The 65th match of the 2024 IPL season pits the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on May 15th. With contrasting fortunes this season, the Royals, currently sitting comfortably in second place, will be looking to bounce back from a recent defeat, while the Kings, languishing at the bottom of the table, are desperate for a win. Rajasthan Royals, boasting eight wins from twelve matches, are in a strong position to secure a playoff spot.
However, their last outing against Chennai Super Kings saw them fall short by 5 wickets, with Riyan Parag’s knock of 47 runs the lone bright spot. The Royals will be keen to rectify their mistakes and get their winning momentum back on track. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have had a forgettable season so far, managing just four wins from twelve matches. Their most recent loss came against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where Rilee Rossouw’s valiant 61-run knock couldn’t prevent a 60-run defeat.
The Kings will need a complete turnaround in form if they are to salvage any pride from this season. Head-to-head records offer some solace for the Royals. In their 27 encounters with the Kings, they have emerged victorious on 16 occasions, compared to the Kings’ 11 wins. Additionally, since 2020, the Royals have dominated this rivalry, winning six out of the eight matches played between the two sides.
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The venue for this clash, Guwahati, has a reputation for high-scoring matches. Despite having relatively large boundaries (70 meters square), the black-soil pitches have yielded an average first-inning total of over 213 in the last four T20 matches played there. Rajasthan Royals’ batsman Riyan Parag expects this trend to continue, with dew playing a significant role in the second half of the innings. This was evident in the last T20I played at this venue, where India’s score of 222/3 proved insufficient against Australia’s Glenn Maxwell-inspired batting blitz.
With contrasting needs and historical advantage on their side, the Royals will be the favorites in this encounter. However, the Kings cannot be completely written off, especially considering the unpredictability of T20 cricket. The Guwahati pitch promises a run-fest, and the team that handles the pressure and dew conditions better will emerge victorious.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
The Royals are undergoing a personnel shift with the departure of star batsman Jos Buttler. As previously announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) during the T20 World Cup squad selection, Buttler has flown back home to prepare for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.
According to Riyan Parag, the team has been practising with Tom Kohler-Cadmore as Buttler’s replacement. The Somerset wicket-keeper batsman is likely to make his IPL debut, partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order.
Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
The Punjab Kings camp has also seen some movement. Assistant coach Brad Haddin confirmed that Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada have returned home to address minor niggles ahead of the T20 World Cup. However, players like Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow have travelled to Guwahati and are expected to play against the Royals.
Shashank Singh, who suffered a shoulder injury in the previous match due to a collision with Faf du Plessis, has recovered and is likely to be included in the playing XI.
Probable XI: Jonny Bairstow(w), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sam Curran(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Sanju Samson (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shashank Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag (vc), Sam Curran, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Harshal Patel
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Jos Buttle, Sanju Samson (C), Prabhsimran Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shashank Singh, Riyan Parag, Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma,
