Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara warned Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of their decisive match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as the one place left for the playoffs is up for grabs.
CSK is at number four in the IPL points table with 14 points while RCB is sixth with 12. Fifth-placed Delhi Capitals have played all of their matches and they are out of the race for the playoffs.
While a win would just be enough for CSK, RCB, if they bat second, would have to chase in 18.1 overs or if they bat first, they would need to beat CSK by 18 runs.
Lara believes that the RCB players are hungry for success as they have never lifted the title. He also talked about Virat Kohli, who is the top scorer of the tournament.
“Well, it is not just form. I mean RCB has a five-match winning streak right now and no other team has done that this year. They have Virat Kohli, who is in hot form. But the most important thing is that other players are also playing their roles well which is important for the team’s success. So I think form is one thing,” Lara said while talking to Star Sports.
“RCB has never won the IPL and they seem to be hungry to win it. This match will help them reach the playoffs. This is a great opportunity, the team’s form is good, there is a hunger to win and senior players like Du Plessis, Siraj and Virat are also performing well.”
While they are in red-hot form, RCB were met with a major blow as two of their key players, Will Jacks and Reece Topley, left the ongoing tournament to play against Pakistan in the T20I series.
“Then the younger players are coming in, they will miss one or two, of the ones who have left. But I believe RCB’s momentum, as we have seen until now, will keep taking them forward in this tournament. I have seen them playing live, against CSK, they will win,” Lara concluded.