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The two trophy-less teams go head-to-head in the 58th match to secure a playoff berth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Punjab Kings (PBKS) will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala, on May 9, in a do-or-die battle for both teams to stay alive in the tournament.
RCB lost six games on the trot but staged a massive recovery to climb from the bottom of the points table to seventh place with three straight remarkable wins. On the other hand, PBKS have been an unpredictable team so far and they are currently only one place behind their opponents in the upcoming match.
It is noteworthy that Faf du Plessis and Co. had the last laugh with a four-wicket win when the two teams met in Bengaluru earlier this season. Punjab will look for a payback this coming Thursday and expect a tough fight at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in a high-stakes match.
Here are the top three player battles to watch out for in PBKS vs RCB IPL 2024 clash:
3. Faf du Plessis vs Kagiso Rabada
Faf du Plessis. (Source -IPL/BCCI)
Faf du Plessis did not have a great start in this season but he regained his form as the tournament progressed. The RCB skipper is the second-leading run-scorer for the team with over 350 runs at a strike rate of 172.55. Notably, he scored a blazing 23-ball 64 in the previous match against Gujarat Titans.
In the last match between the two sides, du Plessis failed to make an impact as he was dismissed for just three runs. It was his compatriot Kagiso Rabada who took the big wicket – his third overall in the IPL rivalry. The onus will again be on the Proteas pacer to get the RCB opener out early to avoid damage.
Also Check: IPL 2024 Orange Cap
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