Royal Challengers Bengaluru shall be keen to preserve its perfect away file within the Indian Premier League this season – six wins out of six up to now – and seal playoffs qualification when it meets Lucknow Super Giants on the Ekana Stadium right here on Friday.
With 16 factors from 11 video games, RCB’s top-four hopes will not be underneath critical menace. But the reassurance of a spot with two matches remaining – each of that are at residence – will give Rajat Patidar’s males the mandatory elevate to go weapons blazing for a top-two end.
But the absence of No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal due to a hamstring damage will damage. The setback couldn’t have come at a worse time, for fiery batter Phil Salt has missed the final two fixtures due to an sickness and premier pacer Josh Hazlewood sat out of the win in opposition to Chennai Super Kings with shoulder hassle.
Yet, Virat Kohli’s type, younger opener Jacob Bethell’s enterprise and a well-rounded bowling assault makes RCB sturdy. Romario Shepherd’s mindboggling batting in opposition to CSK final Saturday is bound to induce worry in opponents.
For Rishabh Pant’s LSG, this can be a do-or-die conflict. It has simply 10 factors from 11 video games and has misplaced three on the trot main in to this contest.
Even as middle-order bat Ayush Badoni has impressed, the struggles of Nicholas Pooran not too long ago, and skipper Pant’s all-season, have held LSG again.
Of late, the bowling has come undone too as Delhi Capitals chased 159 with eight wickets left, and Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings raked up 215 and 236 respectively. One extra middling efficiency will all however assure elimination.
Published – May 08, 2025 06:43 pm IST
