🏏 IPL 2024 ~ Match N 27 PBKS vs RR in Mullanpur @7.30 PM IST 🏏 - Page 5

Harshal Patel - Coming into the game and the camp we had before the season started, the takeaway was that length ball was the hardest to hit here. There is a bit of bounce, so you can't simply hit across the line. So the chat has been to bowl hard lengths at this venue. The game is changing, the addition of impact sub is allowing batting depth to 7,8 and even 9. It means you're not bowling to a tailender any longer even if you take wickets regularly, it does make a huge difference when there are two proper batters batting at 7 and 8. The batters upfront are not afraid of playing their shots and that's the reason you've high scores this season. Bowling in the death hasn't been easy for anyone, for me, the important thing is to assess the condition and pick wickets in the middle overs, it allows things to become slightly easier going into the death overs. It's about sequencing for me, every bowler bowling in the death overs has the skills, but you'll have to back your type of bowling in the death overs and that's where our focus is always.

Shimron Hetmyer: (Talk after the last game) It's just about not reflecting too much on it. We know what we did wrong, not really wrong, we know where they (GT) excelled a little bit better than us in the last couple of overs. We really thought that we were doing pretty fine for the first 16 overs and then mainly in the last four overs is where they really went ahead in the game. Just for us to continue to do the good things we have been doing so far. Not to dwell too much on the past, I actually forgot about that (previous season) until I kept hearing it on the TV. Just push that aside and think about one game at a time, focus on what we can control, which is going out and playing our best cricket. (On facing just 25 balls this season) I actually keep telling them (other batters) to keep continuing to do the good job they are doing so I don't have to go and waste energy, I just go and field and do the best that I can in the field. So fat it's been fantastic to sit inside and watch the guys do their jobs. Riyan has been a revelation for us so far, hope that he continues. The skipper - he's just doing what he does. And all the other guys have made runs as well, they have been doing a fantastic job. Myself, I am just inside, just looking on and trying my best to do what I need to do in training and just making sure that if I do get the opportunity, I am all ready to go.

The first big news from Mullanpur is that Sam Curran is walking out for the toss, instead of Shikhar Dhawan.

The first big news from Mullanpur is that Sam Curran is walking out for the toss, instead of Shikhar Dhawan.

Sam Curran is walking out for the toss, instead of Shikhar Dhawan.

That's a bit strange considering that Jitesh Sharma is the designated vice-captain

6:56pm The first big news from Mullanpur is that Sam Curran is walking out for the toss, instead of Shikhar Dhawan. We will possibly have more news on why Dhawan is missing at the toss, which is scheduled to take place at 7pm (local time).

That's a bit strange considering that Jitesh Sharma is the designated vice-captain

Most probably Shikhar Dhawan will be an impact player. If they bat first, he will bat and will be replaced in the second innings. If they bowl first, he will join in the second innings.

Edited to add:

0 points for this prediction.

Matthew: "Wonder whether Boult will bowl his full quota this time? Was a very bizarre choice to leave him with 2 overs left last match, surely? " -- The decision was indeed quite puzzling, especially with RR also going on to lose the game. Mitchell McClenaghan certainly thinks the Royals should trust him more at the death.