Five Players Battles To Watch Out For in PBKS vs RCB IPL 2023 Match


image-lgnf359sVirat Kohli | Source: Twitter 

The 27th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Punjab Kings crossing swords against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday, April 20, at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. 

However, before we jump into the game, let's review the important match-ups.


Glenn Maxwell vs Kagiso Rabada

image-lgnewph2Glenn Maxwell | Source: Twitter 

Glenn Maxwell's explosive batting has been a highlight of the IPL for years, but he faces a stern challenge in the upcoming match against South African speedster Kagiso Rabada, who has managed to keep him at bay in T20s. 

Maxwell has faced 20 balls of Rabada, scoring just 23 runs and getting dismissed twice, averaging 11.5. With this record, the contest between the two will undoubtedly be an exciting one to watch.


Virat Kohli vs Rahul Chahar

image-lgnexpkkVirat Kohli | Source: Twitter 

The batting maverick has been experiencing ruthless form in this season of the lucrative tournament, but his performance against spin has been a significant concern. This was visible in the tournament when he faced the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Amit Mishra, and now he is set to face another spin threat in Rahul Chahar. 

Kohli's track record against Chahar isn't good to look at, as he has scored only 24 runs from 25 balls with one dismissal, and his average is just 25 against him. Similar to his risk-taking move against Krunal Pandya against Lucknow Super Giants, it will be interesting to see if Kohli can put Rahul Chahar under pressure in this game. 

Faf du Plessis vs Kagiso Rabada 

image-lgneyu48Faf du Plessis | Source: Twitter 

Another battle worth watching out for in this match is between the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, Faf du Plessis, and the South African pacer Kagiso Rabada. 

While Faf has a knack for taking on both pace and spin equally, he has struggled to face his countryman Kagiso Rabada. Faf's record against Rabada is quite dismal, as he has scored just 33 runs from 34 balls with three dismissals. 

The former South African captain has an average of only 11.3 against Rabada. It will be exciting to see how this battle pans out, with Rabada bowling with the new ball and Faf opening the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore. 


Shikhar Dhawan vs Harshal Patel

image-lgnf0pofShikhar Dhawan | Source: Twitter 

Punjab Kings' captain Shikhar Dhawan, who sat out the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants due to injury, is expected to return to the team in this match.

However, he won't have it easy as he faces off against Harshal Patel. Shikhar hasn't had much success against the RCB pacer, managing only 42 runs from 37 balls with two dismissals. His average against the Harshal is just 21, which sets up an exciting battle to watch out for. 


Bhanuka Rajapaksa vs Wanindu Hasaranga

image-lgnf1nbyBhanuka Rajapaksa | Source: Twitter 

A captivating contest is on the cards between two Sri Lankan teammates, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga. They have both outperformed each other on certain occasions in T20s. Bhanuka has managed to score 52 runs from 38 balls against Hasaranga with two dismissals. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this match.