Predictions, Dream11 teams & pitch reports — May 26 to 31
Rajasthan Royals have the edge over Punjab Kings at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, where conditions favor the home side's bowling attack. And at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the pitch will have its say too.
The North Indian showdown. Punjab vs Rajasthan, Mohali vs Jaipur. Neither has the IPL legacy of CSK or MI, but both play with a freedom that makes for exciting cricket.
Jaiswal is the future of Indian cricket — actually, he's the present. His ability to bat through the innings and accelerate at will makes him the most complete young batter in IPL. At 24, he's already got 2,000+ IPL runs.
Shikhar Dhawan brings leadership and Sam Curran brings firepower — PBKS's core is solid.
The balanced slow conditions at Sawai Mansingh Stadium mean smart cricket wins over brute force. Teams need to assess the conditions early and adapt their game plans accordingly.
galti se bhi underestimate mat karna — both teams are hungry. We're in the final stretch and playoff spots are on the line. This is do-or-die territory for at least one of these teams.
We're in the final stretch and playoff spots are on the line. This is do-or-die territory for at least one of these teams. For more upcoming matches, see our full IPL 2026 schedule.
Home advantage and a better head-to-head record give RR the edge here. The balanced conditions mean the team that executes better will win. PBKS have the quality to upset, but they need to be at their best. Our call: RR to win this one.
Dhruv Jurel (RR) vs Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS) — this is the marquee matchup of the match. When these two compete, something has to give. Watch the powerplay for this contest.
The battle between Riyan Parag and Sam Curran could decide this game. Riyan Parag has been in terrific form, but Sam Curran is not someone you can take lightly. This matchup is pure gold for cricket fans.
Jos Buttler vs Jonny Bairstow — both players know they need to outperform the other. The team whose player wins this head-to-head will most likely win the match. Simple as that.
From a Dream11 perspective, full power, no holding back — that's how this match will be played. Dream11 strategy for Jaipur: pick your captain from the team batting second. With dew factor at play, the chasing side has the edge. An opener from the chasing team as captain can be a masterstroke. The key is to not overthink it — pick players who are in form and let the match do the rest. For detailed fantasy tips, check our Dream11 hub.
Our recommended Dream11 team for RR vs PBKS Match 73:
Source: ESPNcricinfo IPL Records
Perfect 5 out of 5 — dominant form that puts pressure on every opponent. Sanju Samson's captaincy will be tested as RR look to maintain their winning momentum.
Good recovery — turned around their season with back-to-back wins. Shikhar Dhawan knows that PBKS need to keep the winning run going.
Jaipur's pitch has its own personality — quietly difficult. The ball holds up, turns, and doesn't come on to the bat. That 48% chasing win rate tells you batting first might actually be the smarter option here.
May in Jaipur is the hottest — 34-42°C of dry Rajasthani heat. The famous Loo winds can make it feel like standing in front of an oven. But night matches are more pleasant at 30-34°C. Dew still minimal compared to other venues.
The dew factor at Sawai Mansingh Stadium is light. Minimal dew at this venue means the toss is less decisive. Both batting first and second are equally competitive here.
For those playing fantasy cricket, the budget picks can actually make or break your Dream11 team. Smart money is on this pick today. Low credit cost, high ceiling, and batting at a position where even a 25-ball cameo is worth the investment. Look at players like Dhruv Jurel from RR and Arshdeep Singh from PBKS — they fly under the radar but deliver consistent fantasy points. Sometimes it's the 7-credit pick that gives you 50+ points while the 10-credit star fails.
Prabhsimran Singh as Captain is almost a no-brainer today. The venue suits this player's style perfectly, and recent form backs up the selection.
Jonny Bairstow for Vice-Captain — the numbers at this venue are too good to ignore. High average, good strike rate, and a style of play that suits these conditions perfectly.
Toss matters here. Venue behaviour and dew patterns still shape the right decision. Don't assume the toss winner will bowl first. At Sawai Mansingh Stadium, with only 48% chasing win rate, batting first and posting a big score is a legitimate strategy. The pitch doesn't deteriorate heavily but the pressure of chasing can get to teams. Both captains will be thinking about this carefully — get the toss decision wrong at Sawai Mansingh Stadium and you're starting the match on the back foot. The last 10 IPL matches at this venue show a clear trend that teams should bat first and put up a total. Expect the winning captain to follow this pattern.
Pick your vice-captain from the opposing team to balance risk. All-rounders who bat in top 5 and bowl 4 overs are ideal VC picks at Sawai Mansingh Stadium
RR vs PBKS can be watched live on JioHotstar (streaming) and Star Sports Network (TV broadcast) in India. International viewers can watch on Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (Africa), and Sky Sports (UK).
Sawai Mansingh Stadium is a balanced-slow pitch with an average first innings score of 168. This is a balanced venue that offers something for both batters and bowlers.
At Sawai Mansingh Stadium, chasing teams have won 48% of matches. The dew factor is moderate here, so both batting and bowling first are viable options depending on the match situation.
RR and PBKS have a competitive head-to-head record in IPL. Check the detailed H2H section above with match counts, venue-specific records, and recent form analysis.
Jaipur weather is expected to be clear for this match. Temperature and humidity details are in our weather section above. No rain is anticipated, so a full match is expected.
For this match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, pick batters who can handle balanced-slow conditions. All-rounders are valuable at this venue. Choose your captain from the team batting second if you expect the toss winner to bowl first.
Check out other matches involving RR and PBKS:
Learn more about the teams competing in this match:
Why trust this page: our analysts combine venue bias, likely batting order, recent role clarity, and Dream11 point upside before publishing the final call. This page is maintained by Arjun Mehta and updated closer to toss when needed.
