EXPLAINED: Why Kagiso Rabada, Jitesh Sharma Are Not Playing For Punjab Kings In IPL 2024 Match Vs RCB

Punjab Kings are currently taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. This is a must win game for PBKS, as they are now on 8 points from 11 games, and need to win all three games in order to stand a chance of qualifying for the playoffs. They would have to have depended on two of their star players in this game in the form of international Kagiso Rabada and Jitesh Sharma. However, PBKS fans were in for a big surprise as both of these crucial players were not included in the PBKS playing XI in tonight's match.

Dropping Kagiso Rabada seems to be an entirely tactical move. At the toss Sam Curran said that they were looking to play the extra overseas batter who provides aaggression at the middle order. Thus they went in for Liam Livigstone in the middle order, and opted to drop Rabada. Hence they are going in with three big hitting overseas batters, in Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Russouw. However, seeing the greenish pitch at Dharamsala, Rabada could have been a good option

"Going to bowl. Looks like they've watered the wicket a bit, might be something early on. Looking to put RCB under pressure early. With the side we've picked today, looking to take wickets with the new ball. Pretty simple for us now - need few results to go for us and win our remaining games. Livingstone comes in for Rabada. Our strength is our batting," PBKS captain Sam Curran said.

Fans need not worry about Jitesh Sharma's exclusion from the Punjab Kings playing XI. He is among the four substitutes named apart from the playing XI. He will in all likelihood play as the impact substitute for PBKS when they come into bat in the second innings.

In his absence, Jonny Bairstow is donning the wicketkeeper's gloves. Another surprise exclusion from the PBKS playing XI is Harpreet Brar, who has troubled teams with his economical left-arm spin.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Mahipal Lomror, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow(w), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Harpreet Brar, Tanay Thyagarajan, Rishi Dhawan, Jitesh Sharma, Nathan Ellis

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Dayal, Mayank Dagar