Punjab Kings will face Rajasthan Royals at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala in the 66th game of IPL 2023 on Friday 19th May. This is a must-win game for both teams to qualify for the playoff. RR is in a better position due to their net run rate and with a win in this game, the standing will be more interesting. Read the full match preview, pitch report & every detail about the PBKS vs RR match with Dream XI team prediction in our fantasy sports segment.

Read Also: Mohammed Shami has the most Powerplay wickets in IPL 2023

PBKS vs RR

Match Details:

• Match: 66
• Date: 19/05/2023
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
• Where to watch: Star Sports, Jio Cinema

Venue Details | Pitch Report

The pitch at the HPCA Stadium is a batting-friendly surface. Here the fast bowlers get a little help.  In the last match, we have seen a high-scoring game where in both innings the teams scored 200 runs. Here the boundaries are short in size and the ball comes on to the bat nicely which helps the batters to score quickly in the game. It is expected to be another high-scoring game between PBKS and RR.

In IPL 2023 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala

• 1st-inning score: 213
• 2nd-inning score: 198
• Matches won by the team batting 1st: 1
• Matches won by the team batting 2nd: 0

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Head to Head

• Matches Played: 25
• PBKS won: 11
• RR won: 14

Read Also: IPL 2023 Qualification Scenarios after the GT vs SRH Game & Points Table

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings | Team News

Punjab Kings:

Punjab lost their last game here at Dharmashala against Delhi. This is a must win game for them where they need to win by a big margin to boost their net run rate. Livingstone played a superb knock of 94 runs but failed to finish the game. But their bowlers aren't in good form in the tournament and leaked a lot of runs in the last match. They need to fight back to win the game and stay in the hunt for playoffs.

Rajasthan Royals:

Rajasthan had a thrashing defeat against RCB in the last game and they need to come out from that defeat. This is a must win game for them and their last chance to keep the playoff berth. They have good batsmen in their lineup and they scored consistently in the tournament. Jaiswal and Buttler have a good tournament and scored a lot of runs. Their bowlers also have a good tournament and need to perform well once more to keep their playoff berth alive.

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Possible Lineup

Punjab Kings:

• Prabhsimran Singh
• Shikhar Dhawan
• Atharva Taide
• Liam Livingstone
• Jitesh Sharma
• Sam Curran
• Harpreet Brar
• Rahul Chahar
• Kagiso Rabada 
• Nathan Ellis
• Arshdeep Singh

Rajasthan Royals:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Jos Buttler
• Sanju Samson
• Devdutt Padikkal
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Dhruv Jurel
• Ravichandran Ashwin
• Adam Zampa
• Sandeep Sharma
• KM Asif
• Trent Boult
• Yuzvendra Chahal

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals | Dream XI Team Prediction

We have all heard multiple times that T20 cricket is a batter’s game. However, one thing is to be noted that it is a bowler who turns the game for his team most times. The teams across the world have understood the fact that they need a good set of bowlers to win a tournament. This is true in the biggest T20 tournament IPL as well.

Over the years, it has been seen that teams who possess quality bowlers perform quite well, while those who struggle in this department generally lag behind.

So, let's take a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Squads of every IPL team after the auction

Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in IPL history:

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 160* Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja is easily the most well-rounded cricketer India has ever produced. A major portion of his success needs to be credited to the IPL, as the Saurashtra superstar built his international career by learning in the IPL under cricketing greats like Shane Warne, MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming, and others. 

Apart from missing the 2010 season, Ravindra Jadeja has played all the other seasons with him representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2012. He has played 240 games taking 160 wickets with the ball with an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 7.62.

His generational fielding skills have also shined, as the 36-year-old has taken 103 catches in the competition, making him ‘The Ultimate All-rounder’ as he is the only player to have 1000+ runs, 100+ wickets, and 100+ catches, fulfilling his 3-dimensional abilities to the fullest. 

9. Jasprit Bumrah | 165* Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah, the game-changer of the game has put his name at no. 9 on this list of bowlers who scalped the most wickets in IPL history. Bumrah has been playing for Mumbai Indians since the 2013 season, in which the franchise bought him at a cheap price.

Bumrah has scalped 165 wickets in 133 games with an average of 22.51. Meanwhile, Bumrah has bowled at an economy rate of 7.30 in the franchise cricket league. This year he will be playing for MI again as the franchise retained him before the mega auction.

8. Lasith Malinga | 170 Wickets

Lasith Malinga, who is undoubtedly the greatest pacer in the IPL history has taken 170 wickets in 122 games he has played. Malinga averages 19.79 with the bowl and maintained an economy rate of 7.14 in the cash-rich league. 

Though 108 of these wickets have come in death overs where batters try to score at a faster pace and often get out in the process, still his overall numbers are too good to be questioned.

Malinga started playing for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 season, and last appeared in the 2019 season. His final over in the 2019 final was enough to prove his greatness even at that stage of his career.

7. Amit Mishra | 174 Wickets

The next bowler on the list is Indian leggie Amit Mishra who has picked 174 wickets in 162 games. The seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL, Mishra, went unsold in the mega auction of IPL 2025. 

He has recorded an impressive economy of 7.37 in the league and has been crucial in taking wickets in middle overs. However, previously he has played for Lucknow Super Giants.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin | 180* Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin is always known as a great bowler in Test cricket but he has also proved his ability in the shortest format of the game. Meanwhile, Ash comes at number six on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Ashwin also has picked 180 wickets in 212 matches with an average of 29.82. He has also maintained an economy rate of 7.12. 

Ashwin went on to play for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, and returns to the CSK fold after having featured for Rajasthan Royals for the last three seasons.

The Indian off-spinner was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Ashwin had burst onto the scene in 2009 with CSK under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He represented Super Kings till 2015 and was part of two title-winning campaigns, in 2010 and 2011. 

5. Sunil Narine | 180* Wickets

The next bowler on this is none other than the West Indies magician Sunil Narine. Narine has taken 180 wickets in 176 games with an average of 25.39 and bowls with an economy rate of 6.73. 

He has been a crucial member of the Kolkata-based franchise KKR, as the franchise won the league back in 2012, 2014, and 2024.

Narine has also played as an opener under Gambhir's captaincy. However, currently, he is with the KKR franchise as they retain the off-spinner before the IPL 2025 mega auction.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 181* Wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 181 wickets is the fourth name in this list of players with the most wickets in IPL. Bhuvi has played in 176 matches in which he took those 181 wickets at an average of 27.23. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.56 in the league. 

Meanwhile, Bhuvi will play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise as they bought him in the IPL 2025 mega auction at a whopping 10.75 crore price.

3. Dwayne Bravo | 183 Wickets 

Dwayne Bravo with 183 wickets is the third name on the list. He is the second pacer after Lasith Malinga on the list to take the most wickets in IPL. 

Bravo had been a vital cog in Chennai’s bowling lineup, particularly in the death overs. With MS Dhoni being captain, Bravo’s potential has been used very cleverly for the team’s benefit. 

The all-rounder has played 161 IPL games and averages 23.82 with the ball. 

He played his last IPL match in the 2022 season for Chennai.

2. Piyush Chawla | 192 Wickets

Piyush Chawla, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 in the mini-auction is the second-highest wicket-taker in the league history. He has picked 192 wickets in 192 matches with an average of 26.60 and an economy being 7.96. 

Piyush Chawla has earlier featured for Chennai, Punjab, and Kolkata-based franchises in the cash-rich league.

Over the last two years, Chawla was the lead spinner for Mumbai Indians. But, no teams went for him in IPL 2025 auction.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 205* Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets in IPL history. Chahal has played in 160 games in which he has scalped 205 wickets with an average of 22.44. Moreover, he has an economy of 7.84 in the league.

Previously Chahal has played for RCB till 2021 and this season he will be featuring the Rajasthan Royals as they bought him in the IPL mega auction.

Chahal was with Rajasthan Royals since the 2022 season, claiming 66 wickets in 46 games. He has also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians earlier in the IPL. He is among the 19 bowlers to have claimed a hat-trick in the IPL.

The leg-break bowler also won the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket-taker during the 2022 season, with 27 wickets to his name in 17 games at an average of 19.51 and an economy of 7.75.

There are only 9 days left for the IPL 2025 event. 

The upcoming season of the Indian Premier League will start from March 22 with reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. 

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has been declared the captain of Punjab Kings.

Recall that Shreyas was bought by Punjab in the mega auction by paying Rs 26.75 crore. 

Also Read: IPL 2025: Stats of every RCB captain so far in IPL

With this he became the second most expensive player in IPL history. 

Well, apart from Punjab, many teams have announced the name of their captain.

While releasing its retention list, Mumbai Indians had said that Hardik Pandya will remain the captain of MI next season. 

While Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the captain of CSK after the successful trial of IPL 2024, Pat Cummins would like to take SRH to the final for the second consecutive season.

Even though the performance of Gujarat Titans last season was disappointing, the team has once again shown confidence in Shubman Gill. 

Sanju Samson will lead the Rajasthan Royals team.

Rishabh Pant, who went from Delhi to Lucknow, is the most expensive player of IPL.

Lucknow bought him for Rs 27 crore. Pant will lead the Lucknow team.

On the other hand, Rajat Patidar was named the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain.

Also Read: IPL 2025: RCB name Rajat Patidar as their new captain

So far, Delhi Capitals remain the only team to not announce their captain. There are reports that KL Rahul has declined the captaincy of the team.

The five teams who will have new captains heading into IPL 2025 are: Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.

IPL 2025 | Captains of Every Franchise

• Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad
• Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill
• Lucknow Super Giants - Rishabh Pant
• Mumbai Indians - Hardik Pandya
• Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer
• Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rajat Patidar
• Sunrisers Hyderabad - Pat Cummins
• Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane
• Delhi Capitals - Yet to be announced 

Rajasthan Royals (RR) will commence their IPL 2025 campaign on 23 March 2025 as they will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in an away game. The Sanju Samson-captained side will play their opening two home games in Guwahati and will play their first game in Jaipur on 13 April against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The inaugural champions of the IPL qualified for the play-offs in IPL 2024, as they finished third after failing to go past Qualifier 2.

Read Also | IPL 2025 Full Schedule: Kolkata to host the opener and final; KKR to face RCB in the first match

Here is the full IPL 2025 Schedule of Rajasthan Royals.

IPL 2025 Schedule of Rajasthan Royals

1. March 23, Sunday - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals - 3:30 PM - Hyderabad
2. March 26, Wednesday - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - 7:30 PM - Guwahati
3. March 30, Sunday - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings - 7:30 PM - Guwahati
4. April 5, Saturday - Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals - 7:30 PM - Mullanpur
5. April 9, Wednesday - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals - 7:30 PM - Ahmedabad
6. April 13, Sunday - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru - 3:30 PM - Jaipur
7. April 16, Wednesday - Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals - 7:30 PM - Delhi
8. April 19, Saturday - Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants - 7:30 PM - Jaipur
9. April 24, Thursday - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals - 7:30 PM - Bengaluru
10. April 28, Monday - Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans - 7:30 PM - Jaipur
11. May 1, Thursday - Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians - 7:30 PM - Jaipur
12. May 4, Sunday - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals - 3:30 PM - Kolkata
13. May 12, Monday - Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals - 7:30 PM - Chennai
14. May 16, Friday - Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings - 7:30 PM - Jaipur

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The 18th edition of the prestigious tournament will commence on March 22, 2025 and the Final will be played on May 25, 2025 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The 74 matches of the season will be played across 13 venues and will include 12 double-headers. While the afternoon games will begin at 03.30 PM IST, the evening games will begin from 07.30 PM IST.

RCB to face KKR in the IPL 2025 Opener

The cricketing extravaganza will kick off when the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) host the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 22, 2025.

The first of the 12 double-headers day will take place on March 23, 2025 as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an afternoon game in Hyderabad. This will be followed by a mouthwatering clash in the evening as the two five-time IPL champions – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) – lock horns at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play their respective first match of the season when they take on each other in Visakhapatnam on March 24, 2025. The world’s biggest cricket stadium – Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – will host its first game of the season when Gujarat Titans (GT) host Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 25, 2025.

DC, RR and PBKS to play at two venues in IPL 2025

Three of the ten IPL teams will play at two venues each. DC will play their home games in Visakhapatnam and at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. RR will play their two home games at Guwahati - where they host KKR and CSK – and play the remainder of the home games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. 

PBKS, meanwhile, will play their four home matches at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh while the picturesque Dharamsala will host three home games of PBKS – against LSG, DC and MI – at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

Following the conclusion of the league stage, the Playoffs will be played across Hyderabad and Kolkata. Hyderabad will host the Qualifier 1 and Eliminator on May 20, 2025 and May 21, 2025 respectively.

The action will then shift to Kolkata which will host the Qualifier 2 on May 23, 2025. The all-engrossing summit clash of the TATA IPL 2025 will be played on May 25, 2025.

IPL 2025 Schedule

Imagine what you're doing at the age of 13. You probably were going to a school or playing at a local sports academy. But can you imagine at 13 years old age you can become a crorepati in India playing professional cricket? Yes, you can if you are Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was picked by Rajasthan Royals at a whooping 1.10 crore rupees in the recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction.

After the mega auction, Vaibhav was a household name in India. But, you will be shocked knowing that he has been playing cricket under BCCI since the age of eight and has already played at the first-class level. He has already featured in five first-class matches and played a T20 game for Bihar earlier this year.

Moreover, he became the youngest overall and fastest India centurion in Youth Test Cricket's history, when he slammed a 58-ball ton in an unofficial test against Australia at M.A Chidambaram earlier this year.

After his record-breaking inning, Sportz Point got to have a word with the young sensation during the Bengal vs Bihar Ranji Trophy match, which was called off due to rain and wet outfield. Vaibhav at that time had revealed that all of his aggression and quick scoring come naturally to him and he is a great fan of Brian Lara. As a left-handed batter, he loves to watch the former West Indian legend's old highlights and how he used to dominate bowlers during his era.

Read Also | IPL 2025 Auction: Top 10 Most Expensive players of the auction

Vaibhav has been getting support from his family, friends and coaches from an early age to get where he is currently. Bihar's head coach Ashok Kumar is one of those coaches who has helped the teenager to be able to come this far now. After his record-breaking IPL deal with Rajasthan Royals, Sportz Point got to know more about Vaibhav via Ashok Kumar.

A few players like Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, who are actually from Bihar, had to move to Kolkata for better opportunities in cricket. Due to the lack of infrastructure and exposure, many players from the state have gone unnoticed in recent decades. But, this was not the case for a sensational talent like Vaibhav and for that, Ashok Kumar wants to thank the Bihar Cricket Association for giving this "once in a generation" talent a chance so early.

"Congrats to Vaihav. He is a great talent we all know. I have been watching him since he got the chance in the Bihar U-19 team. Watching this kid grow as a player, has been remarkable for me and everyone in Bihar," Ashok Kumar told Sportz Point.

"But, I want to thank and congratulate everyone associated with Bihar Cricket Association for identifying this talent and giving him a chance so early in his career," he added.

Vaibhav from his early days had the skill and temperament to dominate senior bowlers and score big runs. He burst onto the scene with an unbeaten 332 in a U-19 tournament in Bihar;  Randhir Verma Tournament. Ashok Kumar wants Vaibhav to continue with the intent which has helped him so far.

"I have been fortunate to coach the Bihar U-19 and senior team and have seen him up and close in the last few years. I know, with time, many teams will try to watch out for a weakness in his batting. But, the only thing that I always advise him is to keep the intent he has as a batter. He is not afraid of any bowler and his natural ability to hit bowlers will take him very far in his career," Ashok Kumar expressed.

Vaibhav's father Sanjeev Suryavanshi has been his formal coach. He also consults Wasim Jaffer from time to time for advice, whom he had met during a U-19 tournament in Bangladesh in November 2023. Luckily for the youngster, he will now be coached by former Indian Men's team head coach Rahul Dravid, who has developed many U-19 stars into future Indian players during his time with the U-19 and senior team.

Read Also | Exclusive: Inspired by Easwaran's work ethic, a more mature Abishek Porel wants to score big hundreds for Bengal in Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Also, Rahul Dravid and Rajasthan Royals were the franchise that gave young Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag an early chance in the Indian Premier League to showcase their talent. Ashok Kumar feels, that having Rahul Dravid as his coach will only enhance him as an overall player and a human being.

"With Rahul Dravid sir, we all know Vaibhav will learn a lot of great things about his game and I feel his time at the Rajasthan Royals will help him be more disciplined as well. Rajasthan Royals have helped a lot of young players in the past and I am hopeful Vaibhav will also emerge as one of the stars from the franchise," Ashok Kumar stated.

"Vaibhav's presence in the Indian Premier League and the U-19 team will influence many kids in the state to play cricket. They will now believe that if you have the talent and work hard on it, anyone can play at the highest level even from states like Bihar. I feel, a brighter time coming for Bihar State Cricket, via champion players like Vaibhav."