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

As IPL 2025 faced disruptions and was suspended on 9th May, 2025, most of the overseas players returned back to their respective home countries.

The tournament is set to resume from 17th May, 2025, and it raises a crucial question about how many overseas players can rejoin their franchises.

Given their international commitments and other issues, check out the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament in IPL 2025 for each team.

IPL 2025 Points Table

Firstly, see where each team stands before the tournament resumes.

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

Overseas players return status for the remainder of IPL 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the resumption of the IPL 2025, bringing cheer to cricket fans across the nation. Following detailed discussions with government and security agencies, the BCCI has confirmed that the season will proceed with a revised schedule, ensuring both safety and excitement.

IPL 2025 was suspended for one week due to the rising tension between India and Pakistan. It will be interesting to see with most of the foreign players already going back home, they will return for the remainder of the IPL 2025 or not. 

Read Also | PSL Players' Terror in Pakistan: Daryl Mitchell Vows Never to Return, Curran Breaks Down after reaching Dubai

The remaining 17 matches will be played across six venues, kicking off on May 17, 2025, and concluding with the final on June 3, 2025. The schedule includes two double-header Sundays, adding to the thrill of the tournament. The playoff stage is set as follows:

• Qualifier 1: May 29

• Eliminator: May 30

• Qualifier 2: June 1

• Final: June 3

The BCCI expressed gratitude to India’s armed forces for their bravery and resilience, which have made the safe return of the IPL possible. The Board emphasised its commitment to the national interest while ensuring the successful completion of the league.

🚨 IPL 2025 to restart from 17th May, final to played on June 3rd!

Lucknow, Jaipur, Delhi and Ahmedabad get two matches each. #IPL2025 #ipl2025update pic.twitter.com/roLXGwEzK0

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) May 12, 2025

IPL 2025 Revised schedule

"Catches win matches" is a well-known proverb that is crucial in terms of cricket. Having exceptional fielders who would get to any extent to grab match-winning catches is a blessing for teams.

IPL has witnessed some unbelievably good fielding efforts from players across the globe. Here's the ones that stood out for their consistency, having the most catches in IPL history.

Virat Kohli (117 catches)

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest athletes in the world and is also considered as an expectional fielder for India. He always lits up the stadium with his energy and agility while fielding for his team.

Kohli has taken a total of 117 catches in 263 matches so far, which is the highest in IPL history. He is barely seen missing or letting the ball go off his hand.

His contributions in aspect of taking catches remains hard to beat, and hopefully there are more to come in the upcoming matches in IPL for RCB.

Read Also: Most Sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL

Suresh Raina (109 catches)

Suresh Raina's contribution in IPL goes beyond his batting performance. He has taken 109 catches in 205 matches for Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions.

Raina ended his IPL journey in 2021 and still his second place in the list of most catches stays unbeaten. He is among the top Indian fielders who took some match-winning catches.

Ravindra Jadeja (108 catches)

Ravindra Jadeja is one name that everyone anticipates when it comes to the category of fielding and catching. His quick reflexes and fielding abilities made him one of the best fielders in the history of not only IPL, but also Indian cricket. 

Jadeja has taken 108 catches in 251 matches for CSK, GL, KTK, and RR. He consistently worked towards taking important wickets for the team and saving boundaries when needed. 

Jadeja also played a crucial role in CSK's success over the years.

Kieron Pollard (103 catches)

Kieron Pollard has served as a fielding pillar for Mumbai Indians throughout his IPL career. He often changed the course of the game in favour of his team by taking difficult catches.

Pollard has taken 103 catches in 189 matches for MI, and some of them were too good to be true! His athleticism proved to be beneficial everytime he is on field, specially near the boundary.

Read Also: Cricket Stats: most catches by a keeper in tests

Rohit Sharma (102 catches)

Rohit Sharma is another Indian player having a catch count of more than hundred in IPL. He has taken 103 catches in 267 matches for MI and DCH. He has proved to be a dependable fielder for his team throughout.

Rohit's game awareness and experience played a crucial role in his fielding, which also aligned with the field setup and his captaincy. He is the 5th player to have 100+ catches in IPL history.

Some IPL innings leave you speechless. The talented players in this tournament have taken the stage to another level with their explosive batting over the years.

Check out the entire article to know some names that will definitely shock you.

10. Suresh Raina (2014) | 16 balls

Suresh Raina is one of the players to score the fastest half-century in the early seasons of IPL. He took only 16 balls to reach his fifty, making it look super easy for the fans.

Raina was the opening batter for CSK and scored this in a match against PBKS in IPL 2024. The endless boundaries that came off his bat in this inning is hard to forget!

Other players who scored a century from 16 balls:

• Ishan Kishan (MI) - 2021
• Abhishek Sharma (SRH) - 2024
• Travis Head (SRH)- 2024

9 & 8. Jake Fraser-McGurk (2024) | 15 balls

Jake Fraser-McGurk, who played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, stunned the spectators with his back-to-back fastest fifties in 2 matches. He scored both the fifties off 15 balls which is quite astonishing as it was his debut season.

McGurk’s consecutive fifties secured both the 9th and 8th position in top 10 fastest fifties in IPL history.

He proved to be highly impactful for DC and these half centuries against MI and SRH made him more impressive. Moreover, he smashed 330 runs in 9 matches with a strike rate above 200.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

7. Nicholas Pooran (2023) | 15 balls

The West Indies power-hitter, Nicholas Pooran, put up a shower of boundaries during his fastest fifty of IPL career from just 15 balls. He scored 62 runs (off 19 balls) in his knock, hitting 7 sixes and 4 fours.

Pooran had a strike rate of 326.32 which says a lot about the kind of mindset and form he was in during the match of LSG vs RCB. 

6. Sunil Narine (2017) | 15 balls

This superstar from the West Indies has never failed to amaze us, be it with the ball or bat. Sunil Narine showcased his exceptional batting skills with this 15-ball half century in IPL 2017.

Narine has played several crucial knocks for KKR in the history of IPL, but with this one, he proved how he is equally capable with the bat and can do wonders.

5. Yusuf Pathan (2014) | 15 balls

Yusuf Pathan scored a sensational fifty against SRH off 15 balls in IPL 2014. He single-handedly took the game home for KKR with his 72 runs off just 22 balls in this inning, with a strike rate above 300.

It shows that KKR indeed had some fearless power-hitters in their team throughout IPL history. 

Read Also: IPL Facts: Fastest Century in IPL History

4. Romario Shepherd (2025) | 14 balls

Romario Shepherd became the only batter in IPL 2025 to score a fifty so fast that could make its way to the top 10 fastest fifties in IPL. He helped RCB reach a 200+ total during the first inning against CSK, which was enough to be a defendable total.

Shepherd hit 6 sixes and 4 fours to score 53* off 14 balls. He was also given player of the match award for his spectacular knock.

3. Pat Cummins (2022) | 14 balls

Here comes a surprising half-century from the Australian all-rounder, Pat Cummins, who scored 50 off 14 balls for KKR in IPL 2022. He helped to seal the victory for his team against MI by 5 wickets (24 balls left). 

Cummins unveiled his boundary-hitting capabilities with 4 fours and 6 sixes, leaving the fans shocked. It is considered to be one of the finest knocks in IPL where he truly showcased his batting skills when needed.

2. KL Rahul (2018) | 14 balls

KL Rahul, who is now known for his calm and composed batting style, holds the second position in the list of top 10 fastest fifties in IPL history. Quite shocking, isn't it?

This was back in IPL 2018 when Rahul showed no mercy to the bowlers of Delhi Capitals with his magnificent fifty off just 14 balls.

He was the opening batter of PBKS, who kept the fans on the edge of their seats from the beginning of the inning.

Read Also: IPL Records: Youngest Half-centurions in IPL History

Yashasvi Jaiswal (2023) | 13 balls

An all-time shocker of an innings from Yashasvi Jaiswal, which remains unmatched till date! He scored fifty off 13 balls, making it the fastest half-century in IPL history.

Jaiswal scored a total of 98 runs (from 47 balls) in this match against KKR and led Rajasthan Royals to victory. He hit the ball out of the boundary line in every direction possible, and was barely seen running between the wickets.

This performance goes down the history of unbelievable knocks in IPL.

With the IPL 2025 playoffs just around the corner, the tension is reaching its peak. Over the years, the Indian Premier League has given fans plenty of memorable moments full of surprises at the fag end of the group stage. Generally, the fans have to wait till the last over of the group stage to know who will qualify for the IPL Playoffs.

Sometimes, it even goes to the final ball as well, to decide the fourth team to qualify.

From teams that regularly reach the playoffs to underdogs who’ve shocked everyone, the path to the final four has always been full of drama. 

Read Also | Most Wickets in IPL history

2008 | RR, KXIP, CSK, DD

2009 | DD, CSK, RCB, Deccan Chargers

2010 | MI, Deccan Chargers, CSK, RCB

Read Also | Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

2011 | RCB, CSK, MI, KKR 

Read Also | IPL records: Most consecutive away wins in IPL history

2012 | DD, KKR, MI, CSK

2013 | CSK, MI, RR, SRH

2014 | KXIP, KKR, CSK, MI

2015 | CSK, MI, RCB, RR 

2016 | Gujarat Lions, RCB, SRH, KKR

2017 | MI, RPSG, SRH, KKR

2018 | SRH, CSK, KKR, RR

Read Also | SRH's poor performance and playoff hopes in IPL 2025: Can they rise?

2019 | MI, CSK, DC, SRH

2020 | MI, DC, SRH, RCB

2021 | DC, CSK, RCB, KKR

2022 | GT, RR, LSG, RCB

2023 | GT, LSG, CSK, MI

2024 | KKR, SRH, RR, RCB