Today’s match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala promises an exhilarating encounter between the Rajasthan Royals led by Sanju Samson and the Punjab Kings captained by Shikhar Dhawan. Both teams are in contention for a playoff spot, making this game a captivating spectacle.

The Punjab Kings, coming off a defeat against the Delhi Capitals at the same venue, are determined to secure a victory and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches. Captain Dhawan, who had a solid start to the tournament, will play a crucial role in stabilizing the team’s batting lineup. However, the struggling performances of star bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran have added to the home team’s challenges. To overcome the Rajasthan Royals, the Punjab Kings will rely on their key players to rise to the occasion.

However, the Rajasthan Royals faced a significant loss against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their previous match. Nonetheless, they have had an opportunity to regroup and approach the upcoming game with a renewed mindset. The team will be determined to bounce back from their mid-season slump and secure two crucial points. The Royals’ batting lineup, with the exception of Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been a cause for concern. It will be essential for players like Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer to make significant contributions in order to keep the team’s hopes alive in the tournament, especially on a pitch that favors the batsmen.

In a crucial match to stay in contention for the ongoing Indian Premier League, Punjab Kings posted a competitive total of 187 for five against the Rajasthan Royals. Opting to bat first, PBKS lost wickets at regular intervals, finding themselves at 50 for 4 in the seventh over. However, Sam Curran (49 not out) and Jitesh Sharma (44 off 28) built a partnership of 64 runs for the fifth wicket, injecting momentum into the innings. Towards the end, M Shahrukh Khan contributed a valuable 41 off 23 balls. RR’s bowlers were led by Navdeep Saini (3/40), with Adam Zampa (1/26) and Trent Boult (1/35) taking a wicket each.

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to bowl against Punjab Kings at HPCA Dharamsala. RR made four changes to their lineup, with the notable absence of R Ashwin due to a back spasm. This match, number 66 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, pits two teams with equal points against each other, and the winner will stay in the playoff race. Punjab Kings will host the Rajasthan Royals in Dharamsala, promising another thrilling contest this season. RR was expected to be among the early qualifiers for the knockout stage but suffered consecutive losses that hindered their journey in the tournament. On the other hand, Punjab has had a roller-coaster ride this year and is banking on slim chances at the business end.

Punjab’s pace department has struggled with leaking runs in both the powerplay and death overs. Bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran, and Arshdeep Singh have been conceding close to 10 runs per over, which puts the team under pressure. Rabada has not been at his best, and the decision not to utilize Arshdeep in both powerplay and death overs in the match raised questions. Arshdeep is known for his skill in bowling yorkers during the death overs and has recently troubled opening batsmen with his swing. In this must-win contest, the lanky left-arm pacer aims to regain his form.

Shikhar Dhawan’s decision to use left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar in the 20th over against the Delhi Capitals backfired significantly, ultimately making the difference in the game.

Rajasthan Royals, who appeared to be the team to beat in the first half of the IPL with four wins from their first five games, can only blame themselves for their struggles. Despite impressive performances from players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal, the star-studded team has failed to consistently deliver. Jos Buttler, known for his sensational knocks, has lacked consistency and was dismissed without scoring in the previous two matches. The England batter will be eager to perform in this do-or-die game. Captain Sanju Samson backs himself to take on the bowlers in any situation and will continue to play his high-risk game.

Shikhar Dhawan (Gabbar)  Says.

We lost too many wickets during the powerplay, which put us in a difficult position. However, Curran, Jitesh, and Shahrukh played outstanding innings to bring us back into the game. Our bowling had its moments, but our fielding wasn’t up to the mark, and the dropped catches ended up costing us the match. Considering the pitch conditions, I believe reaching 200 runs would have been a good total. Overall, there were areas where we could have performed better. At times, our batting clicked, and at times, our bowling clicked, but we couldn’t synchronize those performances. Nevertheless, as a young team, we have learned valuable lessons throughout this season. I knew it was crucial for me to take the game deep, so I entrusted our best bowlers to bowl early on, which is why Rahul had to bowl the final over. In the previous game, I had given Harpreet the last over, but the decision depends on the surface and the specific situation at hand.