In a battle for the final IPL 2024 playoffs spot, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 27 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday (May 18).
Despite facing adversity, RCB defied the odds and secured their place in the playoffs. They achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs after winning only one of their initial eight matches in the season.
The league stage culminated on Sunday to confirm the team standings, with Kolkata Knight Riders (20 points) finishing on top, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (17 points), Rajasthan Royals (17 points) and RCB (14 points).
That means KKR and SRH will play Qualifier 1 on May 21, while RR and RCB will square off in the Eliminator on May 22. Both the games will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of RCB’s knockout fixtures, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has backed under-fire Glenn Maxwell to deliver for the side.
Maxwell has not been at his best this season, scoring only 52 runs in 9 matches for RCB. He was also sidelined from the playing XI in a couple of matches.
However, the Aussie all-rounder returned with a crucial cameo of 16 in just 5 balls during RCB’s do-or-die clash against CSK to reach the playoffs.
“High risk, high reward. Glenn Maxwell will single-handedly win a knockout match for RCB. You have to stay calm with him in the dressing room. I know it’s frustrating. It must be frustrating for him as well," Akram told Sportskeeda.
“I know how Australians and especially Maxwell, how competitive he is and how much he wants to be successful. Remember his innings in the World Cup against Afghanistan, had cramps, couldn’t walk, played with one hand, and went on to score 200,” he added.
Akram also talked about RCB's convincing win over CSK which propelled them to the playoffs. It was their sixth successive victory in the tournament.
"It was virtually kind of like a quarterfinal. Ise kehte hain jab kismat ki devi meharbaan ho, jab apko apnea ap mein belief ho team pe. (When fortune favors you and you have self-belief, then you tend to achieve the impossible)."
"Even I had said that qualifying is not only tough but impossible. They have proved everyone wrong. It’s an incredible story for RCB. That game will be written in the history of IPL," he remarked.
Wasim Akram suggested that God had a different plan as many were expecting CSK to enter the playoffs rather comfortably.
“We thought CSK would easily enter into the top 4 and it’ll be a fairytale ending for MS Dhoni. But again, uparwale ne kuch mana hua tha, kuch aur likha hua tha. Uparwala bhi unki help karta hai to khud ki help karte hain. (However, the almighty had written something else. Even God helps those who help themselves). There is a lesson to be learned from this RCB qualification. Luck favors the brave, never lose hope,” he said.
