Punjab Kings (PBKS) host Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their upcoming Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023) game at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 19. The game is crucial for RR in particular to boost their chances of making the playoffs. A victory in this match would keep them in contention, although net run rate will ultimately come into play.
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After suffering a crushing defeat in their previous match, the Royals were dismissed for just 59 runs, resulting in a huge 112-run loss. Their batsmen will need to step up their performance, while their bowlers also need to improve.
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals preview
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala will host the IPL 2023 match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Friday. This will be the final group stage game for both sides. Currently, PBKS are out of contention for the playoffs, and are 8th in the points table with six wins out of 13 matches. The Royals are 6th position with the same number of wins and can still make the playoffs if they emerge victorious.
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In their previous match against Delhi Capitals, Punjab fell short of the target by just 15 runs after a stellar innings by Liam Livingstone. Chasing 214 for a win, they were left stranded at 198/8.
The Royals suffered a humiliating defeat in their previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at their home ground in Jaipur. The Royal Challengers elected to bat first after winning the toss and posted 171/5 in 20 overs after half-centuries by Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell. In reply, Rajasthan Royals suffered a major collapse and were dismissed for just 59 runs in 10.3 overs. Only two batsmen managed to reach double-digit scores.
In the history of the IPL, RR and PBKS have faced each other 25 times, with the former winning 14 matches and the latter emerging victorious in 11 encounters. Rajasthan has won three out of the last five games played against Bangalore. However, in their most recent match this season, PBKS emerged winners.
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Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match details
Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 66, IPL 2023
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Date and Time: Friday, May 19, 7:30 pm IST
PBKS vs RR pitch report
An exciting contest between bat and ball is expected at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The pitch initially favours batsmen, allowing them to score more freely. However, as the match progresses, pacers may come into play.
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Both Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) possess strong batting lineups and diverse bowling attacks. The outcome of the toss, however, will play a crucial role. The team that wins the toss will likely bowl first, taking advantage of the bowling conditions early on. In the previous encounter between the two sides, pacers accounted for seven out of the eight wickets taken.
PBKS vs RR prediction
Fans can expect this match to go down to the wire. If Punjab win the and choose to bowl first, they stand a better chance of winning. However, considering their rather poor form this season, it is likely that Rajasthan Royals will walk away with a win.
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PBKS vs RR probable playing XIs
Punjab Kings (PBKS):
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (wk/c), Joe Root, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal
