RR vs PBKS, IPL 2024 Highlights: Captain Curran takes PBKS to spirited win as Royals suffer 4th loss in a row

Rajasthan Royals' slump has continued as they have now lost four in a row and will have to pick themselves up before the playoffs as Punjab Kings have now won their fourth game on the road.

Sam Curran probably played the best innings of the IPL as he smashed a spirited fifty on a track which was a bit slow but he took his time and got the score.

Rajasthan Royals are still very much in the game as Yuzvendra Chahal has gotten his second wicket. Jitesh Sharma wanted to go big but didn't get the timing and Chahal has gotten the record-equalling most wickets for an RR bowler in the IPL - 65.

Sam Curran leads by example with a couple of fours in the last two overs as Punjab Kings find some momentum at a crucial stage in the game.

PBKS - 81/4 in 13 overs (Sam Curran - 26* off 24 balls, Jitesh Sharma - 13* off 13 balls).

Punjab Kings need 64 runs in 42 balls to win the game. 

Jonny Bairstow has holed out on long-on as his 21-ball 14 struggle finally ends. Bairstow never got going and Chahal has struck in his first over today. Punjab are four down now.

The required rate isn't that high but Punjab Kings will have to keep the wickets column in check as they now have lost three with just 39 runs on the board. Jonny Bairstow is struggling and needs to find his groove quickly to ensure that PBKS don't fall behind the required rate.

Punjab Kings have found themselves in a bit of trouble with three wickets lost in powerplay so far, two in the very same over of Avesh Khan. Avesh first sent back the dangerous Rilee Rossouw who handed a simple catch to short backward point while he trapped Shashank Singh in front two balls later to peg back Punjab.

Trent Boult didn't celebrate till Yuzvendra Chahal actually completed the catch because it was a tricky one after Prabhsimran mistimed a lofted shot. Chahal never looked comfortable under it but eventually held on to it with a reverse cup.

Rajasthan managed to score 144/9 at the end of the first inning.

Riyan Parag  given LBW on Harshal Patel's delivery.

Donovan Ferreira Caught by Rilee Rossouw on Rahul Chahar's ball.

Trent Boult joins Riyan Parag.

RR - 125/7 in 17.3 overs

Rovman Powell Caught and bowled by Sam Curran

Donovan Ferreira joins Riyan Parag.

RR - 102/6 in 14.3 overs.

R. Ashwin is caught by Shashank Singh at deep point on Arshdeep Singh's delivery. 

Dhruv Jurel joins Riyan Parag.

RR - 92/4 in 12.6 overs

Rajasthan gathered 17 runs in the 12th over. Ashwin is showing some batting skills as he hits three consecutive boundaries.

RR - 85/3 in 12 overs

50 runs come for Rajasthan in 8.4 overs for 3 wickets. 

RR - 53/3 IN 9 overs

Tom Kohler-Cadmore is caught by Jitesh Sharma on Rahul Chahar's delivery. 

R. Ashwin joins Riyan Parag

RR-42/3 in 7.2 overs

Sanju Samon caught behind on Sam Curren's delivery .

Riyag Parag joins Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Yashasvi Jaiswal gets bowled out by Sum Curren; he scored 4 runs. 

Captain Sanju Samson joins Thomas-Cadmore.

RR - 9/1 in 1 over.

Punjab Kings: Tanay Thyagarajan, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Singh Bhatia

Rajasthan Royals: Nandre Burger, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj, Kuldeep Sen, Donovan Ferreira

Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Sam Curran(c), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

RR Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson has won the toss and opted to bat first saying that the wicket looked good and that there might be no dew, which means the surface is going to remain the same for the 40 overs and if they put a big score on the board, the chasing side might succumb under pressure.

63m and 60m boundaries aren't huge and hence, Guwahati has been a high-scoring venue. The surface is a black soil pitch with a firm little bit of grass. The seamers might get help at the start but it should be a high-scoring game. The last match that was played at the venue was in November last year when Australia chased down 223 against India with ease.

13th venue of the season, the most in an IPL season. This has traditionally been a very high scoring venue, with 63m and 60m side boundaries, with the straight boundary at 73m. We are playing on a black soil pitch which is firm and rolled nicely. Surely a surface on which a lot of runs can be scored. The pitch has a few cracks but it generally plays much better than the looks. Last year, both games here were won by the side batting first. Teams prefer doing that because when you are chasing, you are under pressure, but in an India Australia game at this venue, Australia chased a huge score of 222 in the last over. Irrespective on when you bat, there are a lot of runs to be had here.

Rajasthan Royals won the previous encounter against PBKS by three wickets. They chased down the target of 148 runs in the last over thriller. Shimron Hetmyer won the player of the match award for finishing the game.

The head to head record between RR and PBKS has been dominated by the Royals. Rajasthan have won 16 out of 27 matches so far while Punjab Kings have won 11 of them. Who will win today?

Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings have played a lot of thrilling encounters against each other in the last few years, however, the Wednesday clash would miss some star quality with the likes of Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler and Kagiso Rabada being not there. The objectives of the two teams are also different. The Royals are jostling for a top-two spot while Punjab are playing for pride. Who will be it tonight? Welcome to our live coverage of the RR vs PBKS match from the Barsapa Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.