Rajasthan Royals (RR) were dominating the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with eight wins from their first nine games. But the Sanju Samson-led side faced a slump in the latter half of the league stage. In the last five games, they have lost four whereas one was abandoned due to rain. They missed a chance to finish in top two. The winners of the inaugural edition will face an in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) who have been in sensational form with six consecutive wins to make it to the eliminator. Ahead of the clash, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has predicted that RR will fail to put up a fight against the Faf du Plessis’ side.
"RCB is playing cricket as well as they've ever played. They've got themselves to a situation where momentum is all in their favour. They've got bowlers bowling well, batters batting brilliantly, and Faf du Plessis leading them as well as he's ever led a team. So, I find it very, very hard to think that Rajasthan are going to put up a fight," Pietersen said while speaking to Star Sports.
Buttler’s absence a ‘big loss’
Pietersen also pointed out that England players going home early to play in the five-T20I series against Pakistan os a loss for the teams. RR will be without the services of their star opener Jos Buttler who has scored two match-winning centuries in the run chase this season.
"They've lost Jos Buttler, and Jos Buttler is such a big player. When you open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and you know that he looks up to Jos so much, it is such a big loss. It's actually quite sad that the England players have had to leave this tournament, and they're not here on the bigger stage
"I'm sure the players would love to be playing here on the bigger stage in Ahmedabad and then off to Chennai to play the finals. This tournament deserves that, and it's just unfortunate that some of the biggest players in the world are not going to be here," he added.
The winner of the eliminator clash will face Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 24 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
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