The eighth match of the Indian Premier League is set to take place between the Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings in what promises to be an exciting encounter. The Royals led by Sanju Samson had a fantastic start to the season with an impressive victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the Punjab Kings stunned the Kolkata Knight Riders in their opening match.
Rajasthan Royals defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by a whopping 72 runs, thanks to Jos Buttler’s explosive batting. Skipper Samson also contributed with a well-deserved half-century. Buttler smashed 54 runs off just 22 balls, while Samson scored 55 runs off 32 deliveries. Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling performances were also noteworthy in the match.
In contrast, Punjab Kings began their campaign with a win over the Kolkata Knight Riders, thanks to Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s brilliant half-century. Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh started off well, but Singh was dismissed after a quickfire 23. Dhawan played a mature innings of 40 off 29 balls, while Rajapaksa’s 50 off just 32 deliveries stole the show. Arshdeep Singh was exceptional in the bowling department, picking up three wickets for just 19 runs in his three overs.
In terms of head-to-head record, the Rajasthan Royals have won 13 out of 19 matches against the Punjab Kings. However, in the IPL, any team can outshine the other on a particular day. While the Royals will look to continue their dominance over the Kings, Punjab will be eager to end their losing streak against Rajasthan.
Key players to watch out for in the match are Arshdeep Singh from Punjab Kings and Jos Buttler from Rajasthan Royals. Singh’s ability to bowl in the death overs and his experience of playing for India makes him a crucial player for the Kings. Buttler’s phenomenal performance in the first match, scoring a half-century, makes him a dangerous player for the Kings’ bowlers to deal with.
The predicted XIs for the match are as follows:
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.
Based on their strong performance in the previous match, the Rajasthan Royals have a better chance of emerging victorious in the match against the Punjab Kings. However, the Kings have the ability to come out on top if they play to their potential. It promises to be an exciting encounter with some impactful power hitters on both sides.
