Punjab Kings Match: Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by a score of 72 runs to begin their Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) season. On Wednesday, April 5, they will take on Punjab Kings. Sanju Samson scored a strong total against Hyderabad with a captain’s knock of 55 off 32. His leadership qualities were also on display as the Royals bowlers held the Sunrisers to just 131/8 in 20 overs.
Steve Smith, a former captain of the Rajasthan Royals, was thrilled by Samson’s most recent performance and commended him for setting an excellent example. Smith noted that while Samson is a young player, the wicketkeeper batter is not a youngster in terms of experience when discussing the wicketkeeper’s leadership abilities. Prior to the match against Punjab, Smith added that Samson would like to draw inspiration from the Royals’ march to the IPL 2022 championship.
“Sanju Samson is a young player, but he has a lot of experience under his belt. From the front, he is guiding the side. The Royals under his leadership reached the championship game the previous season. He will carry over his confidence from last season’s campaign. He is strong and approaches the game squarely. RR will continue to perform well this season if he maintains acting in that manner,” Smith told Star Sports.
Shikhar Dhawan may have been upset by being in and out of the Indian team: Irfan Pathan
In addition, Punjab Kings began their IPL 2023 season with a significant 7-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Being the PBKS captain for the first time, Shikhar Dhawan produced an important 40 off 29. Shikhar hasn’t participated in an international cricket match since India’s December 2022 tour of Bangladesh because he was passed over for the current home series between India and Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
Shikhar was a consistent player and even served as captain for the most of the ODI team’s games in 2022, but his recent absence implies that the management is favouring players like Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. Irfan Pathan, a former Indian all-rounder, thinks that if the veteran opener performs well for Punjab Kings in the IPL 2023, he will be able to demonstrate his value to Indian cricket.
“Shikhar Dhawan, a veteran of the IPL, has also shown great consistency with the bat. He has a very strong mind and is a very great player. This year, he needs to establish himself as a capable captain, and his batting is crucial to that. Being in and out of the Indian team must have troubled him, therefore he wants to show that he is still the genuine article in Indian cricket,” according to Pathan, who spoke to the broadcasters.
Rajasthan Royals enter their match against Punjab Kings as the favourite after winning four of their previous five games. Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone are eligible for selection in place of Shikhar, but the Samson-led team will be more fired up following their recent resounding victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
For live cricket score, cricket live score, cricket match today, latest IPL championship, daily cricket live, all cricket current score, test cricket score, latest IPL championship update and other cricket news follow Livematchupdates.com.
