IPL 2022 | PBKS vs RCB | Match 3 - Preview, Predictions, Probable XI, Fantasy XI

In what is expected to be another exciting battle, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will kick off their campaign in the third match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on March 27 at Dr DY Sports Patil Academy, Mumbai.

Both the teams will aim to end their maiden title hunt after forming formidable squads for the upcoming season of the cash-rich league. While RCB ended up at a fourth spot in the previous year, PBKS failed to qualify for the playoffs.

After going through many changes, RCB will start a new era under the leadership of Faf du Plessis. Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel were their three retentions and will again take the field in the red-coloured jersey.

Like a few other franchises, RCB also will be without the services of their key foreign players in the first few games. Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff will miss out on at least the initial three matches.

The Bangalore-based team are touted to go ahead with a new opening pair of Anuj Rawat and Faf du Plessis. After that, Kohli will fill in the number three spot, while Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford and Dinesh Karthik could occupy the middle-order batters, in all probability. 

On the other hand, it is also the dawn of a new journey for the Kings as they are now under the command of Mayank Agarwal. They will also be missing on some big names as Jonny Bairstow and Kagiso Rabada will be serving their quarantine. However, with a significant transformation in their squad, PBKS fared brilliantly on the auction table but would need to make the hard work count on the field.

With several star players in their ranks, Punjab have found a decent combination of swashbuckling T20 batters and quality bowlers. PBKS have obtained the services of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan and a lot more exciting names. Boasting bright talents in their squad, Punjab will look to clinch their maiden IPL title. 

Match Details

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Match 3, IPL 2022

Date and Time- March 27, 2022, 7:30 PM IST

Venue- Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

Broadcast- Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar

Pitch Report

The pitch of Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai, has often been a good T20 wicket. However, while batters will enjoy playing the new ball, pacers and spinners will come into play as the surface would slow down a bit in the second half of both innings.

Squads

Punjab Kings

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Brar, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Benny Howell

Royal Challengers Bangalore 

Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudesai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Luvnith Sisodia, Siddharth Kaul

Probable Playing XI

Punjab Kings

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore 

Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

CE Fantasy XI

Faf du Plessis, Anuj Rawat, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, Dinesh Karthik, Wanindu Hasaranga, Odean Smith, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Captain- Mayank Agarwal

Vice-captain- Wanindu Hasaranga