Former SRH coach Tom Moody has warned Rajasthan ahead of their match against Punjab at the Mullanpur Stadium on Saturday, 13 April. PBKS will host RR as the teams come into the match on the back of respective losses. Moody, while speaking on Star Sports, pointed out that Rajasthan should learn lessons from their previous season and didn’t want them to go down the same path.
RR had kicked off their IPL 2023 campaign on a similar note, winning 4 matches on a trot and then lost form. The team managed just 2 wins in their last 6 matches, failing to qualify for the playoffs. This season as well, Rajasthan were on a roll as they won the first 4 matches on the trot and their winning streak was broken by GT.
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“I think it’s going to be a really interesting game because Rajasthan, I think, were shocked at their loss. You know, they’re running high, and I don’t want to say too early, but it’s nearly… You don’t want them to go down the same path that they did last year where they started the season so brilliantly well and then just fell in the hole. I don’t think that’s going to happen as such,” Moody said in the Star Sports Show.
However, Moody pointed out that Rajasthan needed to be wary of Punjab in the match. Especially with Arshdeep Singh swinging the ball early on in the innings. The PBKS pacer returned to form as he picked a 4-wicket haul against Hyderabad.
“They’ve learned a lot from last year. But this is a threat because Punjab are punching above their weight at the moment, and they’re at home. They like playing at this new venue. Arshdeep is back in some form, swinging that new ball. So there’s a few things going in Punjab’s favour here,” Moody added.
Moody expressed worry over PBKS’ top-order failure and their dependence on Shashank Singh. The 32-year-old, uncapped Indian star has helped his team cross the line against Gujarat and with his 46-run knock, almost helped the team to register a win against SRH.
“Yes, absolutely, and whenever I think of Punjab, all I think of is Shashank, and what he has done over the last couple of years. The one that played at Sunrisers Hyderabad a few years back. But isn’t it a great story, that? And, you know, got one over the line against GT, just fell short against Sunrisers,” concluded Moody.