always gets important wickets for the team. With 20 wickets in 12 games, he is the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament along with Jasprit Bumrah.

Top Picks – Rajasthan Royals

• Riyan Parag – Riyan Parag scored 47 on a tough Chepauk surface against CSK. Parag has been on fire in IPL and played a massive role in Royals juggernaut this season, scoring 483 runs.
• Sandeep Sharma – Sandeep Sharma has got the ball to swing both ways and picked clutch wickets with the new ball, something he would be expected to do against PBKS. Overall, he has taken 10 wickets in seven games so far.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson(C), Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sam Curran(VC), Riyan Parag, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Sanju Samson, Jonny Bairstow(VC), Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal(C), Sam Curran, Riyan Parag, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson

Vice-captain – Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow

Wicketkeeper – Sanju Samson

RR vs PBKS Probable Winners:

There is a significant difference in quality between the two teams, with the Rajasthan Royals looking a little too strong for PBKS to win. Despite losing their previous three games, the Royals are well-positioned to win against PBKS. Considering the team combination, Rajasthan Royals is expected to win this match.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has been a spectacle of cricketing prowess, showcasing thrilling matches and standout performances. As we progress through the season, the battles for the coveted Orange and Purple caps heat up, with players pushing their limits to climb the leaderboards.

Orange Cap Holder in IPL 2024

Virat Kohli, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, has emerged as the front-runner with a remarkable total of 319 runs. His strategic approach and formidable batting have been key to his success. Following closely are Riyan Parag Riyan Parag of Rajasthan Royals scored 23 runs off 18 balls and is on the second spot with 284 runs in IPL 2024.

See Also: Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by 3 wickets; Points Table updated

Sanju Samson scored 18 runs, taking his tally to 264 runs, jumping to the 3rd spot now. Shubhman Gill took his overall tally to 255 runs in IPL 2024 but drops to 4th spot in the Orange Cap Holder List. Sai Sudarshan scored 35 runs off 29 balls and holds the fifth spot with 226 runs.

Most Runs in IPL 2024

Purple Cap Holder in IPL 2024

Yuzvendra Chahal of the Rajasthan Royals has claimed the top spot with 11 wickets. His precision and tactical acumen have been crucial for his team. Chahal’s journey to reclaim the Purple Cap is a testament to his resilience and expertise. His performances have been a blend of artistry and execution.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman are close behind, with their eyes set on the cap. Their next few matches are critical to their chances. Jasprit Bumrah is second with 10 wickets, Mustafizur Rahman is third with 9 wickets, and Khaleel Ahmed is fourth with 9 wickets. Kagiso Rabada took 2 wickets and jumps to the 5th spot now.

Most Wickets in IPL 2024

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a nail-biting victory against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a closely contested match on April 13, 2024, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. This intense battle, part of the Indian Premier League’s 2024 season, saw the Royals overcoming a modest target in a dramatic fashion, marking their fifth win of the season.

Match Summary

Facing a target of just 148 runs, the Rajasthan Royals managed a tense finish, securing victory by 3 wickets in the penultimate over of the match. Shimron Hetmyer emerged as the hero for RR, delivering a rapid 27 runs off 10 balls to steer his team to success.

See Also: Watch: Sanju Samson’s spectacular no look runout dismisses Liam Livingstone

Rajasthan Royals Performance

The Royals’ chase began solidly with openers Tanush Kotian and Yashasvi Jaiswal putting up a 56-run stand over 50 deliveries, setting a strong foundation for the innings. However, the dismissal of Kotian for 24 by Liam Livingstone sparked a sudden collapse. Subsequent batters, including the captain Sanju Samson, struggled to build on the early momentum, falling to precise bowling attacks from the Punjab Kings. Subsequently, captain Samson joined Jaiswal in the middle and the duo forged RR’s second partnership, contributing 26 runs off 20 balls before Kagiso Rabada claimed Jaiswal’s wicket in the 12th over. Harshal Patel, stationed at third man, took the catch to conclude Jaiswal’s innings at 39 runs off 28 balls.

RR encountered another setback when skipper Samson fell victim to a Sam Curran delivery in the 14th over, dismissed via LBW after adding 18 runs off 14 balls to RR’s total. With 49 runs required from the final 30 deliveries, the responsibility rested on the shoulders of wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag. Parag departed the field having contributed 23 runs from 18 deliveries.

Shimron Hetmyer Heroics

As the pressure mounted with 35 runs required off just 20 balls, Shimron Hetmyer entered the fray, narrowly escaping a dismissal following a caught-behind review. However, in the 18th over, his partnership with Jurel was broken as Shashank Singh held onto a catch off a delivery from Harshal Patel, ending Jurel’s innings at just 6 runs (off 11 balls)

Hetmyer slammed a boundary on the penultimate ball of the 18th over and followed it up with a maximum. Powell kicked off the next over with two consecutive boundaries. However, his aggressive stint was short-lived as Sam Curran dismissed him on the very next delivery after Powell had accumulated 11 runs from just 5 balls.

Two balls later, Curran claimed his second wicket by dismissing Keshav Maharaj. However, RR had the last laugh as Hetmyer slammed a maximum to seal a 3-wicket win for the visitors. The West Indies batter remained unbeaten at 27.

Ashutosh Sharma Heroics For PBKS

For Punjab, Ashutosh Sharma’s late-innings fireworks were vital, adding a respectable total to the scoreboard and setting a challenging target under tough conditions. Earlier, Ashutosh Sharma gave yet another exhibition of his incredible ball-striking ability in the death overs by making a 16-ball 31 to propel Punjab Kings to a respectable 147/8. For RR, Keshav Maharaj took 2-23 in an impressive middle-overs spell while Avesh Khan also had two scalps to his name. Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Kuldeep Sen took a wicket each in a disciplined bowling performance for RR.

Points Table IPL 2024 after match 27

In the IPL 2024 season, Sanju Samson has not only continued to impress with his batting but has also turned heads with his exceptional skills behind the stumps. His recent performance against Punjab Kings, where he ensured Liam Livingstone’s runout, highlighted a pivotal moment not just for the Rajasthan Royals but for Samson’s career as a standout wicketkeeper.

The Signature Runout Against Punjab Kings

In a critical match moment, Samson executed a stunning run-out of Liam Livingstone, who was looking dangerous at 21 off 14 balls. The throw from debutant Tanush Kotian was off target, but Samson’s agility and presence of mind turned it into a match-defining moment, keeping Punjab under 150 runs.

See Also: IPL 2024: Mitchell Marsh returns to Australia after hamstring injury, check latest report

Evolution of His Wicket-keeping

Traditionally not viewed as an exceptional wicketkeeper, Samson has dramatically shifted this perception in IPL 2024. With five dismissals to his name already, including a standout runout that could be dubbed a “Dhoni-esque” moment, he has redefined his role in the team.

Samson’s Batting Brilliance

This year, Samson has averaged an impressive 82 at a strike rate of 157, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer so far. His consistent performance marks a significant upturn compared to previous seasons, where flashes of brilliance were often overshadowed by inconsistency.

Samson’s Technique and Training

Samson’s improvement is a testament to his rigorous training regime and the technological inputs from coaching staff. Special emphasis on agility drills and reflex training has enhanced his ability to execute quick stumpings and runouts.

Impact on Rajasthan Royals’ Strategy

Samson’s form and skills have allowed the Rajasthan Royals to strategize more aggressively, knowing they have both a reliable batsman and a sharp wicketkeeper. His role as a pivotal player in crunch situations has solidified this season.

Comparison with Legendary Wicket-keepers

While comparisons with MS Dhoni might be premature, Samson’s recent exploits hint at a potential to reach similar heights. His calm demeanor and sharp reflexes echo the qualities seen in legendary figures like Dhoni.

The Punjab Kings faced an unexpected turn of events just before their crucial IPL match against the Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. Regular captain Shikhar Dhawan was notably absent during the pre-match formalities.

Toss Update: Rajasthan Royals win the toss and elect to bowl against Punjab Kings.

Details of the Toss

In a surprising development, all-rounder Sam Curran represented Punjab Kings at the toss, standing opposite Rajasthan Royals’ captain Sanju Samson. The Royals won the toss and elected to field first, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter.

See Also: Nepal’s Airee achieves another historic feat, joins Yuvraj and Pollard’s elite list

Reason Behind Dhawan’s Absence

Addressing the curious spectators and commentators, Sam Curran disclosed that Shikhar Dhawan had sustained a minor injury, which sidelined him for the game. “Shikhar picked up a niggle, that’s why I’m here,” explained Curran during the toss interview.

Impact on Team Strategy

The absence of Dhawan prompted several adjustments within the PBKS lineup. “We would have bowled first as well, but now we need to focus on putting a competitive score on the board,” Curran remarked. The team saw Atharva Taide stepping in for Dhawan, with Liam Livingstone making a return, enhancing the team’s batting depth.

Rajasthan Royals Team Composition

Rajasthan Royals were not without their challenges. Captain Sanju Samson revealed that key players Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin were also sidelined due to health issues. Jos (Buttler) isn’t 100% fit and R Ashwin is having a niggle. Their spots were filled by Rovman Powell and Tanush Kotian, aiming to maintain the team’s competitive edge.

Game Strategy

Samson expressed a clear focus on process over outcome. “Our goal is to focus on the process, despite the challenges posed by missing key players,” he stated, setting a resilient tone for his team.

During their 198-run loss to Shikhar Dhawan’s free-scoring Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, Sanju Samson and co. gave superstar Jos Buttler a surprise batting demotion, leaving Rajasthan Royals (RR) with a mountain to climb. Ravichandran Ashwin, an experienced all-rounder who has experimented with his batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL), opened the batting for the Royals with Yashasvi Jaiswal, a young player.

Ashwin, who took Buttler’s place as RR’s temporary opener against Punjab Kings, failed to impress and lost four balls for a duck. The cricketer with street smarts became the first batter in the cash-rich league to be tactically retired out last year. While southpaw Devdutt Padikkal made an appearance as a middle-order batter, Buttler, who switched batting positions with Ashwin, walked out to bat at No. 3.

Even though it was obvious that Buttler would not start for the Royals, the RR think tank preferred Ashwin as a temporary option rather than promoting Padikkal, a natural opener. After the game, when asked about RR’s top-order strategy, Rajasthan skipper Samson said that Buttler had an injury scare while playing for the champions in 2008.

“Jos wasn’t fully fit. He had a stitch on his finger. The thinking behind Devdutt Padikkal at No. 4 was we knew that they had a left-arm spinner (Harpreet Brar) and leg spinner (Rahul Chahar) who would be bowling in the middle overs. So, it was important for us to have a left-hander,”

said Samson, who top-scored for the Royals against Punjab. The Englishman injured his finger after taking a diving catch of Shahrukh Khan.

In the 20-over match at Guwahati, PBKS scored 197/4 thanks to Dhawan’s stunning 56-ball knock of 86 runs. In answer, Rajasthan marshaled 192/7 as Samson and Co. lost the match by 5 runs. Padikkal ended up playing a frustrating knock of 21 off 26 balls, while England captain Buttler scored 19 off 11 balls. Shimron Hetmyer (36 off 18 balls) and Impact Player Dhruv Jurel (32* off 15 balls) staged RR’s comeback in the final overs, ensuring that Rajasthan can still win the high-scoring match.

However, PBKS won the IPL 2023 for the second time in a row thanks to Sam Curran’s heroics in the final over. The PBKS signing that set a record held his nerve and stopped 16 runs in the final over.

Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson praised Jurel’s fighting knock against Punjab in light of RR’s performance

“The coaches have put a lot of work behind him (on Dhruv Jurel), we had a work week camp before the IPL, but the way they have worked a lot of time in our academies (during off-season), having faced 1000s of balls and I’m happy with the way they’re progressing. I was expecting the dew to come in the second innings, but it was evident that it was there right at the start. I need to be prepared better for such things in the next game,”

Samson concluded.

RR vs PBKS Match Preview

Rajasthan Royals face Punjab Kings in Match 8 of the 2023 Indian Premier League on Wednesday evening in Guwahati, after both teams won their opening games. The Royals won by 72 runs, while the Kings won by seven runs over the Kolkata Knight Riders. (DLS). Rajasthan Royals reached the final in 2022 and appear to be one of the stronger teams this year. They should be able to win this game with the bat and ball. Punjab Kings’ bowling attack is diverse, but they are up against a strong batting lineup. We expect them to be competitive, but we believe they will struggle to beat the Royals.

RR vs PBKS Match Details

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings – 8th Match

Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium – Guwahati

Date & Time: 05th April 2023 at 07:30 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Star Sports

RR vs PBKS Venue Stats

RR vs PBKS Pitch Report

This is the first time an IPL game has been played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium and we expect a pitch with pace to make a strong batter-friendly surface.

RR vs PBKS Weather Report

The temperature will drop from 31 degrees to 24 degrees over the course of the game with the forecast for humidity levels to be at almost 90% in the second innings.

RR vs PBKS Last Five Matches

RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

RR vs PBKS Probable Playing XIs:

Rajasthan Royals Probable Playing XIs

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c) (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal

Punjab Kings Probable Playing XIs

Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, M Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada

Topmost Picks for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – Rajasthan Royals

• Jos Buttler – The English right-handed opener remains in brilliant form across all series and has scored 288 runs from his last four IPL innings.
• Yuzvendra Chahal – The 32-year-old leg-spinner who won the Purple Cap in 2022 picked up the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Harry Brook, Adil Rashid, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Sunday.

Top Picks – Punjab Kings

• Shikhar Dhawan – There are very few players who produce consistent IPL runs like Punjab Kings’ skipper. He hit six fours in Saturday’s win.
• Arshdeep Singh – The left-arm pace bowler was not at his best during the 2022 IPL but looked back to top form in Saturday’s match. 

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shikhar Dhawan, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sikandar Raza(VC), Trent Boult, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for RR vs PBKS Dream11 Team:

Jos Buttler(C), Sanju Samson, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shikhar Dhawan(VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jason Holder, Sikandar Raza, Trent Boult, Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, Yuzvendra Chahal

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler

Vice-captain – Sikandar Raza, Shikhar Dhawan

Wicketkeeper – Jos Buttler

RR vs PBKS Probable Winners:

With both teams winning their opening matches, confidence will be high for the Royals and the Kings ahead of this game. When you consider that Kagiso Rabada will bolster an already strong bowling attack, Punjab Kings could be a real threat to Rajasthan Royals. However, the top order batting for the Royals is one of the best in the tournament. Considering the team combination, Punjab Kings is expected to win this match.

One of the IPL’s most famous Rivalries is back. Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals have a habit of turning out to be among the most entertaining fixtures and are rarely short of drama. After seven games, with minimal drama, and not many down to the wire thrillers, a vintage encounter from the two sides will be a treat to watch.

RR vs PBKS Match Details

Date: April 5th, 2023

Time:  37:30 PM IST

Venue: Guwahati

RR vs PBKS Weather Report

Dry weather and a lot of heat are expected while dew could also play a role as the game progresses.

RR vs PBKS Pitch Report

A flat track is likely at the Guwahati stadium.

RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head

RR vs PBKS Predicted Playing XI

PBKS Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Shah Rukh Khan, Sam Curran, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Sharma

RR Playing XI

Jos Buttler, Yashashvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR vs PBKS Key Players

Sikandar Raza

Sikandar Raza finally gets an IPL deal. He has been in really good form over the last two years and deservedly got his call-up. Now, with Sikandar Raza likely to fight for his spot with Liam Livingstone, opportunities may be few and that will leave Raza with a lot to do.

Jos Buttler

With three centuries and over 800 runs last season, Jos Buttler was in a league of his own. His form remains solid and the distance he goes this season will be interesting to see, given how he was nearly unstoppable with his batting last season.

PBKS’s Top Five Batters Last Season

RR’s Top Five Batters Last Season

PBKS’s Top Five Bowlers Last Season

RR’s Top Five Bowlers Last Season

RR vs PBKS Rivalries to Watch out For

Shikhar Dhawan vs Ravichandran Ashwin: Ashwin has over the years gotten the better of Shikhar Dhawan, who strikes at 84 against the spinner. In 85 balls, Ashwin has taken Dhawan’s wicket thrice while going for 73 runs.

RR vs PBKS Match Tips

Rajasthan look the stronger side with their balance and confidence.

Match Prediction: Rajasthan Royals Win the Match