The focus of this ‘today IPL match prediction’ preview is on the upcoming game between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. These two well-matched teams can be expected to fight to the bitter end. The stakes are high as every match win would take the winning team closer to the playoffs. In IPL 2022, Rajasthan Royals reached the playoffs and got to the final that they lost to Gujarat Titans. By contrast, Delhi Capitals missed the bus and ended in 5th place.
Sports enthusiasts like me would be keen to watch the upcoming IPL game. Both teams are endowed with star players in every aspect of the game.
My Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings match prediction favours Rajasthan Royals. I believe the home side will come up trumps.
| Match | Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings |
|---|---|
| Where | Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati |
| When | 5 April 2023 |
| Start Time | 19:30 IST |
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RR vs PBKS: Prediction & Tips
The primary focus of this RR vs PBKS match prediction article is to make numerous forecasts. Who are the players to look out for? Which team will win the toss? Which batter will make the most runs? Which batsman will record the most six hits? Which bowler will concede the fewest runs? Which bowler will take the most wickets? The above are some of the questions sought to be answered. I have gathered cricket expertise on the back years of watching cricket at the highest level. I wish to share my knowledge with readers. They can use my IPL predictions 2023 to place informed bets, while wagering at the best IPL betting offers.
RR Team Review
As ever, openers Jaiswal and Buttler will begin the RR innings. After skipper Sanju Samson plays at number three, Hetmyer and Padikkal will slot in at numbers four and five. Ryan Parag will bring all-round skills at number six. Another allrounder Holder at number seven gives the squad a reliable finisher in the lower order. Ashwin at number eight exemplifies the batting depth. Bowlers Chahal, Boult and Prasidh Krishna will complete the eleven. RR may also choose Joe Root as an overseas batting option, preferring him over Hetmyer.
The batting strength of this squad is obvious. Jaiswal, Buttler, Samson and Hetmyer can all make quick runs. The bowling line up has lots of variety. The off-spin of Ashwin and the leg break googly bowling of Chahal is a potent combination. A left-arm pace bowler, Trent Boult, complements the right-armer Prasidh Krishna. Holder provides a third seam option.
Below is their latest Performance:
PBKS Team Review
Like RR, PBKS have explosive batsmen – Dhawan, Bairstow and Livingstone — at the top of the order. Bairstow will double as wicketkeeper. The middle order will be manned by young domestic players Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan. Sam Curran – PBKS’s prized acquisition from the IPL auction – will play a finishing role at number six.
Rabada and Arshdeep are reputed fast bowlers who have done well for club and country alike. Leg break bowler Rahul Chahar brings IPL experience to the table. All-rounder Rishi Dhawan gives PBKS another pace bowling option. Harpreet Brar is a left-arm spinner who can bat a bit. It goes without saying that Sam Curran is the kingpin of the attack.
Below is their latest Performance:
RR vs PBKS Head-to-head
The two sides have faced off against each other in 26 past games. Interestingly, they are evenly matched in the h2h comparison, with 13 wins each. The last match between the sides took place on 11 May 2022, a match that DC won.
RR and PBKs have met in 25 previous IPL Games. With 15 wins and 10 losses, RR have established a dominant advantage in the head-to-head comparison between the sides.
RR vs PBKS Last Meeting
Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bat first. They got off to a quick start with Dhawan and Bairstow adding 47 for the first wicket. After Dhawan got out in the sixth over Bairstow, had a couple of useful partnerships with Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Mayank Agarwal.
Two wickets in the 15th over saw the score reading 4/119. Liam Livingstone joined Jitesh Sharma and the pair helped take the final score to 189/5. Bairstow top scored for Punjab Kings with 56 runs from 40 balls. Chahal was the best bowler for RR, with figures of three for 28.
Chasing a sizeable target of 190 to win, RR got off to a good start when Jaiswal and Butler put on 46 runs for the first wicket. After Butler got out to the last ball of the fifth over, skipper Samson joined Jaiswal in a 2nd-wicket stand of 39 runs. Jaiswal continued the good work in the company of Padikkal.
After Jaiswal got out in the 15th over, with the scoreboard reading 3/143, Hetmyer came to the crease. Padikkal and Hetmyer took the team total to 182/4. Needing just eight runs in seven balls, RR got to the target with 2 balls to spare. Jaiswal top scored for RR with 68 from 41 balls. Arshdeep Singh who took 4/29 was Punjab’s most successful bowler in the match.
Players to look out for
Jaiswal and Buttler are reliable opening batters for RR. Sanju Samson the batter can single-handedly influence the outcome of a game. Among the RR bowlers, Chahal can compete for the purple cap.
PBKS openers Dhawan and Bairstow can never be ignored. Both men are capable of winning matches single handedly. Livingstone in the middle order can be destructive with the bat. Importantly, he is also a useful spin bowler. Rabada and Arshdeep are among the most coveted fast bowlers. Curran’s all-round skills need no advertisement.
Toss prediction
In this section, I make my best toss prediction. I expect RR to win the toss. In the last game between the sides in IPL 2022, the luck of the toss favoured PBKS.
Highest scorer
I can predict without hesitation that Buttler will top score in this match. The England captain had a great outing with the bat in IPL 2022 when he won the orange cap. I expect him to continue that form in IPL 2023.
Highest wicket taker
RR’s leg break googly bowler Chahal is likely to take the most wickets among the bowlers in this upcoming game.
Highest sixes hitter
I predict that PBKS middle order batsman Liam Livingstone will register the maximum number of sixes in the game against RR. Livingstone has advertised his penchant for hitting sixes in all forms of cricket.
Most economical bowler
Chahal will not only get the most wickets, he will also prove to be the most frugal. The wily leg break bowler usually gets into action after the powerplay overs are done. He oftens puts the break on the scoring rate.
Most catches
RR skipper Sanju Samson will grab the most catches in his team’s match versus PBKS. With quality seamers like Boult, Prasidh Krishna, and Holder at the team’s disposal, we are sure to see many catches taken behind the stumps.
RR vs PBKS: Dream 11 Predictions
In this segment of this RR vs DC match prediction analysis, I present my ‘today ipl match dream 11 team’ for the upcoming match:
- Wicket keepers: Samson, Buttler
- Batsmen: Jaiswal, Padikkal, Dhawan
- All-rounders: Holder, Curran
- Bowlers: Chahal, Boult, Arshdeep
Samson will captain my Dream 11 team, with Curran as his deputy.
Rajasthan Royals
Jos Buttler, Jaiswal, Samson, Padikkal, Hetmyer, Parag, Ashwin, Holder, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Boult
Punjab Kings
Prabhsimran, Dhawan, Rajapaksa, Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Curran, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Ellis
(Disclaimer: Please note that this Dream 11 is only a guideline; we will make some changes as we go along.)