IPL 2024 – Match 6: Jonny Bairstow to open, Sam Curran at number three; PBKS Probable Playing 11 vs RCB

Punjab Kings (PBKS), after winning their first match, are now scheduled to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on 25th March, Monday.

PBKS will be looking to register their second win after beating DC in the first match, and RCB, on the other hand, will look to get their first two points of the season.

Overseas Players Stepped up for PBKS in the First Match

Punjab’s most expensive player, Sam Curran, scored a match-winning fifty for them in the first match and stitched a crucial partnership with Liam Livingstone, who also smashed the winning shot for the team.

Kagiso Rabada with the ball looked threatening in his second spell, conceding a total of 36 runs in his 4 overs quota, picking up one wicket, and Jonny Bairstow was quite unlucky to get run out at the non-striker’s end, but in his 3-ball stay, he played two drives for boundaries, and he will be looking forward to putting up a big score against RCB.

Sam Curran: The Anchor of PBKS

Curran came out to bat at 4 for PBKS against DC in a run chase of 175. He first stitched a 42-run partnership with the impact player Prabhsimran Singh and then accelerated once Singh departed. Curran was batting on 22 off 20 deliveries, and then he went on scoring 41 runs off the next 27 deliveries, ensuring the victory for his team.

Spinners Played their Role Well:

Experienced Rahul Chahar had conceded 29 runs in his first 3 overs, but then in his last over, he took the wicket of the dangerous Tristan Stubbs and conceded just 4 runs.

Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar conceded only 14 runs in the three overs that he bowled and took the wicket of Ricky Bhui. Both the spinners might find it tough here in Chinnaswamy due to short boundaries, but that also provides an opportunity for both to impress the team management, fans, and the selectors.

Harshal Patel’s Death Bowling a Concern:

Harshal’s death bowling has been an issue for a long time now, and that was the reason behind RCB releasing him. He also lost his spot in the Indian team due to his poor death bowling. 

In the previous match, Harshal conceded just 22 runs in his first 3 overs, picking up 2 crucial wickets, but in his last over, he was smashed all around the park by youngster Abhishek Porel for 26 runs. PBKS has bought Harshal for 10.75 crores, and they will be hoping for a good performance from him against his former team.

PBKS Probable XI against RCB:

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (w), Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Player: Prabhsimran Singh/Vidhwath Kaverappa.