Ind T20 League 2023 

Match 66: PUN vs RAJ

Preview 

Match 66 of the Indian T20 League 2023 will see Punjab (PUN) battle it out against Rajasthan (RAJ) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday, May 19. 

The competition is at a stage where the last few matches have taken some engrossing  twists and angles. Here we have a scenario where PUN fresh out of the agonising loss in their last game, taking on RAJ who were so much in the playoff contention till not so long ago. But the way the Ind T20 League 2023 league standings is shaping up, even now, at least RAJ would be relying on mathematical miracle to see if there is any foothold on the knockouts bandwagon. This will definitely be a pie in the sky but hopes live eternal. 

If BLR win both of their remaining games, then the others will be sent packing. But if they lose and so do MUM then RR can even look like the top contender. 

As for PUN, their dreams are almost over. Even if they were to win against RAJ, their Net Run Rate is likely expected to shoot up. But what that will do also align RAJ to history. 

This is not the best place for either side to be in, more so RAJ, since they have all to play for now. As for PUN, they were pretty much in the competition till Wednesday night, but a defeat to bottom placed Delhi ended their campaign for good. 

Liam Livingstone would possibly be the most gutted PUN batter after the DEL loss. His 94 almost got his side over the line but the bowlers had leaked too many runs for him to do any more. 

PUN were always a very unique mix of players. They never had any big names in the ranks, barring Sam Curran, who was bought for a whopping ₹18.25 crores, has done very little over the tournament to justify that price tag. Livingstone has done well in patches, as did skipper Shikhar Dhawan towards the beginning of the season, but just not enough

Amusingly, PUN boast one of the batters who have registered a ton in Ind T20 League 2023 in Prabhsimran Singh. 

The bowling too was wayward.  We had Harpreet Brar and Arshdeep Singh with some terrific spells, as well as Nathan Ellis, but like the batting, it didn’t reflect on their overall performance. 

Despite having Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of their batting order, RR have struggled to perform well in their recent matches. In their last game, their line-up consisted of strong players like Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Joe Root, and Shimron Hetmyer, but they were dismissed for a dismal 59 runs. 

However, the past is behind them now, and RR have another opportunity to earn two points and keep their hopes alive. While their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are slim, they can still hope for other teams to falter under pressure. This may be a long shot, but it's the only chance that Rajasthan Royals have left to make it to the playoffs.

Match Details 

Match: PUN vs RAJ, 66th Match, Indian T20 League 2023

Date: Friday, May 19, 2023

Time: 7:30 PM

Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala 

Pitch and Weather Report

Expect an intriguing contest between bat and ball. The pitch provides assistance for batters initially, but is favourable for pacers as the match progresses. Both PUN and RAJ have strong batting lineups and diverse bowling attacks, ensuring a fascinating clash. The toss could play a pivotal role in this match. The team winning the toss might look to bowl first. 

Partly cloudy skies with a maximum temperature of 21 degree celsius is forecasted on matchday. 

PUN vs RAJ Squads

PUN: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Sikandar Raza, Matthew Short, Rishi Dhawan, Mohit Rathee, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Baltej Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Gurnoor Brar, Shivam Singh

RAJ: David Warner (c), Prithvi Shaw, Philip Salt (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Axar Patel, Aman Hakim Khan, Yash Dhull, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Abishek Porel, Ripal Patel, Praveen Dubey, Mitchell Marsh, Manish Pandey, Lalit Yadav, Chetan Sakariya, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Rovman Powell, Priyam Garg, Vicky Ostwal

PUN vs RAJ Probable Playing XIs

PUN: Shikhar Dhawan(C), Shahrukh Khan, SM Curran, A Taide, LS Livingstone, JM Sharma(wk), RD Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, K Rabada

RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, JE Root, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jos Buttler, SV Samson(C), DC Jurel, Trent Boult, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma

Match Prediction

Both teams have blown hot and cold this season. RAJ will have a slight edge considering their batting firepower. We predict the visitors to win this game. 

Top Fantasy Picks

Liam Livingstone: The explosive batter is coming off an attacking 94 against DEL. Brimming with confidence, the English International would certainly look to finish the season on a high. 

Sam Curran: He hasn’t had the best of times off late. Despite a scratchy season, the English international has managed to pick 9 wickets in 13 innings. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal: His unparalleled ability to go after the opposition bowlers right from the onset is truly special. With 575 runs in 13 innings, the dashing southpaw is amongst the top run getters this season. 

Trent Boult: The left arm pacer is always a threat when the wicket provides assistance to fast bowlers. He can move the ball both ways with ridiculous ease. 

Risky Captaincy Choice

Arshdeep Singh is our pick for this segment. He has struggled for the majority of the tournament and hence can prove to be a highly risky pick. However, the quickie can rattle opposition batters when on song. 

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