RR vs PBKS Preview: Both teams keen to record their 2nd win in Guwahati
Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings will square off in the eighth match of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023. Both sides are coming off victories from their previous game and hence the two high-flying teams will be eyeing to carry the same momentum in their upcoming encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on April 5, Wednesday.
While the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in their campaign opener, the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings clinched a win against Kolkata Knight Riders in a rain-affected match. Hence the two sides will be riding high on confidence, but eventually, one of the two teams will be handed their first defeat of the tournament.
Rajasthan and Punjab have crossed swords 24 times previously in the tournament’s history, and the Men in Pink have a slight upper hand over the Men in Red, having won 14 out of the 24 contests played in total. The Royals continued to perform similarly to last year, and the Punjab-based side also looked formidable thus, it will be an exciting affair.
Pitch and conditions
The surface at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati has historically proven to be batter-friendly. The venue has witnessed high-scoring games recently, and a score above 200 can be a good total. The most recent game on this turf witnessed both India and South Africa cross the 200-run mark.
Venue details: Barsapara Stadium, Guwahati
Last T20 match at the venue: IND- 237/3 (20 overs) | SA- 221/3 (20 overs)
Here’s the probable playing XI for Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings clash:
Rajasthan Royals
The Royals started this year’s campaign on a high note and picked it up from where they had left off last year. They made it to the final of IPL 2022, and put up very impressive performances to surprise several fans. As a result, they’re one of the fan favorites to win the championship this time. Their team looks formidable again, and the players would be aiming to end the title drought.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings started their campaign with a victory, but there still are areas where they need to improve in order to win the upcoming contest. Prabhsimran had a wonderful outing in the previous game and would be hoping to convert his start into a big score this time around. The team might replace Sikandar Raza with Liam Livingstone based on his availability.
