Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricketer reckons that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have a strong chance of lifting their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title this season. He stated that he has a gut feeling about the same while adding that RCB also has the team to go all the way.
Bangalore has been runners-up thrice in the IPL. The last time they made it to the final was back in 2016 when they went down to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a high-scoring encounter. RCB takes on the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. The winner of this contest will meet the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final on Sunday at the same venue.
Harbhajan Singh Has A Gut Feeling RCB Will Go All The Way And Lift Their Maiden IPL 2022 Trophy
Previewing the match, Harbhajan Singh said that the Faf du Plessis-led side is a strong contender not only to reach the final but win it as well. Faf du Plessis has succeeded Virat Kohli as the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain with perfection in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
The South African opening batter has relied on a consistent team selection, and under him the side fought on till the end to qualify for the play-offs, and are now one step away from the final, having beaten Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2022 Eliminator.
Harbhajan Singh stated: “This RCB team has very good players. When you see their batting line-up or bowling line-up, there are players who can win the trophy for them. I have a gut feeling that RCB will go all the way this season. And if they do, they’ll probably lift the cup.”
Bangalore defeated the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 14 runs in the IPL 2022 Eliminator. They were knocked out at the same stage in the previous two editions of the T20 league.
RCB’s top performers this season in the batting department are Faf du Plessis: 443 runs in 15 matches (3 fifties, Strike Rate: 130.29, Average: 31.64), Virat Kohli: 334 runs in 15 matches (2 fifties, Strike Rate: 116.78, Average: 23.68), Dinesh Karthik: 324 runs in 15 matches (1 fifty, Strike Rate: 187.28, Average: 64.8), Glenn Maxwell: 277 runs in 12 matches (1 fifty, Strike Rate: 167.87, Average: 27.7) and Rajat Patidar: 275 runs in 7 matches (1 fifty and 1 hundred, Average: 55)
RCB’s top performers in the bowling department are Wanindu Hasaranga: 25 wickets in 15 matches (1 – Five-Wicket Haul, Economy Rate: 7.62, Average: 16.16), Harshal Patel: 19 wickets in 14 matches (Economy Rate: 7.56, Average: 20.05), and Josh Hazlewood: 18 wickets in 11 matches (Economy Rate: 8.32, Average: 19.66)
Harbhajan Singh: RCB Came From Behind And It Will Be Difficult To Stop Them
Urging Bangalore to continue playing in the same vein that they have been doing, Harbhajan Singh pointed out that they will be a dangerous opposition since they have come from behind.
The 41-year-old said: “RCB need to continue having the faith and belief that they can do it. They have got the team. They just have to come and play like one unit.
“It will come down to the individuals – how badly they need it (victory). They need to approach it (Qualifier 2) as another game. Remember, they have come from behind and it is difficult to stop a team that has come from behind.”
Bangalore sneaked into the Top 4 after the bottom-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) beat the Delhi Capitals (DC) in their last league game. A win for DC would have knocked RCB out of the playoffs race.