Rajasthan Royals will face Punjab Kings on Tuesday in Phase-2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL-2021). Whichever team wins this match, will be equal to the fourth-placed Mumbai Indians in terms of points. Mumbai currently has 8 points from 8 matches, while Rajasthan (7 matches) and Punjab (8 matches) have 6 points each. However, both will have to win by a huge margin to snatch the fourth spot from Mumbai. Mumbai's net run rate is -0.071. The net run rate of Rajasthan is -0.190 and that of Punjab is -0.368.
Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul has scored 2978 runs in 79 innings of 88 matches in IPL. That is, they are just 22 runs away from completing 3000 runs. Rahul has a chance to become the second-fastest batsman to score 3000 runs in IPL. The record for the fastest to reach this milestone is in the name of Chris Gayle of his own team. Gayle had scored 3,000 runs in 75 innings in the IPL.
England's star batsman Jos Buttler has recently become a father and has distanced himself from IPL Phase 2. In his absence, West Indies' Evin Lewis can open. The wicketkeeping captain will be Sanju Samson. Lewis was previously considered weak against spin, but recently he has overcome this weakness. In the last Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he has scored against spinners at an average of 57 and strike rate of 138.
In Phase I, Punjab Kings had two great fast bowlers in the form of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, but both of them have decided not to play in Phase 2. Punjab can try Natham Ellis of Australia itself. 26-year-old Ellis is considered a death-over specialist.
If Chris Gayle spends a long time at the crease, then a lot of problems arise for the front team. It is a relief for the Royals that they have the cut of Gayle in the form of South African all-rounder Chris Morris. Morris has so far bowled 61 deliveries against Gayle and has managed to take his wicket thrice for 58 runs. Also, Morris is the second top bowler of this season with 14 wickets.
So far 34 matches of IPL have been played in Dubai. In this, the average score of the first innings has been 166 runs. The fast bowlers get more help here than the spinners. The fast bowlers have taken an average of 3.76 wickets in each innings. At the same time, spinners have taken an average of 1.64 wickets per innings.
In this season of IPL, sixers have been planted fiercely by both teams. The batsmen of Punjab Kings have hit 57 sixes so far. The Rajasthan batsmen are also not far behind and have scored 52 sixes. In the 2021 season, the Royals team is at the forefront of getting the sixer in the death overs. This team has scored 20 sixes in the death overs.
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