With the race to the IPL 2023 playoffs heating up, the Indian Premier League is inevitably nearing its conclusion as the biggest franchise cricket extravaganza winds down. The Gujarat Titans are the only team that has qualified for the semifinals so far. The conclusion of the tournament promises to be action-packed, as each team aims to bring its A-game and secure a place in the playoffs.
Aakash Chopra, a renowned India commentator, believes that Royal Challengers Bangalore’s back-to-back victories must have increased the pressure on the other teams still in contention for the semifinals. Just five days ago, RCB defeated the Rajasthan Royals by an enormous 112-run margin.
On May 18, they improved their chances of qualifying for the playoffs by securing an emphatic victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator stated on his YouTube channel that RCB are still alive in the competition and, given their current form, are a formidable opponent for the other teams.
Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel, “Bangalore is alive and properly alive.” The team has won its last two contests with ease. The other teams should be mildly concerned, but the winner will not be determined until Sunday evening.”
Notably, on May 21, RCB will play their final game of the season at home against Gujarat Titans, which is also the final league game of the current season. The RCB are presently ranked fourth in the points table with 14 points. The three-time runners-up in the IPL have won seven of their thirteen contests thus far.
Faf du Plessis has been the leading run-scorer for the 2016 runners-up with 702 runs, while Virat Kohli has scored 538 runs and Glenn Maxwell has scored 372 runs so far this season.