Riyan Parag, the rising star from India's north-east, is anticipated to receive a hero's welcome from his local supporters when Rajasthan Royals (RR) aim to secure their spot in the IPL playoffs against the eliminated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their penultimate league match on Wednesday. Sanju Samson's men, who have been winless in their last 3 games, will be hoping for a strong finish to their league stage to confirm a top-two finish.
Currently placed second in the 10-team IPL standings with 16 points, the Royals need just one victory in their next two 'home' games in Guwahati to confirm their place in the last four. For the past several years, Guwahati has served as a second home base for the Royals, a strategic decision that has paid off as the franchise has invested significantly in developing Parag’s potential over the last six years.
Despite facing criticism on social media for his inconsistency, Parag's homecoming this season is noteworthy. He has amassed 483 runs at a striking rate of 153, a remarkable feat considering he is not an opener. His stable performance and ability to adapt to match situations have already positioned him as a strong contender for India's next T20 series, where he is expected to make his international debut. This milestone would make Parag the first cricketer from the north-eastern region of India to don the senior team's iconic blue jersey.
The significance of Parag's emergence as a prominent cricketer from the north-east adds an extra layer of importance to RR's upcoming matches, including their next face-off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The natural support for the 22-year-old Parag will undoubtedly boost the morale of Sanju Samson and his team against Punjab Kings. PBKS has introduced talents like Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, but they have struggled to perform cohesively as a team this season.
The absence of their skipper Shikhar Dhawan for most of the season due to injury has further hampered PBKS. His stand-in, Sam Curran, has been unable to fill the leadership void effectively. In contrast, Sanju Samson has thrived as a leader, potentially having his best season as a batsman, already accumulating 486 runs. Although the dynamic opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (344 runs) and Jos Buttler (359 runs) have had an average season, Parag and Samson have ensured that RR’s batting lineup remains strong and consistent, with the low-scoring game against CSK being an exception.
RR's most formidable strength this season has been their bowling unit, which has consistently performed well. Sandeep Sharma, with an economy rate of 8.07 in the death overs, and Trent Boult, with an economy rate of 8.38 at the start, have executed their plans flawlessly. Ravichandran Ashwin has become more effective as the tournament has progressed, and Yuzvendra Chahal always has the potential to deliver a game-changing ball.
Team News
The Englishmen have started returning home, with Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone leaving for the UK already. Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran are also expected to reach England this weekend but should be available for this contest.
Head-to-head record
The two teams have faced each other 27 times, with RR winning 16 of those compared to 11 wins for the Punjab Kings. In their earlier meeting this season, the Royals emerged victorious by 3 wickets on the penultimate ball of the game.
Weather Report
The temperatures during the contest should hover around 30-32°C; there's also a 20% chance of rain. Guwahati will be praying for the rain clouds to stay away.
Probable XIs
RR Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS Probable XI: Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa
Full squads
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (wk/c), Riyan Parag, Donovan Ferreira, Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Tanush Kotian, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Kunal Singh Rathore, Navdeep Saini, Keshav Maharaj, Shimron Hetmyer, Nandre Burger, Dhruv Jurel, Abid Mushtaq
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Shikhar Dhawan Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan, Chris Woakes, Atharva Taide, Nathan Ellis, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh
BCCI invites applications for the position of Team India Head Coach
(With PTI inputs)
