Rajasthan Royals Seek Redemption Against Punjab Kings in Top-Two Battle

Rajasthan Royals Face Punjab Kings in Crucial Clash, Seeking Top-Two Finish

Guwahati, India - Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings will lock horns in a pivotal Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Wednesday, with both teams aiming for contrasting goals.

Rajasthan Royals, currently sitting on 16 points, are in danger of slipping out of the top two after three consecutive defeats. The absence of Jos Buttler, who has departed for England's T20 World Cup duty, has further complicated their path to the playoffs.

To fill the void left by Buttler, the Royals may consider promoting Tom Kohler-Cadmore or Dhruv Jurel up the order. However, Kohler-Cadmore has yet to play a T20 in India, while Jurel has limited experience as an opener in the format.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, are out of playoff contention and will be looking to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table. They will be boosted by the return of Sam Curran and Johnny Bairstow, who are available for this fixture before joining the England squad for the T20 World Cup.

Key Players to Watch:

* Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals): The young all-rounder has been in impressive form this season, scoring seven consecutive fifties in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He will be eager to make an impact in his third match at the venue in Guwahati.

* Jitesh Sharma (Punjab Kings): The India T20 keeper-batter has struggled for form this season, averaging just 13.30 with a strike rate of under 125. He will be looking to end the season on a high note.

Stats to Consider:

* Arshdeep Singh has a favorable match-up against Yashasvi Jaiswal, having dismissed him twice in 20 balls.

* Trent Boult has struggled against Punjab Kings, averaging 43.6 and conceding an economy rate of 9.98.

* Yuzvendra Chahal has had a mixed season, with his average and economy rate deteriorating in his last six matches.

Pitch and Conditions:

This will be the first of two matches in Guwahati in IPL 2024. The pitch is expected to be conducive to batting, with the team batting first having won on both previous occasions at this venue.

Tags: #IPL2023, #RajasthanRoyals, #PunjabKings, #JosButtler, #RiyanParag