Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden stated that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could end their trophy drought in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Matthew Hayden’s statement came after the Faf du Plessis-led team’s victory over the Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling encounter.
The Royal Challengers recorded a comfortable 27-run victory in their last league match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 18. RCB advanced to the playoffs of IPL 2024, becoming the fourth team after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan. Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
The RCB franchise started the tournament with a loss to the Chennai Super Kings. The team led by Faf du Plessis faced seven defeats in its first eight games. They spent most of their time at the bottom of the points table. The 2016 IPL runners-up managed to achieve six consecutive wins.
That was almost the perfect combination for RCB – Matthew Hayden
Speaking to Star Sports after RCB’s victory, Matthew Hayden stated that the team led by Faf du Plessis seems to be well disciplined. Hayden suggested that this could be the year for RCB to break their trophy drought. He stated that the last match was almost the perfect match for RCB.
“It’s really cool to see, in fact, it’s encouraging to see. I always felt a little sorry for the RCB fans, if I were completely honest, because they come this far to see this for the ninth time they are in these playoffs. And they have been ladies of honor several times. So, this could be the year. They seem to be an extremely good team, disciplined and it’s a routine. That was almost the perfect combination for RCB tonight,” Hayden said.
RCB openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis got off to a good start after being asked to bat first. However, the visiting team entered the game after rain interrupted the break. Virat Kohli fell short of a well-deserved half-century. The star batsman scored 47 runs off 29 balls, including three fours and four sixes.
Faf du Plessis added a 20-ball 35-run partnership with Rajat Patidar for the second wicket. Du Plessis ran out after scoring 54 runs in 39 balls with three fours and as many sixes. Patidar (41) and Cameron Green (38) added valuable contributions as RCB posted a total of 218 runs in 20 overs.
The defending champions needed 201 runs to secure a playoff berth. Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed for ducking on the first ball of the chase. MS Dhoni joined Ravindra Jadeja when the team was struggling at 129 for 6. Dhoni and Jadeja kept the match tense till the end but CSK scored 191 runs.
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team finished fifth in the points table. The Chennai-based team claimed seven wins in 14 league stage matches in IPL 2024. The team scored 14 points, but their net run rate (NRR) of +0.392 was slightly lower than the team’s +0.459 with Headquarters in Bengaluru.
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