IPL 2022, Match 3: PBKS vs RCB, Stats Preview: Players records and approaching milestones

Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face each other in the third match of IPL 2022 at DY Patil Stadium on 27th March. It would be the second match of the Sunday double header. In IPL 2021, Royal Challengers Bangalore did well to finish with nine wins, but missed out on a top-two finish due to net run-rate. Afterward, RCB lost the eliminator and got knocked out. The other team in this match, Punjab Kings had a lopsided 2021 season, finishing with 12 points.

Punjab Kings no longer have the services of the 2020 Orange Cap winner KL Rahul in 2022. Yet they have an undoubtedly strong top-3 in Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, and Jonny Bairstow. These three players scored plenty of runs, averaging above 40 last season. Bairstow, however, won’t be available for the opening game. Notably. the root problem of Punjab Kings starts after their top-order, much like the recent seasons. They have plenty of talented players, but they are inconsistent and yet to prove their potential at the top level.

Without Jonny Bairstow, the middle order of Shahrukh Khan, Raj Bawa, Odean Smith, and Benny Howell all have the firepower but lack the experience in IPL. If all of them click together, the PBKS batting line-up would be a potent one. Punjab have a decent bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada along with the spin pair of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. However, the death bowling sparks a concern.

Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore had their long-serving captain Virat Kohli being replaced by a 37-year-old Faf du Plessis. Faf is set to open the batting with the other opening spot likely to be filled by Anuj Rawat. He has played only two IPL games but is one of the top performers at the domestic level.

The middle-order features Virat Kohli Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, who have plenty of experience, and they must be determined to solve the team’s batting depth issues. They have a top bowling line-up that includes the leading wicket-taker of 2021 IPL (Harshal Patel) as well as the leading wicket-taker of 2021 in T20Is (Wanindu Hasaranga). The likes of Mohammed Siraj and Shahbaz Ahmed have conceded under seven runs per over last season, making it one of the best line-ups on paper.

Let’s look at some of the important stats and numbers ahead of the 3rd match between PBKS and RCB in the Indian Premier League 2022:

3 – Virat Kohli, once he comes to bat, will become the third player to appear in 200 IPL innings, with the first two players being Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.

1 – Virat Kohli will become the first player to appear in 200 IPL innings for the same team.

65 – Faf du Plessis (2935) requires 65 runs to complete 3000 runs in the IPL.

4 – Du Plessis (96) also requires four sixes to reach 100 sixes in the IPL.

50 – Harshal Patel will bowl his 50th IPL innings for RCB. Having first played for RCB in 2012, Harshal has played for Delhi Capitals in the 2018-20 season, before returning to RCB and winning the purple cap last season.

2011 – DY Patil Stadium will make an IPL return for the first time in 11 years, after hosting its last match in May 2011.

4 – Virat Kohli needs four more fours to become the second player with 550 fours in IPL, after Shikhar Dhawan.

15 – Virat Kohli is set to become the only player to play at least one match in all 15 IPL seasons for the same team.

1 – One four needed by Dinesh Karthik to reach 400 fours in IPL.