Both Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are in a precarious position, clinging to their playoff dreams with just three matches remaining and a mere eight points on the board. This high-stakes encounter will be played at the scenic Dharamsala on Thursday, 7:30pm IST.
RCB Batting Clicks into Gear
RCB’s recent form has been a breath of fresh air. After a sluggish start, their batting unit has found its mojo, with the top four – Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Will Jacks, and Rajat Patidar – providing a solid foundation. Du Plessis, in particular, has rediscovered his touch, scoring two crucial fifties and propelling RCB to a much faster powerplay scoring rate (12.3) compared to the earlier matches. This has allowed aggressive players like Jacks and Patidar to flourish in the middle overs, boosting the team’s overall run rate. The return of spin-hitting prowess has also been a boon, with RCB scoring at an impressive 11.03 in the middle overs since mid-April. This resurgence allows Kohli to play with more freedom, reflected in his improved strike rate.
PBKS: Travelers vs Home Woes
PBKS, despite being excellent on the road, have struggled at home. They’ve experimented with three venues in the last two seasons – Mohali, Dharamsala, and Mullanpur – but haven’t been able to find their comfort zone. This season is no different, with just one win in six home games. However, their away form is a bright spot, with three victories from five matches.
Expected Playing 11:
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Sam Curran (capt), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (capt), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Dayal
Players in Spotlight:
- Will Jacks (RCB): The young Englishman has had a mixed bag at RCB, but his explosive potential is undeniable. He’ll face a stern test against PBKS’ economical bowling attack.
- Harpreet Brar (PBKS): Brar emerged as the hero for PBKS in the previous encounter against RCB, picking up crucial wickets against RCB’s spin-susceptible middle order. He could be a major threat to their playoff hopes once again.
Key Stats:
- Kagiso Rabada has a history of dismissing both Kohli and du Plessis in T20s. While Kohli struggles against him, du Plessis fares much better.
- Arshdeep Singh, despite his wicket-taking prowess, has a high economy rate at the death. However, he’s PBKS’ leading wicket-taker in that phase.
- Jonny Bairstow enjoys a dominant record against RCB, boasting the highest strike rate against them in the IPL.
- Dinesh Karthik has been a prolific scorer at the death, with the second-best strike rate among batters facing at least 60 balls in the last four overs. Arshdeep, however, has dismissed him thrice in their limited encounters.
Pitch and Conditions:
Historically, captains at Dharamsala have opted to bowl first, but success hasn’t always followed. Even this season, CSK successfully defended a modest total of 167 at this venue. With temperatures expected to be cool, swing bowling could be a factor early on.
This high-pressure clash promises to be a nail-biter, with both teams desperate for a win to keep their playoff aspirations alive.