Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL
Punjab Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in the 2023 Indian Premier League.
The match is scheduled to start at 7.30pm local time (3pm BST) on Friday, May 19.
The match will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
Both Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings were defeated in their last games, and are now reliant on other results going their way for a chance to qualify for the IPL playoffs.
Punjab's loss to Delhi Capitals was a must win game for Shikhar Dhawan's men. Problems with their seam attack persist, as Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis were again over-expensive. This allowed the Capitals to post an impressive total of 213 with big hitting from Rilee Rossouw. In an exciting game, the Capitals gave the Kings a chance to come back into it, as Anrich Nortje dropped Liam Livingstone on 3; the English batsman went on to make 94 from 48 balls. But wickets tumbled at the other end and there were too many runs to knock off late on, even for Livingstone. The Kings have struggled to win consistently this season, and they might have left it too late.
Rajasthan also lost their last game - but this was in humiliating fashion to Royal Challengers Bangalore. After RCB posted 171, their bowling attack tore through the Royals, bowling them out for 59. Only Shimron Hetmyer (35 off 19 balls) could be proud of his efforts. This was a damaging loss for Rajasthan, not only from a pride point of view but because a win would have allowed them to strengthen their ambitions for the playoffs.
Despite being just the second player to 'retire out' in IPL history against Delhi Capitals, there is nothing to suggest that Atharva Taide, Punjab Kings' No.3 batsman, is injured.
Rajasthan Royals' Trent Boult was left out of the clash against RCB to accommodate Adam Zampa and is available for selection for this game.
Punjab Kings' spinner Rahul Chahar against Rajasthan's middle order. If the Kings manage to take early wickets against the Royals then their middle order, which has been vulnerable at points this season, might struggle against an economical spinner who often chips in with a few wickets for his side.
Matches played: 25
Punjab Kings wins: 11
Rajasthan Royals wins: 14
Mostly sunny in Dharamshala, with a small chance of rain through the afternoon ahead of the start of play. Top temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius.
Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shahrukh Khan, Jonny Bairstow (injured, replaced by Matt Short), Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa (injured, replaced by Gurnoor Singh Brar), Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Baltej Singh, Nathan Ellis, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Mohit Rathee, Shivam Singh
Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Devdutt Padikkal, Jos Buttler, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Sen, Kuldip Yadav, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, KC Cariappa, Jason Holder, Donavon Ferreira, Kunal Rathore, Adam Zampa, KM Asif, M Ashwin, Akash Vashisht, Abdul PA, Joe Root
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Joe Root, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult
Rajasthan Royals are the bookmakers' favourites at a best price of 10/13 in places. Punjab Kings are considered the outsiders at even money.
If Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler are able to take on a Kings' seam attack low on confidence, it is hard to see the Royals struggling in this game. RR win.
In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports.
Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.
Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.
Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.
If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet.
People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.
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