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Join UsRajasthan Royals (RR) suffered a five-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 66 of IPL 2024 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, May 15. Batting first, RR were restricted to 144-9, which PBKS chased down in 18.5 overs.
Rajasthan’s batting lineup struggled for momentum, with only Riyan Parag (48 off 34) and Ravichandran Ashwin (28 off 19) making notable contributions. On the bowling front, Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two wickets each, but PBKS skipper Sam Curran’s unbeaten 63 off 41 deliveries guided his team to victory.
This loss marked RR’s fourth consecutive defeat in IPL 2024. Despite this, they have qualified for the playoffs. Sanju Samson and his team will be eager to end the league stage on a positive note when they face table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, May 19.
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KKR Challenge Awaits RR in Guwahati
The Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on May 19 will be match number 70 of IPL 2024. This game will also mark the conclusion of the league stage of the competition. The RR-KKR match will be an evening game, starting at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 7:00 PM.
When the two sides met earlier this season at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 16, they delivered a thrilling contest. In a high-scoring affair, Kolkata batted first and posted 223-6, with Sunil Narine smashing 109 off 56 balls. Jos Buttler then played a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 107 off 60 deliveries, leading Rajasthan Royals to a nail-biting two-wicket victory off the last ball.
While Kolkata is confirmed to finish atop the IPL 2024 points table, Rajasthan has a chance to join them in Qualifier 1 if they defeat KKR on Sunday in Guwahati. A win over Kolkata will see Rajasthan ending the league stage with 18 points.
If Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) lose to Punjab Kings in their last league match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, they will remain on 15 points. Even if the SRH-PBKS match is abandoned, Hyderabad will finish on 16 points. Chennai Super Kings also cannot exceed 16 points.
Therefore, a win for Rajasthan Royals against KKR would secure their spot in the playoffs as the second-placed team. However, they face a tough challenge against KKR, who have won nine of their 13 matches so far.
The final league game for RR presents a crucial opportunity. Will they rise to the occasion and secure their place in the playoffs, or will KKR spoil their plans? The cricket world eagerly awaits the showdown.
