IPL 2024, RR vs PBKS, Key Takeaways: Sam Curran's all-round show ( 63 & 2-24) and bowlers hurt Rajasthan Royals' top 2 finish chances. Top takeaways for RR and Punjab from the game.
Brief Scores: RR 144/8 (Riyan Parag 48, Ravichandran Ashwin 28, Sam Curran 2/24) lost to PBKS 145/5 (Sam Curran 63*, Rilee Rossouw 22, Avesh Khan 2/28) by 5 wickets.
Player of the Match: Sam Curran (63* in 41 balls) & 2/24
Though the match result doesn’t affect the points table, Rajasthan Royals (RR) host Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Guwahati in match 65 of the IPL. In the end, Punjab had the last laugh as they handed Rajasthan their fourth straight loss.
After choosing to bat first, the Royals’ batters found it hard to get, and it was thanks to Riyan Parag's mature innings that they reached 144.
This turned out to be much closer than expected, as PBKS, courtesy of captain Sam Curran’s knock, secured their fifth win of the season with an over to spare.
Key Takeaways from RR vs PBKS, Match 65, Winning Team (PBKS)
Punjab’s collective effort with bat and ball shall elevate the team’s confidence
In a complete performance, the Punjab Kings prevailed over the second-placed Royals in a low-scoring match. Though this came after their elimination from the tournament, it should give them much-needed confidence.
Much of the credit should go to their skipper, Sam Curran, who has been leading the side in Shikhar Dhawan's absence. Though PBKS's campaign has had more downs than ups, Sam Curran has been quite brilliant as a player and skipper. He has led the team from the front when at the helm and has picked 16 wickets in 12 games while scoring 270 runs.
This return of his should make him one of the favorites to be retained by the franchise ahead of next season and give Curran’s confidence level a great boost, especially if he is made the skipper again.
Key Takeaways from RR vs PBKS, Match 65, Losing Team (RR)
RR batters need to find form before playoffs
The Royals are in a slump at the wrong time of their campaign, having lost three games on the bounce before this fixture. Part of the reason has been the indifferent form of their openers and middle-order batters.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, prolific heading into the season, has been inconsistent in IPL 2024, with just two fifty-plus scores. He again failed to make a substantial start in this game, which dented the Royals’ progress in the powerplays.
The same goes for middle-order batters Dhruv Jurel and Rovman Powell. Much was expected of the duo, especially Powell, but the West Indies T20 skipper hasn’t played an impactful knock yet. Apart from a half-century, Jurel has also struggled to get going in any of the games.
The Royals will like this trio to perform well as they head to the playoffs, and even more so without Jos Buttler. Their overreliance on skipper Samson and Riyan Parag is clearly visible between these batting failures.
Read More: IPL 2024, CSK vs RR, Key Takeaways: CSK boost their qualification odds; RR still a step away
Statistical highlights from RR vs PBKS, Match 65
England’s Tom-Kohler Cadmore made his IPL debut representing the Royals.
In a battle of skippers, Sam Curran has dismissed his counterpart Sanju Samson twice in T20 cricket while conceding 21 runs in 16 deliveries.
Samson crossed the 500-run mark in an IPL season for the first team.
Points Table Scenario and what’s next to come
Despite this loss, the Royals are still the second-placed team, and in their league fixture, they take on Kolkata at the same venue.
On the other hand, after this welcome win, PBKS will travel to Hyderabad for their last league game on May 19.
In game number 66, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which has a bright chance of qualifying for the playoffs, will take on Gujarat Titans, who play their last game of the season at Hyderabad.
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