The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most anticipated and exciting cricket leagues in the world. The Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings are two teams that have been a part of this league since its inception. Whenever these two teams clash, the cricketing world is in for a treat. In this post, we will take a closer look at the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings rivalry, their history, and their performance in the league.
History of Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings:
The Rajasthan Royals is a franchise cricket team based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and was founded in 2008. The team is owned by Manoj Badale and is captained by Sanju Samson. They won the inaugural IPL in 2008 and have made it to the playoffs four times since then. The team has seen some big names play for them over the years, including Shane Warne, Rahul Dravid, and Jos Buttler.
On the other hand, the Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, is a franchise cricket team based in Mohali, Punjab, and was founded in 2008. The team is owned by Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, and Karan Paul. KL Rahul is the current captain of the team. They have made it to the playoffs only twice in their IPL history, in 2008 and 2014.
Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings Head-to-Head:
The Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings have faced each other 22 times in the IPL so far. The Royals have won 12 matches, while the Kings have won 10 matches. The last time these two teams faced each other was in IPL 2020, where the Rajasthan Royals won the match by 7 wickets. It was a crucial match for both teams, but Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious with the help of Sanju Samson's 85 off 42 balls.
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, both teams have had some memorable moments. One such instance was in the 2015 IPL, where Rajasthan Royals were chasing a target of 192 runs. It was a nail-biting finish, with the Royals needing 6 runs off the last ball. James Faulkner hit a six off the last ball, and the Royals won the match by 4 wickets. Another memorable encounter was in IPL 2018 when Kings XI Punjab chased down a target of 153 runs with ease, thanks to KL Rahul's 84* off 54 balls.
Performance of Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings in IPL 2021:
The Rajasthan Royals had a disappointing season in IPL 2021. They finished seventh on the points table, winning only four out of their 14 matches. Sanju Samson was the standout performer for the team, scoring 484 runs in 14 matches at an average of 40.33. Jos Buttler and Rahul Tewatia also had decent seasons, scoring 328 and 235 runs, respectively. However, the team's bowling department let them down, and they were not able to defend big totals on several occasions.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings had a mixed season in IPL 2021. They finished sixth on the points table, winning six out of their 14 matches. KL Rahul was the team's top performer, scoring 626 runs in 14 matches at an average of 62.60. Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle also had decent seasons, scoring 260 and 178 runs, respectively. However, the team's bowling department was also a cause for concern, and they struggled to defend big totals on several occasions.
