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IPL: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Predictions
Match 52 of this year’s IPL edition between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be a key factor in deciding the fates of both team in their quest to qualify for the play-off season.
The result of this crucial match will have serious implications for the team which ends up on the losing side.
Rajasthan Royals sit at the 3rd spot in the table currently but their loss in the last game against Kolkata Knight Riders will definitely have rung alarms in the camp as they head into the play-off part of the season.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings have had 3 losses in their last 5 games but they beat the table toppers Gujarat Titans in a one sided game in their last clash.
Such a win against the top side of this season will have brought back the lost confidence.
With 5 wins so far in their 10 games, Kings are still clinging on the hope to make it to the play-offs.
Buttler batting like a dream
Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals is having a dream IPL season this year.
He has been in a fine batting form scoring more than 500 runs so far along with some brilliant centuries this season.
Buttler needs 385 more runs this season to beat Virat Kohli’s 953 runs feat of IPL 2016.
But despite Buttler’s glorious form, Royals other batting order is not doing enough which is evident from their defeat against Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians.
In the bowling department, Chahal also looks out of the touch.
Their bowling attack has been deemed as the most balanced one this season but to prove this point, Royals will need performances from Boult and Prasidh Krishna in their remaining matches.
As for Punjab Kings, the Captain Mayank Agarwal will need to hit the right spot soon if his team has to have any chance of playing the play-offs.
Kings middle order has has been solid so far with performances from overseas players like Liam Livingstone and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
If Agarwal can somehow bring himself in the lower order with Dhawan and Bairstow opening the innings, Kings have enough firepower in the bowling to consistently overpower Royals in this important match.
Match details
Venue: Wankhede Stadium Mumbai
Date: 7th May 2022
Time: 3pm IST
Head to head past record:
Both teams have played 23 matches against each other so far.
Punjab Kings have managed to emerge as a winning team 10 times while Rajasthan Royals lead by winning in 13 games.
There has been no tie match so far.
Probable Playing 11 – Rajasthan Royals:
Jos Buttler, Devdut Padikkal, Sanju Samson (C&wk), Karun Nair, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen
Probable Playing 11 – Punjab Kings:
Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma
Star bowler of the match: Sandeep Sharma
Star batsman of the match: Jos Buttler
Who will win?
Games at Wankhede Stadium this year have been won by teams batting second for the most part of this season.
So the toss might play an important hand in deciding the result of this match beforehand.
Both teams will try their level best to have the result in their favour in order to brighten their chances ahead.
It’s a tough call to call a winner before a ball is bowled but Royals might manage to pull this one off and rally ahead in the season.