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regular-article-logo Thursday, 02 May 2024

IPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis need to fire once again  

Hardik Pandya’s boys will surely go for a victory, more so because in T20 cricket, momentum has a big role to play and they would like to take some of it into the playoffs

Our Bureau Calcutta Published 21.05.23, 04:48 AM
Virat Kohli at RCB practice on the eve of their final league game against Gujarat Titans.

Virat Kohli at RCB practice on the eve of their final league game against Gujarat Titans. Twitter

Royal Challengers Bangalore will surely give their playoffs bid one last, mighty push on Sunday, in their last league game of the season. But the problem is, they will be up against Gujarat Titans, the defending champions and the table toppers this season.

It’s needless to say that the visiting Titans will be tough nuts to crack, unless of course they suffer a lack of motivation, having already secured a spot in Qualifier 1 with the maximum points (18). Even if the Titans lose in Bangalore on Sunday, they will finish the league stage as the top-placed team.

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Hardik Pandya’s boys would surely go for a victory, more so because in T20 cricket, momentum has a big role to play and they would like to take some of it into the playoffs.

For RCB, it’s quite straightforward. They need to win the game and win handsomely.

With three places in the playoffs already sealed, the fight is for only one remaining spot. The contenders — RCB, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians — are all on 14 points. Of the three, RCB have the best net run rate going into Sunday. If both RCB and Mumbai, who take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sunday’s other game, win, or both lose, then it will all come down to the net run rate. Rajasthan have completed their quota of games.

To win on Sunday, RCB will need two men the most — Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis.

Kohli and Du Plessis, who is also the captain, have been priceless for RCB this season. Du Plessis leads the runs scorers’ chart for the season with 702 runs, but Kohli isn’t far behind, with 538 runs. But will they be able to dominate Titans’ Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan too?

A cracker of a game is on the cards.

Today’s match

■ Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans, 7.30pm, Bangalore, live on Star Sports & Jio Cinema

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