Better run rate puts Royals in good position ahead of clash with Dhawan’s side
Posted Date – 06:40 AM, Fri – 19 May 23
Better run rate puts Royals in good position ahead of clash with Dhawan’s side
Dharamshala: The Punjab Kings will need to revisit their bowling scheme, while the Rajasthan Royals will have to live up to their huge potential as both shaky teams make a last-ditch effort in Friday’s IPL to keep the Their slim playoff hopes.
The Royals are in a better position than the Punjab Kings heading into the final league game given their excellent net run rate, but after an up-and-down season, both sides will have to rely on other results. This season has told a familiar story for the perennially underperforming Punjab Kings, who were once again unable to capture the clutch moments at the end of games.
The rhythm department has been guilty of leaking too many runs in powerplays and death overs. With the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh allowing close to 10 points per possession, the pressure is bound to be felt. While Rabada wasn’t at his best, Arshdeep was expected to be questioned on Wednesday night’s powerplay and death overs here.
Pacers beat York in the death bout, and his swing has caused problems for the opening hitters recently. After a steady first half of the game, the lanky left-arm pacer has come back to life and looks to up his game in must-win games. Shikhar Dhawan used his left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar in the 20th over against Delhi Capitals, but it backfired and effectively changed the game.
In terms of batting, Dhawan has also been unavailable for the past two matches and will look to lead up front. Rajasthan Royals looked to beat the team in the first half of the IPL with four wins in their first five matches, but they were in trouble of their own. While the performances of the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Yuzvendra Chahal were exemplary, the star-studded outfit deluded itself.
Joss Butler also hit some blockbuster hits, but wasn’t consistent enough. After being sent off without a goal in his first two games, the England batsman will be eager to perform in a game of life and death. Skipper Sanju Samson backs himself up for his catch-and-bowlers in every situation and he will continue to play in high-stakes games. Given the depth of their squad, Rajasthan was one of the pre-match favorites and they came and went as they liked.
