On Sunday, Punjab Kings will seek to strengthen their playoff aspirations with a decisive performance against Rajasthan Royals, who have struggled to find their form this season despite having a talented roster.
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium will host the match after a week-long hiatus, and Shreyas Iyer's team is eager to move past the unfortunate incident on May 8, when their match against Delhi Capitals was abruptly halted due to border tensions between India and Pakistan, forcing players to leave the field in darkness.
Currently sitting in third place with 15 points from 11 matches, PBKS faces some uncertainty regarding lineup changes due to the recent break.
Although Australian players Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis are set to rejoin the squad, they will miss the first match after the IPL's resumption, prompting potential adjustments to the batting order.
The absence of South African pacer Marco Jansen, who has been recalled by Cricket South Africa, is a significant blow, as he has taken 11 wickets this season.
Nonetheless, PBKS boasts a robust Indian core, including captain Shreyas, opener Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Nehal Wadhera, allowing them to cope relatively well with the loss of foreign players amid the Indo-Pak tensions.
On the bowling side, PBKS can count on frontline pacer Arshdeep Singh and in-form spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has claimed 14 wickets in 11 matches, with a best performance of 4/28 and an economy rate under 10.
With New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson stepping in for the injured Lockie Ferguson, PBKS is poised to create a well-rounded team for the clash against RR, with Stoinis and Inglis expected to join for the following match.
The batting lineup will be crucial, especially after their impressive start against Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala, where they reached 122 for one in just over 10 overs before the game was called off.
This performance should instill confidence as they face a struggling Royals team.
Rajasthan Royals have already been eliminated from playoff contention and currently sit ninth in the standings with only three wins from 12 matches.
The disappointed Royals will aim to finish strong in front of their home crowd, but they need to overcome a slump that has seen them lose four of their last five games.
A standout moment came from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored a remarkable century off just 35 balls, but the Royals cannot depend on such individual feats consistently.
The absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, sidelined for most of the season due to injury, has created a significant gap in their batting order. While Suryavanshi's brilliance offered a fleeting spark, the team has struggled to maintain consistent performance.
The batting responsibilities now heavily rely on Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, who must step up if the Royals hope to surprise in their final home game.
Additionally, their bowling lineup has been weakened, with express pacer Jofra Archer choosing not to return for the remaining matches, further complicating an already challenged unit.
