IPL 2021 : RR V PBKS Preview & Predicted XIs

RR V PBKS – HEAD TO HEAD : 21 MATCHES

RR WON : 12, PBKS WON : 9

Rajasthan Royals started the previous season with a lot of promise, winning their first two fixtures comprehensively but eventually finished with a wooden spoon. One of the main highlights of their last year’s campaign was the emergence of Rahul Tewatia as an all-rounder. Nobody can forget about his heroics against Punjab. They would want him to continue the same way. This time there’s no Steve Smith and they have a new captain in Sanju Samson and would like to start fresh under his leadership.

Punjab, on the other hand, would be bitterly disappointed if they turn back and look at how they lost games from winning positions and lost on a spot in the playoffs. Defensive approach from their batters, underwhelming performances from their overseas players and poor death bowling meant it was another year of disappointment for them.

Both the teams made heavy buys at the auction and added some big names among their ranks. RR bought the South African all-rounder Chris Morris at a whopping 16.25 crores, costliest buy in the history of IPL. They would be hoping for a big season from him with both bat and ball.  Along with him, they also signed Mustafizur Rahman who has the ability to deceive batters with his slow cutters.

Punjab recruited BBL stars Jhye Richarson and Riley Meredith in a quest to improve their death bowling. Both of them can straightaway make it into the playing XI. They have also bought the No.1 ranked T20 International batsman, Dawid Malan and it would be interesting to see if he plays ahead of Chris Gayle or not.

RR will be without their MVP Jofra Archer and the onus will be on Chris Morris to fill in his shoes. They might think of Opening with Manan Vohra and Jos Buttler given the inexperienced middle order. Ben Stokes down the order can provide the much required stability to their middle order.

PBKS would want their captain KL Rahul to bat freely and provide quick fire starts at top of the order. There will be a toss up between Chris Gayle and Dawid Malan for the No.3 position. They are likely to go ahead with Universe Boss Chris Gayle. Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson can make their IPL debuts.

We could be in for a six-hitting fest at Wankhede, given the firepower both the teams possess.  

Probable XIs :

RR : Jos Buttler, Manan Vohra, Sanju Samson (C), Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Chris Morris, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi

PBKS :  KL Rahul (C), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Deepak Hooda, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh