Bottom half conundrum, fight to get to the top half of the table and prove to get a chance to go into the playoffs. Tough contest with some fiery players on both the sides, interesting battle ahead. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have got some ray of hope now and would like to hold onto it to prove to the critics out there that they are also a force to reckon with. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, are slowly developing and moulding into the team their fans would want to after their last successful stint during 2014.
Punjab Kings:
Just when the team was coming together and proving who they were and were on a roll, sudden brakes were applied and the team tumbled big time. Chennai Super Kings showed who the boss was and literally choked the Punjab Kings at their den. Bairstow, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma and stand-in captain Sam Curran failed together as a unit and put a dent in the good flow of performances of the team. Unavailability of Shikhar Dhawan may sometimes hurt the team but Sam Curran has improved as a captain and also has good knowledge of the matchups. Harshal Patel did do real good in the last match and hope that he would do the same against his former franchise today. Arshdeep going for runs is a matter of concern and it is time he pulls up his socks and delivers the goods as needed by the team.
Probable XI:
Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Sam Curran (C), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh.
Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh / Rishi Dhawan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
16 years, icons of the game played and playing, yet no trophy, Ee Sala Cup Namde for the men in Red and Blue has now become a little far in equation as they found the correct combination after literally 9 matches of the season. Will Jacks entry did ensure the combination was perfect and balanced. When fans can clearly see that, wonder how management did not see that? This match is crucial as a loss here would nullify the chances for playoffs clearly and RCB would not like to have another episode of the same. Foreign pace has been a big disappointment and it’s high time, RCB take the formula of DC with the Indian contingent of pace bowling and deal with foreign spinners in Maxwell and Jacks. Karn Sharma would be the lead spinner and Green, Jacks and Vyshak form the pace lineup. The last time RCB faced Punjab at their backyard in Bengaluru, they won comfortably. Will they maintain the momentum and win this to give a tough fight for the playoffs?
Probable XI:
Faf du Plessis (C), Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal,
Impact Subs: Vyshal Vijaykumar / Mahipal Lomror
Weather and Pitch Report:
By evening, Dharamsala anticipates a temperature hovering at approximately 20 degrees Celsius, with a perceived temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Humidity is projected to settle around 44%. Although there's a 61% probability of rain throughout the day, the evening forecasts no precipitation.
Dharamsala has introduced a groundbreaking 'hybrid pitch', marking a first in India. Engineered to deliver uniform bounce and sustain its quality over the duration of the match, this innovative pitch sets a new standard in cricket surfaces.
(Credit: https://www.moneycontrol.com/)
Stats Corner:
- H2H Record: Bengaluru and Punjab have faced each other 32 times and Bangalore have emerged victorious on 15 occasions and Punjab on 17 occasions.
- The one who scores the next 100 in this IPL will break a record and create a record.
- Most 100s in an IPL season (12 in 2023) already 12 in 2024.
- It will be the 100th Century in IPL History
(Source: Cricket fanatic friends from Bouncer Avenue and external cricket websites)
Match Details:
Time: 7: 30 PM IST
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Dharamshala
Live broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live streaming: JioCinema app
Predicted Dream XI:
