TUESDAY IPL: The Edge previews Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The IPL rolls on as Punjab Kings host Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday on Betdaq Betting Exchange ! This should be a cracking clash between two sides who have started the tournament on fire and look set for a top four spot – although obviously there’s still a long way to go! Punjab Kings sit pretty at the summit, the only unbeaten side remaining in the competition with six wins and a washout from seven games. They have been extraordinary this season. Rajasthan Royals started very strongly, they won their first four games but since then they have lost three from their last four. They look like a side that might have to battle for most of the season for a playoff spot.
Ricky Ponting has built a quite remarkable side at Punjab though; Saturday’s effort against Delhi Capitals was arguably one of the craziest or most impressive bits of cricket we’ve seen in a long time. I suppose it depends what your opinion is on how the game is going but to chase down 264/2 with seven balls spare is incredible. The highest successful T20 run chase in IPL history; although the way things are going one wonders how long they will hold that record. The powerplay from Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh was simply jaw dropping – 116 runs in the first six overs. The confidence in that dressing room must be sky high right now.
You could say Rajasthan have been hit-or-miss recently. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced yet another stunning innings – his second century of the season, giving him the second and third quickest hundreds in IPL history – incredible really given he’s only 15. That wasn’t enough to win the game though; it now does look like the Rajasthan bowling and middle order are a little weak and there’s a lot of pressure on a 15 year old to carry the batting at the top of the order!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh is Punjab’s new home ground, and we don’t have a huge volume of IPL data here compared to some of the other grounds. Scoring has increased as the tournament has gone on – we’ve had first inning scores of 162/6 (chased), 219/6 (chased) and 254/7 (won). The way things have been going in the IPL recently and the way the scores are trending here too, it’s hard to see anything other than another high scoring game. India is going through a massive heatwave at the moment; dew is obviously going to be a factor too.
RECOMMENDED BET:
Punjab come into the game as the favourites and it’s no surprise – home advantage and they’ve clearly been the best side in the IPL this season too. No team in this IPL has come close to the level Punjab have been performing at – they have chased down 265 and made it look almost comfortable. Rajasthan are a dangerous side and Sooryavanshi can win any game on his own, but their over reliance on him is a real vulnerability when visiting a confident, balanced side like this Punjab outfit. I’m happy to take the 1.76 on Punjab.
The Edge Says:
Two points win Punjab Kings to beat Rajasthan Royals at 1.76 with Betdaq Betting Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/IPPuRa
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
This ground has produced some big scores this season and with Punjab’s batting firepower, a big first innings total is firmly on the cards if they bat first. I’d be very keen to support their batting – the Rajasthan bowling has struggled recently and as I said above, apart from the wonderful Sooryavanshi you’re probably keen to take on the rest of the Rajasthan side. It’s hard not to expect conditions to heavily favour the batters here, so I’m happy to support Punjab in either innings and sit on my hands while Rajasthan bat.
