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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 29 outclassed table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) in all departments of the game to storm into playoffs. Following the eight-wicket win in PBKS' den, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin said that RCB would want to face Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final.
“If RCB have to win the IPL, then Gujarat Titans should win against Mumbai Indians. MI are one team that you cannot allow to enter the final, you have to stop them at any cost,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“RCB will keep their fingers crossed to not have Mumbai Indians in the final. Mumbai Indians is the only team that has some chance against RCB. It looks like RCB are going the distance, but it is cricket; anything can happen. If I were RCB, my best finalist team would be Gujarat Titans. If I was RCB, I would want to face Gujarat Titans,” he added.
On May 30, IPL 2022 winners GT will go up against five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI). The winner of the Eliminator will take on PBKS in Qualifier 2.
While Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply by Kyle Jamieson in the Qualifier 1, Ashwin has backed the former RCB captain to rise up to the occassion, especially if there is a tense run chase in the IPL final.
"Virat Kohli, I want to tell you all one thing. I don't want to make it about Virat Kohli, but I cannot help but feel that this is RCB's year. Virat Kohli did not have an ICC title; people constantly used to say this. In a matter of a year, he has won the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy," said Ashwin.
"Of course, not both of these as captains. He has one of the greatest Indian Test captains. Is he going to win the first-ever title for RCB in the 18th season? Virat Kohli will stand up on the big day. If they are in a chase, he knows how to handle those situations," he added.
Kohli's record in IPL finals
So far, Kohli has played three IPL finals. He has scored 96 runs from three innings, including a half-century in IPL 2016 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). His strike rate in IPL finals is 128.
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