Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings: Can Kings find balance against RCB

While at the start of the season, it looked easy for Punjab Kings to find a spot in the Top 4, their journey looks short for that. 

Punjab Kings have had a hot and cold season and failed to rack up consecutive wins. Their story should have been entirely different with the batting line-up full of power hitters and so strong on paper. The team struggled in capitalising on the individual players' strengths as a team strength to put forward a competitive performance for opponents. Nonetheless, sitting at eighth place with 10 points, skipper Mayank Agarwal and his men will be aiming to leave no stone unturned in this significant and crucial clash.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore are coming into this game with a two-match winning momentum. They will look to win tonight's match and move a step ahead in the race for the playoffs. Their top-order batting uncertainty remains a matter of concern even when approaching the end of the tournament. Their bowlers have been going strong and clinical in sealing wins for their team. Placed in the fourth spot with 14 points, this game is crucial for the team to win. 

Players to watch out for

Batters: Faf du Plessis and Shikhar Dhawan

Both the openers are leading run-scorers of their franchises. They have played a vital role in anchoring the innings for their team. While leading his team, Faf du Plessis scored an indispensable 73 off 50 balls against SRH to put a respectable total on board. At the same time, Shikhar Dhawan has scored two half-centuries in the last five matches and will look to capitalise in this one as well.

Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada and Wanindu Hasaranga

Kagiso Rabada has scalped 18 wickets in 10 matches with an average of 17.94, an economy of 8.72, and a strike rate of 12.3. Rabada is currently joint-third among the bowlers who have picked the most wickets this season. In contrast, Wanindu Hasaranga achieved his best bowling figures in the T20s during the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he picked five wickets for 18 runs and won the Player of the Match award. Being the most successful bowler for RCB this season, he has taken 21 wickets at an average of 15.33.

Stats to keep an eye on

• The previous clash of this season was a battle of sixes, witnessing 27 sixes (the most in a game in IPL 2022)
• Arshdeep Singh has given away just five sixes off the 38 overs he has bowled this season.
• Virat Kohli has been dismissed in the first 15 balls on eight occasions in IPL 2022. 
• Kagiso Rabada's 18 wickets are the highest wickets taken by a pacer in IPL 2022.

The last time they played against each other this season, Punjab Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets. It will be interesting to see if Punjab can replicate their previous performance or if Bangalore will win it to avenge the earlier loss. The match is crucial for RCB to win, giving them a stronghold in the Top 4.