(Cricket news) Royal Challengers Bangalore will meet Sunrisers Hyderabad at the latter’s backyard in an effort to clinch a playoff spot. Against SRH, who are battling for pride after being eliminated from the top-four competition, RCB is eager to start the game strong with two crucial points on the line.
The Faf du Plessis-led team’s competition season would come to an end if they lose tonight. If they are defeated, CSK and LSG, who both have 15 points, will automatically qualify for the playoffs. If RCB loses tonight, even MI will still be in the running. Many teams will be watching this Southern Derby between two longtime rivals closely.
Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody thinks the defeats RCB sustained in the middle of the season are to blame for their current predicament. They were impacted by the team’s inconsistent performance during the TATA IPL 2023 season.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Tom Moody said, “RCB’s form has tapered off through the halfway stage, they started well but lost steam in the second phase. So they need to pull up their socks and go full throttle in the remaining games. They have a player like Virat Kohli, who will do everything in his potential to help RCB stay in the playoffs race.”
Yusuf Pathan, a former cricketer for India, drew attention to the lack of collaboration in RCB’s campaign this year and the team’s continued reliance on KGF (Kohli, Maxwell, and Faf).
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Yusuf Pathan said, “RCB will have to play as a team. Now is not the time that RCB should focus on just three players (Kohli, Maxwell and Faf). Now every player will have to come forward and fulfil his responsibility.”
The playoff ambitions of the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings were all but dashed on Tuesday when Delhi Capitals thrashed them rather handily.
Irfan Pathan, a former cricketer for India, asserted that the defeat of Punjab had undoubtedly relieved tensions in the RCB, MI, and CSK camps before of those teams’ crucial matches.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Irfan Pathan said, “RCB are in an advantageous position with Punjab Kings’ loss. MI will also fancy their chances but their fate will also hinge on the result of the match between CSK and DC.”
Irfan also commended Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav of the Delhi Capitals for effectively using the Dharamsala track and preventing the batters of the Punjab Kings from scoring runs at will.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, Irfan Pathan said, “The six overs bowled by Khaleel Ahmed and Kuldeep Yadav made the difference on the Dharamshala track. But PBKS team management’s faulty strategies are also to be blamed. Those errors cost them dearly.”
Also read: How can the teams still qualify for Indian Premier League playoffs?
