IPL 2024: RCB skipper Faf du Plessis opens up on team's playoff qualification

Faf du PlessiS (Pic: File Pic)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis his happiness on his team's comeback and sealing their place in the IPL 2024 playoffs. On Saturday, the side won the IPL 2024 against Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs which helped them qualify for the playoffs.

RCB made an outstanding comeback from winning just one match out of the first eight games of the IPL 2024 to securing consecutive victories in the next six matches. Faf-led RCB finished the league stage at the fourth spot with seven wins, seven losses and a total of 14 points, securing a higher net-run-rate than CSK, Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) who also had 14 points.

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RCB skipper took to Instagram and wrote, "How fun was that... so proud of everyone the way they have made the impossible happen. Special night. Special group. Look forward to the next one."

RCB will now clash with Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 22. The team winning the match will play the Qualifier 2 in Chennai on May 24. The winner of Qualifier One will go to the IPL 2024 final on May 26 in Chennai.

In the ongoing IPL 2024 season, Faf has scored 421 runs at an average of 30.07 and a strike rate of above 163, with four half-centuries and a best score of 64.

Coming to the IPL 2024 match, CSK won the toss and opted to bat first. RCB put on a fine score of 218/5 on the board, with skipper Faf Du Plessis (54), Virat Kohli (47) putting on a 78-run partnership, setting a fine platform for Rajat Patidar (41) and Cameron Green (38') to put on a 71-run stand for the third wicket. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik (14) and Glenn Maxwell (16) took RCB to a 200-run plus total.

RCB needed to restrict CSK below 201 runs to qualify for the playoffs and surpass their net run rate.

In the run-chase of 219 runs and the task of scoring 201 runs at least to book the top four spot, CSK lost two wickets early and were reduced to 19/2. Rachin Ravindra (61) and Ajinkya Rahane (33) put up a 66-run stand to bring the side into the game. RCB sunk CSK to 129/6, but a partnership between Ravindra Jadeja (42') and MS Dhoni (25) threatened to take the match away from RCB. However, Yash Dayal defended 11 runs in the final over, restricting CSK to just 191/7 in 20 overs.

(With ANI Inputs)