TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsBoth Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are in the same boat as far as Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs qualification is concerned. Not many are expecting them to make it through, but a win for either side in this game would keep them alive…just about.
They are in this position right now, given how inconsistent RCB and PBKS have been this season. Both teams cannot reach 16 points, the minimum threshold to reach the next stage, but a loss for either one will see their remotest of hopes of making it through diminished.
PBKS vs RCB Head-to-Head
Overall: Games 32 | PBKS 17| RCB 15
In Hyderabad: Games 1 | PBKS 1| RCB 0
Venue Details
In the IPL since 2023 at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, the pacers have picked up 73% of the wickets (Econ 9.5) but have been much more expensive than the spinners, who have conceded at 7.8 an over. However, fast bowlers have struck once every 18.4 deliveries, compared to the spinners, who have struck every 22 balls.
The average score batting first here in this has been 189, and the team batting first have won two of the three matches here. In fact, in the 12 IPL matches in Dharamsala, while the captain winning the toss have opted to bowl on 11 occasions, the team batting first have tasted victory seven times. Expect the captain winning the toss to put runs on the board on Thursday.
Weather Forecast
There are some showers expected in Dharamsala in the lead-up to the match, however, the weather should be clear during the match. The temperature is expected to be about 26°C at the start of the game and it will drop down to 21°C by the end of it. The humidity could be as high as 60% in this period.
Things to watch out for
Can PBKS’ pace attack keep going?
PBKS pacers have been excellent this season, accounting for 60 wickets, the most by any team. Moreover, they have also been the most economical pace units (8.8) after Rajasthan Royals (8.3) in the powerplay. However, they have a couple of causes for concern. One being Kagiso Rabada, who has picked up just one wicket in his last four matches, as opposed to 10 scalps in his first seven games.
Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has gone for 10.5 an over in four of his last five matches, which is not one expects from their frontline pacer, but he has done the damage in the powerplay, picking up six wickets in the phase so far.
However, amidst all this, Harshal Patel’s form is finally looking up. He has picked up three wickets in three of his last five matches and in those games, he has kept the runs down to under eight an over, which are certainly encouraging signs. He will be up against his former team RCB, against whom he has managed just three wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 11.5. Can he turn it around this time?
RCB’s change in approach in powerplay
RCB have gone gung-ho in the powerplay of late and that has helped their case in getting some points on the board.
In fact, in the first six matches of IPL 2024, RCB had 60 or more in the powerplay just once but have breached that score in all five matches since. A lot of that is down to the way Faf du Plessis has shouldered the responsibility early on.
Probable XIs
PBKS: Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh; Prabhsimran Singh/Vidwath Kaverappa (IP)
RCB: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Will Jacks, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak; Rajat Paridar/Mayank Dagar (IP)
Telecast and streaming details
The match will be live on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on Jio Cinema. The game will start at 7:30 PM, with the toss happening at 7 PM.
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