IPL 2021: Punjab Kings Predicted Playing XI Against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Punjab Kings have two matches left in the round-robin stage of the 2021 Indian Premier League. If they want to qualify for the playoffs, KL Rahul and Co. can’t afford to drop a game by any means. Due to a net run rate of -0.236, they are not yet in the top four and only a win can take them there. In their previous game, they beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in Dubai on Friday.

Their next match is against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, October 3 in Sharjah. Earlier this year, PBKS got past RCB courtesy of Harpreet Brar’s all-round brilliance. Although Brar may not be in the eleven, the Punjab-based team is still a strong contender for victory. Since they are coming off a resounding win, Rahul’s men may not end up making a lot of changes in the lineup.

Here’s the PBKS Predicted XI for the PBKS vs RCB match

Openers- KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal

KL Rahul has been sensational for PBKS in the ongoing tournament. The right-hander is 11 short of 500 runs this season and has played at an average of 54.33 and a strike rate of 130.74. Having smashed five fifties, he has looked in ominous touch. The opener has never looked out of form in the league.

In the previous game against the Knight Riders, he also got the Player of the Match award for his team. Agarwal, on the other hand, made a decent comeback after recovering from a stiff back. He has scored 372 runs at an average of 41.33 and a strike rate of 143.07 with three half-centuries.  

Middle-order- Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan

Chris Gayle isn’t a part of PBKS anymore and in his absence, Aiden Markram has a massive task at hand. But the latter has played his part to some extent, having scored 113 runs from four matches at an average of 37.66. But it’s the strike rate of 116.49 that the South African batter needs to work on.

Nicholas Pooran’s horrible run of form is refusing to end. In 10 innings, the left-handed batter has scored a mere 82 runs with a top score of 32. He needs to find his form to boost Punjab’s middle order. Deepak Hooda’s form is also concerning. Shahrukh Khan looked in great touch last time.

All-rounder- Fabian Allen

Fabian Allen is an excellent prospect for the West Indies and he is an important part of the PBKS lineup as well. However, he hasn’t had much to do in the tournament until now. In three matches, the left-armer has only picked up one wicket. He will be looking for a decent show in the upcoming encounter.

Bowlers- Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami have continued to lead the PBKS bowling lineup with a lot of dignity. The left-armer Arshdeep is currently the leading run-scorer for the team, having picked up 16 wickets. The southpaw has been exceptional at the death and has bowled Yorkers with ease.

Shami, on the other hand, is just behind Arshdeep with 15 wickets. Ravi Bishnoi has played only seven games and has already picked up 11 wickets. Most importantly, the leg-spinner has given his team breakthroughs in the middle overs. Nathan Ellis is yet to find his rhythm in the T20 tournament.