Home challenge for PBKS as Royals search for spark

IPL 2025

Home challenge for PBKS as Royals search for spark

by Gokul Gopal • Published on

Can PBKS turn Mullanpur into a fortress? © BCCI

Home can either be a fortress or a formidable challenge. Even for a team like Chennai Super Kings, who have the best win record in home matches, conditions at Chepauk have proven to be tricky in recent years, with the side losing three out of their last six games there. Nevertheless, having a core group of players year after year at a familiar venue is a major advantage, something teams like CSK have relied on. In this context, the Punjab Kings present a completely different story.

Since the 2023 season, PBKS have had three different venues they've called home. From the PCA stadium in Mohali, they shifted base to Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, while also playing home matches in Dharamsala. Four losses out of five games in Mullanpur (where they play four matches this season) and a winless record in Dharamsala (where they play three games in 2025) come as a stiff challenge for the new-look PBKS, who will become the last team this season to play their maiden home match.

However, setting past records aside, the Kings have made a promising start this season. They are one of only two teams yet to face defeat, boasting a well-balanced squad and a wealth of leadership experience in captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting. The batting, powered by Iyer and the top order, has looked effective in the first two matches while the bowlers have made their mark in key moments, all of which bodes well for PBKS as they aim to carry their good form into two back-to-back home matches.

Up against them are Rajasthan Royals, who bounced back from two early losses with a win over CSK. However, there are still issues they need to address. Yashasvi Jaiswal hasn't found his rhythm, and the batting order has lacked the spark of previous seasons, especially with limited overseas firepower. That said, Nitish Rana and Dhruv Jurel have stepped up when needed. On the bowling front, things are beginning to click - Jofra Archer has recovered from two expensive outings, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are starting to form a promising partnership. With the bowling showing signs of stability, the onus now shifts to the top order to deliver the kind of starts that can set up more complete performances.

When: Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur

What to expect: Going by past records, 180-190 would be a good total batting first. Mumbai Indians' 192 against PBKS was the highest total in IPL 2024 at the new Chandigarh stadium, which has favoured the bowlers more. Totals of 180-plus in the first innings were achieved only twice last season, while there have been only two 200-plus totals in 28 T20 matches played at this ground since it started hosting in October 2022. Spinners had an economy rate of 7.08 here in IPL 2024, the lowest among the 13 venues last year.

Head to head: RR have a 16-12 record against PBKS in the IPL, which includes six wins out of nine since 2020.

Team watch

Punjab Kings

Injury and availability: Punjab Kings do not have any injury concerns at the moment.

Tactics & match-ups: Chahal could be used early in the innings as he is a good match-up option against Samson and Rana. He's dismissed Rana six times in 13 innings while Samson has been out 5 times in 10 innings to his former team-mate. Marcus Stoinis too could prove useful with the ball, having dismissed Jaiswal thrice in four innings.

Probable XII: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Nehal Wadhera/Harpreet Brar

Rajasthan Royals

Injury and availability: Samson will return as captain and wicketkeeper of the team, having played the first three matches as impact sub under Riyan Parag's leadership.

Tactics & match-ups: Sandeep Sharma will be a key bowler for RR, especially against the likes of Iyer, Maxwell and Stoinis, who have collectively been dismissed by him 7 times in 18 innings, while their batting strike rate is also on the lower side.

Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya

Did you know?

- Among those who have faced at least 75 balls, Shashank Singh has the second best strike rate (232.46) in the death overs in IPL since 2024

- Shreyas Iyer has the third best win percentage as captain (58.33%), behind MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, among those who have led in at least 50 games

- Yashasvi Jaiswal has been dismissed seven times by short balls in the IPL since 2024 out of the 15 times he's gotten out to pacers.

- Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker in T20s since 2024, with 94 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 15.73 with an economy of 7.13

What they said:

I think we need to be wise while looking at the Impact Player. It depends on the venue, ground, and team combination. You cannot go in one direction regarding the Impact Player. We have options for impact players, all-rounders, spinners, and fast bowlers. Like we used Vyshak [Vijaykumar] in Ahmedabad, which came out really well as he was prepared. If there are more options, then there is always an opportunity for the players to be ready to try and do well for the team." - Sunil Joshi, PBKS spin-bowling coach.

"Missing out on three games, I was just holding myself back and seeing the game from a different perspective (as an impact player). So, it was a bit different learning and different experience for me to sit at the dugout and see my friends and young brothers playing out there, fighting out there. I am very happy and excited to be back and to be fully fit, to keep wickets, to play as a normal player. I'm really looking forward to it and it feels very exciting" - Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals captain.

© Cricbuzz

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