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Match 66 of IPL 2023 will take place tonight in Dharamsala, where the Rajasthan Royals (RR) will square off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). It is a do-or-die match for both the franchises.
RR are currently sixth in the IPL 2023 points table, having won six of their 13 league-stage matches. The Royals need a win tonight to keep themselves alive in the race to the playoffs.
On the other side, PBKS' chances of finishing in the top 4 reduced significantly after their defeat against the Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. The Kings are in desperate need of a big win tonight at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Before the IPL 2023 match between the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals gets underway, here's a look at the three player battles which may decide the fate of tonight's game.
#1 Jitesh Sharma vs. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been the top bowler for the Rajasthan Royals this season. RR skipper Sanju Samson has asked Chahal to bowl in the slog overs, and the leg-spinner has delivered the goods consistently for his side.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings' finisher Jitesh Sharma has done his job to perfection in quite a few matches of this season. Sharma's big hits have helped PBKS score 10-15 extra runs in almost every game.
When Rajasthan Royals hosted the Punjab Kings for a match in Guwahati earlier this season, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Jitesh Sharma caught out. Chahal will look forward to dismissing Sharma once again in IPL 2023, whereas the Punjab Kings batter will aim to score big against RR's best bowler.
#2 Shikhar Dhawan vs. Trent Boult
Trent Boult should receive a place in Rajasthan Royals' playing XI tonight as the conditions in Dharamsala help the pacers initially. In the previous match at this venue, Delhi Capitals' left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed bowled a maiden to start the Punjab Kings' innings.
RR have one of the world's best left-arm fast bowlers in Trent Boult. The Kiwi pacer has picked up multiple wickets for his team in the powerplay overs, but he remained wicketless in the previous game against the Punjab Kings.
Shikhar Dhawan tackled him well in the powerplay. Dhawan remained not out on 86 runs off 56 balls in that contest. All eyes will be on the battle between Dhawan and Boult in the powerplay if the latter plays tonight.
#3 Yashasvi Jaiswal vs. Arshdeep Singh
Another battle between a left-arm fast bowler and a left-handed opener which may decide the result of tonight's IPL 2023 match is the clash between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Arshdeep Singh. Jaiswal lost his wicket to Singh in the first meeting between RR and PBKS this season.
The RR opener looked in good touch as he raced to 11 runs off seven balls before Arshdeep dismissed him caught out. Arshdeep's recent performances have not been up to the mark, whereas Jaiswal is among the top run-getters of the season at the moment.
If Arshdeep dismisses Jaiswal early, PBKS will gain the upper hand in tonight's match against RR.
