RCB fans can breathe a sigh of relief as their playoff hopes are still alive after a thumping 60-run win over Punjab Kings. This victory marks their fourth consecutive win, all of which have been one-sided affairs, with RCB dominating their opponents and putting them in submission mode.
In Friday’s evening match, Punjab put up a bit of a fight, but chasing 242 was never going to be easy. Virat Kohli, once again, proved why he is the most sought-after batsman in the world and that he has class.
People often question his form, raising questions about his central stage obsession, strike rate, and whether he plays for milestones rather than the team. However, his 92-run knock off 47 balls against Punjab silenced his critics with a resounding answer.
Those who called him selfish were proven wrong as he batted with a great strike rate of over 200, and even better, he was out while hitting a six, showing that he was batting for the team’s victory, not personal milestones.
Here’s how RCB can qualify for the playoff
With 10 points, RCB is currently in the seventh position, and their net run rate is positive. One team can still qualify with 14 points, but for that to happen, RCB will have to hope that Chennai Super Kings lose to Gujarat Titans tomorrow and that Delhi Capitals lose their last match, while RCB wins their remaining matches.
This means that RCB will also have to depend on the results of other matches to determine whether they qualify or not.
Gujarat Titans’ qualification chances are slim, but if they win tomorrow, they will keep their own qualification hopes alive as well as RCB’s. For Chennai, their remaining game is a must-win game. However, as the saying goes, probability is a funny game.
Not everything is in RCB’s hands. Their bowlers have made a comeback in the last four-five matches, with Mohammed Siraj bowling well and Karn Sharma proving his worth. Perhaps they brought him in a bit late, and the plan to drop skipper Cameron Green a couple of matches was also a mistake.
In the beginning, RCB’s biggest mistake was that they didn’t back their players. After losing two consecutive matches, the first thing any team does is make changes, saying that they don’t want this player or that player because they are not performing.
But it’s a team game. When you have a positive mindset and are in the game’s momentum, every player contributes to the team. Someone is fielding well, someone is taking catches, and a positive environment is created. In that environment, every player feels confident. That’s what’s happening with RCB right now.
However, if they don’t qualify, they will only have themselves to blame for losing a couple of close matches. They could have won those matches, like the one they played against Kolkata Knight Riders.
