Some games feel big to me. Some feel loud. And then there are games like that. You just know the runs are coming.
Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals arrive with batting units that don’t really have slow starts. PBKS have already scored 265 this seasonhighest run chase in T20 history. RR, meanwhile, have crossed the 200 mark several times this season and continue to play at a relentless pace.
The venue only adds to the mood. Mullanpur has quietly turned into a batting paradise with an average first innings score of over 200 in IPL 2026. The second-placed batting teams have also seen success, which only adds to the anticipation of another high-scoring contest.
But scratch beneath the surface and the stories fall apart.
Punjab are unbeaten with six wins from seven matches and one without a result. They sit at the top of the IPL points table and have looked the most complete in the competition so far. Rajasthan have five wins from eight matches but have lost three of their last four and slipped slightly after a strong start.
And right at the center of the RR campaign is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
He has 357 runs in 8 matches at an average of 44.63 and a strike rate of 234.87. He also has a 36-ball hundred this season and has dismantled top bowlers across teams. But the bigger question remains. Can RR rely solely on him against a side still looking for other match winners?
On the other side of the trench is Shreyas Iyer, who has quietly put together one of the captain’s best seasons. With 279 runs in 7 innings at an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 186, including four fifties, he combined leadership with consistency.
SOORYAVANSHI BOOM VS PBKS TEST
Sooryavanshi was unstoppable. His 357 runs ranks him among the top scorers this season and his strike rate is among the highest in the league. His 36-ball knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad showed how quickly he can change matches.
But RR’s dependence on their top order is clear. Sooryavanshi finds himself in the mix for the orange cap this season (Courtesy: AP)
Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel did most of the scoring. Behind them, the numbers drop sharply. Riyan Parag managed just 88 runs in 8 matches at an average of 12.57 and a strike rate of 112.82. Shimron Hetmyer also struggles to finish consistently.
That’s where PBKS can use its advantage. Arshdeep Singh was effective with the new ball while Marco Jansen and Vijaykumar Vyshak showed control and breakthroughs. If Punjab break through early, RR’s middle order will be under pressure again.
IYER EDGE OVER PARAG
Punjab looks stronger here.
Iyer controlled the games throughout the season and slowly became the new chase master in the IPL. In a record-breaking chase of 265 against Delhi, he scored an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls, guiding the chase with three fours and seven sixes. Riyan struggled to find consistency with the bat (Courtesy: AP)
Parago’s numbers tell a different story. His 88 runs in 8 matches was a low average and his captaincy came under scrutiny. Decisions regarding bowling changes and underutilization of key options were questioned, especially in close matches.
In a high-scoring competition, clarity of decision-making can be crucial.
PBKS IN THE AREA OF SMALL WORRY
Punjab’s campaign was almost perfect but there were occasional lapses in their commitment.
Shashank Singh dropped a few chances in the previous game, including a direct catch and a mistake on the boundary. These moments haven’t cost PBKS much yet, but against a side like RR, such mistakes can change the momentum quickly.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Royals have dominated their rivalry with the Kings since the start of the IPL, winning 17 of the 30 matches between the two sides. The rest of the 13 matches ended in favor of Punjab. Last season, the two teams exchanged victories with Rajasthan winning in Mullanpur and Punjab returning the favor in Jaipur.
However, the current form favors PBKS.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The Mullanpur surface has favored the batsmen this season. Average first innings scores crossed 200 and teams kept posting and chasing big totals.
There is good bounce and carry, which allows for a pull game. Bowlers who hit hard lengths or change pace have had some success, but overall it’s a place where batting dominates.
TEAM NEWS
PBKS is expected to stick with its winning hand. Their batting unit fired and the bowling backed it up with timely wickets.
RR may look to tweak their middle order or bowling combinations after they failed to defend 228 in their last outing.
PBKS vs RR: PREDICTED XI
Kings of Punjab: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Shock Submarine: Vijaykumar Vyshak
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Trent Boult, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma
Crash Submarine: Tushar Deshpande
VIEW OF THE MATCH
PBKS comes with form, balance and momentum. Six wins, one no-result and a batting unit that has already made 265 underlines their strength.
RR have the firepower at the top, led by Sooryavanshi’s 357 runs at a strike rate of over 230, but they will need more from the middle order.
If the game turns into another high-scoring contest, both teams have the tools to dominate. But over 40 overs, Punjab’s consistency and depth can give them an edge.
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Published on:
28 Apr 2026 09:03 IST
