Rajasthan-Punjab IPL Rivalry: Ashwin's Mankading and Tewatia's Sixes

Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings Prepare for a Thrilling IPL Match

The Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings will face each other in a league stage match of the Indian Premier League today at Guwahati's Baraspara Cricket Stadium. This match will renew the exciting rivalry that began in 2019 with Ravichandran Ashwin's controversial mankading of Jos Buttler.

Rajasthan and Punjab's Exciting Past Matches

In the past, this rivalry has given rise to many exciting matches. Last season, Rahul Tewatia made Rajasthan chase a target of 224 runs by hitting five sixes in an over from Punjab's Sheldon Cottrell. In 2021, Karthik Tyagi defended four runs in the last over to give Rajasthan a two-run win over Punjab.

Head-to-Head Record and Players to Watch Out For

Rajasthan and Punjab have played 24 matches against each other in the IPL, with Rajasthan winning 14 and Punjab winning 10. In today's match, Rajasthan's top players will include captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Punjab will be led by Shikhar Dhawan, with Kagiso Rabada making his return to the team.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at Baraspara Cricket Stadium is favorable to batsmen, with an average score of 153 runs. Spinners can also be effective on this pitch. However, in a match played here between India and South Africa in 2022, a total of 458 runs were scored, and only six wickets fell. The team that wins the toss may prefer to chase. The temperature is expected to be between 23 to 25 degree Celsius, with no chance of rain. However, dew may make it difficult for the team bowling later to grip the ball.

Possible Playing 11 and Impact Players

Rajasthan may have four overseas players in their playing 11, including Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, and Trent Boult. Other important players for Rajasthan include Ravichandran Ashwin, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Devdutt Paddikal. Punjab may have Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza, and Sam Karan as their other foreign players, along with captain Dhawan and Kagiso Rabada. Other key players for Punjab include Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar.

The Rajasthan-Punjab rivalry has given fans many exciting matches in the past, and today's match is expected to be no different. With top players from both teams in form and a favorable pitch, fans can expect a high-scoring match.