RR's 3 highest run-scorers vs PBKS in the IPL
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS), over the years, have played some incredibly close encounters, and one of the main reasons for that has been the world-class players on display on both sides.
The games have been high-scoring on most occasions, including the one played in Guwahati this season where Punjab just about edged out Rajasthan in the final over. The Royals still have a better chance of qualifying for the playoffs than PBKS, thanks to their positive net run rate.
RR will need their star batters to step up in Dharamshala as it is likely to be yet another high-scoring game. On that note, let's take a look at the batters over the years with the most runs for Rajasthan against Punjab:
#3 Jos Buttler
Having shown shades of his brilliance for the Mumbai Indians, Jos Buttler truly exploded as a world-class T20 opener for RR. He continues to be one of their major match-winners and arguably one of the best T20 batters in the game at the moment.
In just nine games against Punjab, Buttler averages 40.62 at a staggering strike rate of 151.16. He has also smashed three half-centuries with a highest score of 82.
#2 Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane's white-ball career truly took off after his breakout season for the Rajasthan Royals. He was an absolute stalwart for RR and showed that even normal cricketing shots were good enough to become a prolific run-scorer in T20s.
Rahane scored 373 runs for Rajasthan against PBKS at an average of 37.30. He has scored three half-centuries too, falling short of a hundred once by two runs.
#1 Sanju Samson
Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson seems to love batting against Punjab due to his stupendous record against this opposition. In 16 matches, he has scored 594 runs which is the most by any Rajasthan batter.
Averaging an incredible 45.69 and a strike rate as high as 153.88, Samson is definitely a player that Punjab will want to dismiss early in their encounter on Friday. His highest score remains that incredible 119 off 63 that he got in a last-ball thriller where RR missed out on a win by just four runs.