Virat Kohli may not be leading Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing IPL 2022, yet the focus would be on him when RCB takes on Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday for Qualifier 2. With a ticket to the finale at stake, there is all to play for. While predictions are being made, Australia’s premier batter Marnus Labuschagne passed his verdict during a Twitter poll.
After 62 days of riveting action in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, the tournament is down to just three teams. Gujarat Titans, who had emerged as the table toppers, have reached the final and wait for the winner of Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 2, which will be played on Friday.
Virat Kohli Will Go Big Tweets Marnus Labuschagne
Ahead of the big game in Ahmedabad, an Australian cricket star Marnus Labuschagne ran a poll on Twitter on who will win the IPL trophy this season, before giving his verdict on the same.
Marnus Labuschagne took to Twitter on Thursday to post a Twitter poll on “Who wins the IPL from here? #IPL2022”. And when asked by a fan who he supports, Marnus Labuschagne backed RCB to emerge as the winner this season. “RCB – @imVkohli will go big,” he tweeted.
Virat Kohli has not been in the best form in the ongoing IPL 2022. He has been dismissed thrice for golden duck which does not show the potential of the ex-India captain. He has recently shown some form as he got a fifty against Gujarat ahead of the Eliminator. RCB would dearly hope Virat Kohli gets among the runs as he would be a key player in the Qualifier 2 contest.
Virat Kohli scored a fluent 73 off 54 balls against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in RCB’s last league match. He was also involved in an opening partnership of 115 with RCB skipper Faf du Plessis (44 off 38). Virat Kohli was retained ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 15 crores. He is the team’s 2nd highest run-getter this season with 334 runs averaging a mere 23.86 in 15 games which doesn’t depict a good picture going by his caliber and credentials.
RCB – @imVkohli will go big
— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) May 26, 2022
60.6 percent of the poll users so far voted in favour of RCB, followed by Gujarat Titans (20) and Rajasthan (19.4).
RCB reached Qualifier 2 after defeating Lucknow Super Giants by 14 runs in the IPL 2022 Playoffs Eliminator on Wednesday. RCB scored 207/4 in the first innings, courtesy of an unbeaten 112-run knock in 54 balls by Rajat Patidar.
While Virat Kohli scored 25 runs in 24 balls, Dinesh Karthik remained unbeaten on 37 off 23 balls. Josh Hazlewood’s 3/43 in four overs helped RCB to restrict LSG at 193/6 and take the team through to the next game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Is Yet To Win IPL
RCB is among the few teams who are yet to win the IPL trophy. They have qualified for the playoffs eight times and reached the final three times, the last being in 2016.
In 2022, RCB finished fourth in the league stage, with eight wins in 14 games. Faf du Plessis’ men then defeated Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator earlier this week at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata by 14 runs to make the second stage in the IPL playoffs.
RCB had earlier failed to cross the Eliminator hurdle in two consecutive seasons, losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets in 2020 and to Kolkata Knight Riders by 4 wickets in 2021.
However, Rajat Patidar’s sensation century and Harshal Patel’s impressive death-over bowling helped RCB make the Qualifier 2 with the IPL 2022 final and the trophy still in sight.