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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium on Thursday (May 18) in a bid to boost their chances to qualify for the IPL 2023's playoffs.
Faf Du Plessis-led RCB got off to a resounding start to IPL 2023 with a win in the opening match, but since then their journey has been a mix of defeats and victories. With two more matches in hand before the clash against SRH, RCB are placed fifth in the IPL 2023's points table. They have 14 points in their kitty in 12 matches and a net run rate of +0.166.
RCB, who have reached IPL finals thrice, will look to win both of their remaining matches and face the table toppers and defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1, provided they earn victories in both the matches.
Meanwhile, Australian legend and former SRH coach Tom Moody said that RCB need to put on a show in the remaining two matches in the league stage. He also added that the batting juggernaut Virat Kohli will do everything in his capacity to fire RCB to IPL 2023's playoffs.
"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," Moody was quoted as saying on Star Sports' Cricket Live.
Meanwhile, former India's star batter Yusuf Pathan said that RCB should not depend more on Kohli, Du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell and should try and look at other players besides the troika going ahead in the tournament.
"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," Pathan said.
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