IPL 2023 Predictions: RR vs PBKS

After a terrific win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening match of IPL 2023, Rajasthan Royals are all set to host Punjab Kings on April 5 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

The Shikhar Dhawan-led side PBKS defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs (DLS Method) in their opening match.

Batting at number three, Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashed 50 runs off 32 deliveries while Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma played quick cameos to help PBKS post 191 runs in 20 overs.

With the ball, youngster Arshdeep Singh was sensational as he absolutely destroyed KKR’s top order.

The Knight Riders scored 146/7, but rain interrupted the game, and they fell seven runs short of the target on the DLS method.

Arshdeep Singh bowled a match-winning spell by taking three wickets for 19, but debutant Sam Curran struggled as he picked one wicket while conceding runs at 12.7 per over.

Punjab’s bowling will be boosted with star pacer Kagiso Rabada’s availability, but they enter this game as the second favourite, having lost four of their last five encounters against Rajasthan Royals.

Also, Liam Livingstone wasn’t available for the first game as he didn’t get an NOC from the ECB.

He had suffered an injury for which he didn’t get clearance for fitness. As per sources, he would be available from this game.

At the same time, the Royal’s top order is on song at the moment.

Jos Buttler (54 off 22) gave them a perfect start in the last match while Yashasvi Jaiswal looked rock solid with 54 off 37 deliveries.

Later Sanju Samson too scored a half-century as Rajasthan posted 203 runs on board after 20 overs.

Spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal impressed with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul.

Trent Boult picked up two wickets while KM Asif proved effective to plugging the runs.

RR vs PBKS Head-to-Head

Total Matches Played: 24

Rajasthan Royals Won: 14

Punjab Kings Won: 10

Tie: 0

No Result: 0

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI

Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, R Parag, KR Sen, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, SV Samson(C), Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rest of squad: D Ferreira, DC Jurel, JE Root, Kunal Singh Rathore, Abdul Basith, AP Vasisht, Murugan Ashwin, KM Asif, KC Cariappa, OC McCoy, NA Saini, Kuldip Yadav, A Zampa, Sandeep Sharma

Punjab Kings Playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan(C), Shahrukh Khan, B Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza, SM Curran, P Simran Singh, JM Sharma, Harpreet Brar, K Rabada, RD Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Rest of squad: JM Bairstow, Harpreet Singh, A Taide, Shivam Singh, LS Livingstone, R Dhawan, Rajangad Bawa, Mohit Rathee, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Vidhwath Kaverappa, MW Short

Pitch & weather conditions

The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati hosted the IND-SA game in October 2022 and saw both teams hitting 200.

This clearly indicates it’s a batting paradise.

Here, the variations by the bowlers will be key to taking wickets, otherwise they will get smashed all over the park.

Who will win

Rajasthan Royals look more balanced as a team compared to the Punjab Kings and they’ll start as the favourites to win this game.

RR have a formidable batting lineup consisting of players like Buttler, Samson, and Hetmyer.

Buttler, especially in red hot form. He scored 54 runs off just 22 deliveries in the first game against SRH.

He won the orange cap last year and started off this season in style as well.

Their pace attack is led by experienced international Trent Boult and they also have veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal to bank on.

Hence, our experts believe RR will win.