By Rajasthan Royals, once the leading wicket-takers in IPL 2024 PowerPlays, have faced a drought in early breakthroughs lately. Trent Boult’s five strikes had boosted their start, but they’ve now gone two games without a PowerPlay wicket. In the pace-friendly conditions of Mullanpur, their quicks will need to shine against an unpredictable Punjab Kings side.
RR’s current campaign mirrors IPL 2023, where they started strongly but faltered towards the end. Now, facing a long away leg, they aim to avoid a similar fate. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings are desperate for points, having lost three of their first five games. Their batting stars, including Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran, need to step up after a lackluster performance against SRH.
Despite top-order woes, both teams have found middle-order saviors. RR’s Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag have been in form, while Punjab’s Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have excelled as finishers. In the bowling department, PBKS will rely on Arshdeep Singh’s form, while RR’s Yuzvendra Chahal eyes his 200th IPL wicket.
PBKS hope for top-order batsmen to shine in pace-friendly Mullanpur
The match at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, promises a pace-friendly pitch. Chasing has been favored here, but the conditions have seen success for quicks over spinners. As the two teams prepare for a crucial clash, Punjab Kings seek a resurgence, while Rajasthan Royals aim to maintain their position at the top of the table.
Teams Watch:
Punjab Kings: Liam Livingstone’s return to the XI remains uncertain, but PBKS will look to him for a boost. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s struggles against left-arm pacers could be a concern, especially against RR’s Arshdeep Singh.
Rajasthan Royals: Updates on Nandre Burger and Sandeep Sharma’s fitness are awaited. Yuzvendra Chahal could play a key role, given his success against PBKS openers. Jos Buttler’s form will be crucial for RR, especially as they navigate a challenging away leg.
With both teams seeking crucial points, the clash promises to be an exciting battle between bat and ball in the pace-friendly conditions of Mullanpur.
