May 29, PBKS vs RCB Match Prediction: Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teams would like to maintain the momentum of their excellent performance in the group stage in Qualifier-1 as well. Although the teams in the top two in the points table get two chances to reach the final, both Punjab and RCB will be eyeing a direct place in the title match.In the group stage, RCB came in second and Punjab first.
After 11 years Punjab has made it to the playoffs
For the first time since 2014, the Punjab Kings have qualified for the playoffs.The credit for this goes to the duo of Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting who changed the culture of the team and gave it a new look. On the other hand, RCB had to face defeat many times in the knockout stage and this time it is hoping to end the title drought. In their own words, both the title contenders have only half done the work.
Will Chahal be able to make a comeback?
The opening pair of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have set the stage for players like Iyer and Josh Inglis. Finisher Shashank Singh has constantly improved his game while Australian player Marcus Stoinis has made the batting even stronger by discovering his potential with the bat. The concern for Punjab is the bowling department, especially after the departure of South African fast bowler Marco Jansen, who has returned home to play for the national team.
Jansen bowled crucial overs in the powerplay and death overs and the team will definitely miss him. Kyle Jamieson has raised some hopes in his first match, but he will have to bowl better to make an impact. All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai can also replace Jansen. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal missed the last two matches due to a finger injury. He is expected to return in this important match and form a strong pair with Harpreet Brar, who always bowls accurately.
RCB will have hope from Kohli
RCB also had concerns about the injuries of some players in the final stages of the tournament, but they have largely overcome that. Coaches expect fast bowler Josh Hazlewood to be fully fit, and they will also include Tim David for selection, which will bring more balance to the team.RCB has been dependent on its top-order batsmen for the past several years, but it seems that this is changing after players like Jitesh Sharma showed their ability in the middle order. Jitesh played the best innings of his IPL career on Tuesday night and his confidence will be sky high before going into the playoffs. From the team’s point of view, it will be important that Phil Salt bats at his best explosively in the powerplay and Virat Kohli continues to bat the way he has been doing throughout the season.
PBKS vs RCB: Probable Playing 11
RCB: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal/Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
PBKS: Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vishak, Arshdeep Singh.
Read More: IPL Playoffs Set: Punjab vs RCB, Gujarat vs Mumbai in High-Stakes Battles!
