The match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) saw several notable absentees from both teams' line-ups due to injuries. Playing at the Mullanpur Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, both sides were without some of their key players in the Indian Premier League 2024.
For Punjab Kings, captain Shikhar Dhawan was notably missing, with Sam Curran stepping in for the toss on his behalf. It was revealed that Dhawan had picked up a niggle, forcing him out of the game. Vice-captain Jitesh Sharma was also absent, further complicating matters for PBKS.
Rajasthan Royals also faced significant absences, with Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin not featuring in the match due to their respective injuries. Sanju Samson, the RR captain, mentioned at the toss that both Buttler and Ashwin were not at their optimal fitness levels, leading to their exclusion from the playing XI.
In the absence of their regular leaders, both teams had to make significant changes to their line-ups. Rajasthan Royals fielded a team with Sanju Samson as captain, while Punjab Kings introduced Jonny Bairstow and Atharva Taide into their playing XI.
Despite the challenges posed by injuries to key players, both teams remained optimistic about their performances and were focused on putting up a competitive showing in the match.
