IPL 2023: Match 8, Rajasthan Royals (RR) Predicted Playing XI vs Punjab Kings

Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will clash in the eighth game of the IPL 2023 at Guwahati's Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, April 5. Both teams started the IPL 2023 campaign with a win in their respective first game and will be motivated to extend the run in the upcoming game. Punjab Kings won against Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs (DLS method) while defending 191 runs and the squad is further boosted by Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone's potential availability.

Check here 👉 Rajasthan Royals  vs Punjab Kings, Match 8 - Live Cricket Score

Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan continued their last season's form by recording a 72-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their first game. Apart from Samson, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out with fifty-plus knocks to record 203/5 total while batting first. Last season's IPL Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal picked four wickets to restrict the Sunrisers to just 131/8. 

Navdeep Saini came as an impact player for the Royals in the last game but conceded 34 runs from his two-overs spell. Fans were surprised to see Kuldeep Sen warming the bench against the Sunrisers but might witness the pacer coming in for KM Asif's place in the playing eleven or as an impact player if the Royals bat first against Punjab Kings.

Here's Rajasthan Royals’ predicted XI against Punjab Kings

Openers: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rajasthan Royals' top order replicated their last season's form to provide a dominating start against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first game. Last season's leading run-getter Jos Buttler produced another exceptional knock by smashing 54 off just 22 with seven fours and three sixes to provide the Royals with a great start. Buttler is an early contender in the Orange Cap race and might record another fierce knock against Punjab Kings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal also pulled off a crucial fifty as he scored 54 off 37 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last game. The youngster was excellent against Punjab Kings last season when he played a match-winning knock 68 off 41 while successfully chasing a 190-run target. He has scored 117 runs from his last two innings against Punjab and will be looking to continue his hot streak in the upcoming game.

Middle order: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer

Sanju Samson played the role of an anchor against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last game as he channelised on the good start provided by Buttler and Yashasvi. Samson dominated the middle order and kept the scoreboard ticking before getting out in the 19th over. 

Devdutt Padikkal was bowled out by Umran Malik after scoring just two runs against the Sunrisers in the last game. Padikkal was decent last season but struggled for consistency with just 376 runs from 17 innings at an average of 22.11 and a strike rate of 122.87.

Shimron Hetmyer played the finisher's role against Sunrisers Hyderabad but was not at his best. He managed to score just 22* off 16 with just two boundaries. The left-handed batter will be under the pressure this season to put in big performances with Joe Root and Donovan Ferreira waiting for their chance. 

All-rounders: Riyan Parag, Jason Holder

Riyan Parag was promoted to the no.5 position ahead of Shimron Hetmyer against Hyderabad in the last game but was not able to make a big impact. He smashed a four off Umran's delivery but scored just seven runs before getting caught out on T Natarajan's delivery. With Jason Holder available as a sixth-choice bowling option this season, Parag is unlikely to bowl in the majority of the games.

Jason Holder didn't get a chance to showcase his finishing skills with Ravichandran Ashwin getting a reference against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, the West Indies pace all-rounder was impressive with the ball with Washington Sundar's wicket while conceding just 15 off his three-over spell. 

Bowlers: Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen

Ashwin scored one run to remain unbeaten but proved his dominance while bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last match. He was greedy with his spell and also bagged Glenn Phillips' wicket to contribute to the team's dominant win.

Trent Boult ensured an early win for the Royals with Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi's wickets in the innings' first over. Boult conceded just 21 runs off his four-over spell and will be leading the pace attack in Prasidh Krishna's absence.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Yuzvendra Chahal picked up from where he left off last season. The IPL Purple Cap holder took four wickets for 17 to dominate the middle overs and once again emerged as an early contender for the Purple Cap race this season. 

KM Asif was named in the playing XI ahead of the likes of Sandeep Sharma and Kuldeep Sen against Hyderabad. But the former CSK pacer was not able to pick any wicket despite producing an economical spell. Navdeep Saini came as an Impact Player substitute but proved costly. So Kuldeep, who bagged eight wickets off seven games last season, might get a start ahead of Asif on Wednesday.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) Probable Playing XI:

Jos Buttler, Yashavi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devsutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Jason Holder, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen

Rajasthan Royals (RR) Probable Impact Players

Sandeep Sharma, Navdeep Saini, KM Asif, Akash Vasisht, Murugan Ashwin

Also Check: Punjab Kings (PBKS) Predicted Playing XI against Rajasthan Royals