Highlights:
- In the 24 IPL matches played between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, RR has won 13 matches while PBKS has won 10 matches, with one being decided in the extra over.
- Both teams have had a great start to the tournament, with RR defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs and PBKS winning against Kolkata Knight Riders.
- The Punjab Kings are currently ranked fifth on the IPL points table, while Rajasthan Royals are currently ranked second this season.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023’s eighth match will take place on Wednesday, April 5, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
In the tournament, both teams have had outstanding starts. In the PCA Stadium in Mohali, the Kings, captained by Shikhar Dhawan, defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) under Nitish Rana by seven runs (DLS). Arshdeep Singh was awarded the Player of the Match title due to his three wickets and the fact that KKR’s score was below the Duckworth-Lewis par score.
On the other hand, in the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, the Royals handed Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) a crushing 72-run defeat. Jos Buttler scored a fifty from just 20 balls to win Player of the Match.
Moreover, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson both scored fifty. Trent Boult made the early breakthroughs by dismissing Rahul Tripathi and Abhishek Sharma, despite Yuzvendra Chahal’s four-wicket haul.
RR Vs PBKS Head To Head:
There have been 24 IPL matches between these teams so far, with 13 of those games being won by Rajasthan Royals and the remaining 10, including one extra over match, by Punjab Kings. When these two teams previously faced off, RR emerged victorious by a narrow two-run margin.
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Having said that, let us take a closer look at their past 5 meetings
RR Vs PBKS Last 5 Encounters:
7th May 2022: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets
21st September 2021: Rajasthan Royals won by 2 runs
12th April 2021: Punjab Kings won by 4 runs
30th October 2020: Rajasthan Royals won by 7 wickets
27th September 2020: Rajasthan Royals won by 4 wickets
Additional Stats Of RR and PBKS:
RR highest score against PBKS: 226
PBKS highest score against RR: 223
Most runs for RR: 552 (Sanju Samson)
Most runs for PBKS: 38 (Jitesh Sharma)
Most wickets for RR: 3 (Yuzvendra Chahal)
Most wickets for PBKS: 12 (Arshdeep Singh)
Most catches for RR: 11 (Sanju Samson)
Most catches for PBKS: 2 (Arshdeep Singh)
Lowest total defended by RR against PBKS: 158
Lowest total defended by PBKS against RR: 139
Match Prediction
The Rajasthan Royals, who finished as the runners-up in 2022, possess the necessary resources in their arsenal to defeat the Kings in this game. The RR’s batting lineup with their positive approach can be a potent force, while their seasoned bowling department can pose a challenge to the PBKS team. Nonetheless, the Shikhar Dhawan-led side is optimistic with Kagiso Rabada in their ranks and is expected to adopt an attacking style of play.
Therefore, Rajasthan RR is predicted to win the game based on their positive batting lineup, experienced bowling unit, and recent form.
