Rajasthan Royals traveled to Chandigarh to take on Punjab Kings at the newly constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. Opting to bowl first on a challenging pitch, Rajasthan’s decision paid off as they restricted the hosts to a modest total of 147 runs.
In their chase, Rajasthan Royals faced hurdles but managed to secure a crucial victory, thanks to contributions from their middle-order batsmen and a solid opening partnership. This win marks their fifth victory of the season, putting them in a favorable position to qualify for the playoffs of this year’s Indian Premier League.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings continue to struggle, with this defeat being their fourth in six games in IPL 2024. With a challenging schedule ahead, they face an uphill battle to turn their campaign around. Historically, qualifying for the playoffs has been rare for the franchise, and this season appears to be no exception.
Their upcoming matches pit them against formidable opponents, starting with Mumbai Indians. Playing at home, Punjab Kings will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and improve their batting performance on April 18 to secure a much-needed win.
Following their clash with Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings will take on Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders in the following week. Victories in these matches by comfortable margins will be crucial for their chances of qualifying for this year’s playoffs.
Historically, in the IPL, teams need 12 to 14 points to qualify for the IPL Playoffs. Punjab Kings have 4 points in their 6 matches so far and have 8 matches, thus to reach the optimum points for qualification to the IPL 2024 Playoffs, Punjab Kings still atleast require 8 to 10 points to have any chances to making it to the playoffs, that is atleast 4 to 5 wins in their remaining 8 matches.
