Aakash Chopra has added that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost their chances whenever they came close to qualifying for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. However, PBKS will play against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in an IPL 2024 league game in
Dharamsala on Thursday, May 9 as well. With eight points from 11 games, PBKS are placed eighth on the points table as well.
While previewing the match in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “When these two teams faced off at the Chinnaswamy Stadium last time, the Bengaluru team had won only one of their first six or seven games, and that was against them (PBKS). So it is a slight payback time. Whenever it seems that Punjab have momentum, they stop themselves.”
“You should have defeated Chennai in the last match, the sort of total you had restricted them to was gettable on a very good batting surface. However, they lost there and that’s probably been their story in the last 16 to 17 years. Whenever it seems like they are coming close to qualifying, some things go wrong,” the former India opener further added.
However, PBKS restricted CSK to 167/9 in Dharamsala on Sunday, May 5. Meanwhile, PBKS managed only 139/9 in the chase and lost the match by 28 runs as well. Aakash Chopra chose Jonny Bairstow as the first Punjab Kings player in focus for Thursday’s game.
“Jonny Bairstow’s form and their (PBKS’) strings to success are tied together. When he does well, the team automatically does well. However, when he has played slightly badly, the match has gone. It will be an all-Indian bowling lineup in the opposition apart from Cameron Green. So mine and the team’s focus is on Bairstow,” he added.
He also picked Shashank Singh as the other Punjab Kings batter to watch out for against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well. Chopra chose Arshdeep Singh as the Punjab Kings bowler in focus and urged him to be economical as well.
“Moving forward from Bairstow, we will talk about Shashank Singh because he gladdens the heart due to the way he is playing. He is playing with maturity. Until he is at the ground, you believe Punjab is alive. He has such a good temperament. He doesn’t get flustered. He controls the game,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Harshal (Patel) bowled well in the last match. Rahul Chahal did very well in the last two matches but since it is a night game, I am going with Arshdeep Singh. You have to take wickets and be economical because you have been slightly too expensive thus far and that’s not good for me, the Indian team, you and Punjab.”
