Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) kept their playoff hopes alive with a convincing 47-run victory against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their IPL 2024 encounter on Sunday, May 12. A brilliant knock from Rajat Patidar (52 off 32 balls) fueled RCB's batting performance, while Yash Dayal's three-wicket haul proved decisive with the ball. With this win, RCB, who record their fifth straight victory, surged to fifth in the standings with 12 points with an NRR of +0.387.
Late surge may not be enough for RCB to make it to playoffs
Despite this impressive win and their current five-match winning streak, RCB's journey to the playoffs remains uncertain. Even a potential six-win streak might not guarantee their qualification. The tight competition at the top sees four other teams in contention for a spot with 16 or more points.
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RCB's playoff spot hinges on final match and more
RCB's playoff hopes remain alive, but their fate rests not only on their final match against CSK but also on the results of other teams' encounters. While Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings are out of contention, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants all still have a shot.
Here's what needs to happen
SRH lose both remaining matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad must lose their upcoming encounters against both Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings.
LSG loses to MI: Lucknow Super Giants need to suffer a defeat against Mumbai Indians.
LSG beats DC (Optional): Ideally, Lucknow Super Giants should also lose to Delhi Capitals, further boosting RCB's chances.
If this scenario unfolds, RCB could potentially surpass SRH on net run rate, securing a coveted playoff spot.
There's an even slimmer possibility of RCB claiming the third spot. This hinges on a massive victory against Chennai Super Kings coupled with significant losses for other teams in their remaining matches. But a win against CSK alone won't be enough. They need a dominant performance to overhaul Chennai Super Kings' Net Run Rate and snatch that final playoff spot. This means either crushing CSK by a hefty margin, 18 runs or more) or chasing down their target in within 18.1 overs assuming they score 200 batting first. If the target is 201, they'll have to chase it down with roughly 11 balls remaining.
RCB restrain DC with dominant bowling performance
RCB clinched a convincing 47-run victory over DC to notch their fifth straight win in IPL 2024. After posting a challenging target of 187/9, RCB's bowlers and fielders displayed exceptional control to restrict DC to a paltry 140 runs, dismissing them in 19.1 overs.
The foundation for RCB's victory was laid by Rajat Patidar's fiery knock of 52 runs off just 32 balls. He found valuable support from Will Jacks (41 off 28 balls), as the duo stitched together a crucial 88-run partnership for the third wicket within nine overs. Yash Dayal did the rest as he bowled a match-winning spell of 3/20.
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