Match 65 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 will see Rajasthan Royals (RR) taking on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial match that will determine their playoff chances. Not much significance for PBKS, who are already out of the race, but for the Royals, they need one more win to ensure their presence in the knockout stage.
RR are currently second in the points table with 16 points. They have two more games left in the league stage and a win would take them to 18 points to book a playoff berth. However, given their recent form, having lost three matches in a row, they cannot take the bottom-placed PBKS lightly.
Notably, Rajasthan won by three wickets when the two teams met earlier this season in Chandigarh. That last-over defeat may still be haunting PBKS and they will be aiming for revenge on Wednesday, May 15 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Hence, expect an intense battle between the two.
Here are the top 3 player battles in Match 65, RR vs PBKS
3. Sanju Samson vs Rahul Chahar
Sanju Samson is the backbone of RR’s batting unit. The skipper has been in excellent form with 486 runs at an average of 60.75 and a strike rate of 158.31, including five half-centuries. At this critical juncture, Samson will have a big responsibility on his shoulders to take his team through the playoffs.
A key match-up for him in the upcoming match could be leg-spinner Rahul Chahar. The right-handed batter is a good player of spin, but Chahar has dismissed him twice in the league. However, Samson’s strike rate in this battle is 155.55, which makes the contest between the two interesting.
2. Jonny Bairstow vs Trent Boult
It’s hard to crack when both players are on song. But both of them are not doing well in recent times. Jonny Bairstow has had an inconsistent run so far, while Trent Boult has failed to sustain the momentum in recent matches. However, despite this, the fight between the two is worth watching.
Once he finds his rhythm, the PBKS opener is dangerous. He can aggressively score runs and make it a big one. RR will have to clear the risk of such damage and they will rely on powerplay wicket-taker Boult to do the job. Notably, the Kiwi pacer has dismissed Bairstow 11 times in international cricket and once in the IPL.
1. Shashank Singh vs Yuzvendra Chahal
Shashank Singh has enjoyed a spectacular season so far in IPL 2024. The right-hander, who bats in the middle order, has accumulated a lot of runs at an astounding strike rate. He will probably be the biggest threat for RR in the upcoming match and they will definitely come up with some strategy to get him out early.
This time his big-hitting skills in the middle order will be tested by veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Shashank is equally effective against spinners and pacers. Meanwhile, Chahal is not in good form as he has been leaking plenty of runs.
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