IPL 2021: Match 32 PBKS vs RR Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Will the Royals start their campaign on a royal note, or will the Kings tame the Royals?

Published - 20 Sept 2021, 20:22 IST | Updated - 20 Sept 2021, 20:22 IST

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Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings have always been perennial underachievers in the IPL. While the Punjab side has never won an IPL title in spite of having talented players in their arsenal, the Royals emerged as the champions of the maiden IPL edition way back in the year 2008, under the leadership of leg-spin wizard Shane Warne.

Since their IPL win in 2008, the Royals have reached the knockout stages only thrice in 10 attempts, while the Punjab Kings have qualified for the knockout stages just twice in 13 years. And, in the first half of the tournament, both these teams experienced mediocre runs. While Rajasthan Royals are placed at the 5th spot in the table, having won 3 out of their 7 matches, the Punjab Kings are occupying the 6th place, having mustered the same number of wins in 8 matches. When these two sides met in IPL Phase 1, the Punjab Kings beat the Rajasthan side by just 4 runs in a high-scoring rubber.

For the Rajasthan side, it was their skipper Sanju Samson who lit up Phase one of the tournament with the willow. The stylish right-hander scored 277 runs in 7 innings in the first leg and scored his runs at a healthy average of 46.17. Chris Morris sizzled with the ball in hand for the ‘Men in Pink’ in the first leg. The right-arm pacer scalped 14 wickets in the 7 matches that he played and picked his wickets at an average of just 16.00.

There have been some personnel changes for Rajasthan for IPL Phase 2. Jos Buttler will not be available for the second leg, and Evin Lewis will take his place. Also, Tabraiz Shamsi will replace Andrew Tye. While Ben Stokes has taken a break from the game and will be replaced by Oshane Thomas, Glenn Phillips will replace tearaway pacer Jofra Archer.

On the other hand, the Punjab side too has some new recruits as well. Nathan Ellis has replaced Riley Meredith in the squad, and wily England leg spinner Adil Rashid has come in place of Jhye Richardson. And finally, South African Aiden Markram will replace Dawid Malan in the squad.

Both Punjab and Rajasthan desperately need to start off their campaigns on a winning note. So, will the Royals start their campaign on a royal note, or will the Kings tame the Royals?

Pitch and Conditions

As we saw in the first match of IPL Phase 2 between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI), run-scoring will not be easy on this surface. As Ruturaj Gaikwad showed, batsmen need to spend some time out in the middle, before unleashing their shots on this pitch.

Playing Combinations for PBKS vs RR

Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings will go with their regular opening pair of skipper KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. The West Indian duo of Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran will occupy the No.3 and No.4 spots. Deepak Hooda and Moises Henriques are likely to come in at No.5 and No.6.

England recruit Adil Rashid and Harpreet Brar are sure to take the field, while one out of Ravi Bishnoi or Murugan Ashwin will get the nod. The two specialist pacers who will take the field are veteran Mohammed Shami and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

Predicted XI: Lokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Adil Rashid, Mohammad Shami, Murugan Ashwin / Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh

Rajasthan Royals

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the batting for the ‘Men in Pink’ alongside Liam Livingstone. Skipper Sanju Samson will be slotted in at No.3, while Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube will come in at No.4 and No.5 respectively.

Big-hitting batsman David Miller will occupy the No.6 slot, while all-rounders Chris Morris and Rahul Tewatia will come in at No.7 and No.8 respectively. The 3 specialist bowlers who will complete the lineup are Chetan Sakariya, Jaydev Unadkat, and Tabraiz Shamsi.

Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, David Miller, Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, Chetan Sakariya, Jaydev Unadkat, Tabraiz Shamsi