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The Indian Premier League 2022 is one game away from having its two finalists. It’s the Qualifier 1 losers Rajasthan Royals going head to head against the Eliminator winners Royal Challengers Bangalore for a shot at Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022 final. The two teams will lock horns at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 27.
The Royals had earned themselves two chances of making it to the final, courtesy of finishing in the top two on the table with nine victories and a superior net run-rate. Their first chance didn’t quite work out as they went down against the Titans by seven wickets in the Qualifier 1.
Sanju Samson lost yet another toss and the Royals were sent in to bat first. Samson scored a blistering knock of 26-ball 47 but Jos Buttler struggled to get going in the first half of his innings. But the Englishman turned things around from 36 off 38 to reach 89 off 56 and take the side to 188/6. Defending the target, RR could not build enough pressure and only managed three wickets as GT crossed the finish line with three balls to spare.
RCB somehow secured fourth spot in the playoffs, having won eight out of their 14 league games. In the Eliminator, they overcame the challenge of Lucknow Super Giants by 14 runs to advance through to the Qualifier 2.
Rajat Patidar was the star of the show as he produced one of the all-time great knocks in IPL history. Having lost captain Faf du Plessis for a duck, Virat Kohli struggling and Glenn Maxwell falling cheaply, it was Patidar who kept RCB in the game with a scintillating 112* off 54 balls.
Dinesh Karthik scored 37* off 23 as the duo blasted 83 runs in the last five overs to take the team to 207/4.
Harshal Patel was outstanding with the ball, returning one for 25 in four overs, while Josh Hazlewood picked three for 43 as they defended the target successfully, albeit not without an assist from KL Rahul’s approach.
Key players
Jos Buttler is the orange cap holder in the IPL 2022 with 718 runs in 15 innings, including three hundreds and four fifties. The Rajasthan opener averages 51 at a strike rate of 148 in the tournament. Buttler had a nightmarish second half of the season but found some form in the last game. The Royals would want him at his destructive best.
Yuzvendra Chahal has been sensational for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022. The leg-spinner is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 26 wickets at an economy of just 7.70, including a five-for and a four-for. Chahal will be a key figure in this clash against his former franchise.
Rajat Patidar came in as a replacement player this season and has elevated the side. He has scored 275 runs in just six innings at an average of 55 while striking at 156, including three 45+ scores. The right hand batter was excellent in the last game, taking down spinners in particular. Patidar will be a key player for RCB against the spin duo of the Royals.
Harshal Patel is one of the best death overs specialists going around in the T20 arena. He has been superb for RCB in the ongoing season as well, picking 19 wickets at an exceptional economy of 7.56. Harshal bowled brilliantly in the Eliminator under pressure, returning 1 for 25.
Prediction
H2H: RCB hold an edge with 13-11 overall scoreline and five wins out of the last six clashes. But it’s the playoffs and anything goes.
RR have a very good batting unit comprising Buttler, Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal and Shimron Hetmyer, but it needs to fire collectively. Their bowling attack, on the other hand, is a serious concern as they don’t have any decent bowler for death overs. The quartet of Chahal, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, and Ravi Ashwin will have to break the game before the 16th over.
Bangalore’s batting unit has come together in the last few games. The likes of Patidar, Karthik and Mahipal Lomror have been in good form. The experienced trio of du Plessis, Kohli and Maxwell needs to do more. Their bowling attack looks a lot better than that of the Royals. Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga, in particular, have been magnificent.
Overall, Bangalore have an edge and they are likely to come out triumphant in this royal Qualifier 2 to book a spot in the final.
