"Royal Comeback Bengaluru" - Aakash Chopra on RCB qualifying for IPL 2024 playoffs

Aakash Chopra has noted that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a 'royal' comeback to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs, considering they were at the bottom of the points table after eight games. Faf du Plessis and company defeated the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 27 runs in Bengaluru on Saturday (May 18) to make it to the Eliminator.

RCB set CSK a 219-run target after being asked to bat first. The hosts then restricted Ruturaj Gaikwad and company to 191/7 to pip them to the final playoff berth based on net run rate.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that RCB staged a majestic comeback after seemingly being down and out.

"What a game, what a season. Such comebacks are also possible. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru did an incredible job - Royal Comeback Bengaluru. They changed their name this year and have changed their deeds. The start was not that good. It seemed like they wouldn't be able to go anywhere. Take a bow," he said (0:01).

The former India opener praised Yash Dayal for delivering a match-winning 20th over after being smoked for five sixes by Rinku Singh in a final over last season.

"Fantastic, whether it was Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis or Yash Dayal. Remember, there was a night when 29 runs were scored in the last over, five sixes, and today was a night where despite being hit off the first ball, he didn't even concede 11 runs off the next five balls. They have reached the playoffs after a disastrous start to the tournament," Chopra observed.

CSK needed 17 runs off the final over to qualify for the playoffs. Although MS Dhoni hit a six off the first ball, Dayal dismissed him with his next delivery and conceded just a solitary run off the remaining four balls.

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"It was important for Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis to play there, to keep fighting, and not to concede defeat" - Aakash Chopra on RCB's batting

Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli stitched together a 78-run opening-wicket partnership. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Reflecting on RCB's batting, Aakash Chopra lauded Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis for playing out the difficult period after the rain break.

"They scored 30 runs off three overs at the start. Then the rain came and suddenly the pitch changed. The ball was spinning yards. It was important for Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis to play there, to keep fighting, and not to concede defeat. The pitch changed after that," he said (1:35).

While acknowledging that the RCB skipper proved him wrong, the reputed commentator added that Kohli's aggressive approach has been worth watching.

"Faf du Plessis played a captain's knock. I was one of the skeptics that there might be questions on his captaincy this year and that they might have to change the captaincy mid-season. The way he batted, he had a game plan and played incredible shots. Virat Kohli is playing differently. His this avatar has been mouth-watering to watch," Chopra elaborated.

Chopra also praised Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell for playing crucial knocks to help their side set a challenging target for CSK.

"Rajat Patidar - how well he is batting. He too didn't have a good start to the season. The turnaround in his form and RCB's turnaround are intertwined. Cameron Green scored runs in the end and eventually you reached well beyond 200. Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) also scored 16 runs off five balls," he stated.

Du Plessis top-scored for RCB with a 39-ball 54. Kohli (47 off 29), Patidar (41 off 23), Green (38* off 17), Maxwell (16 off 5) and Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) also played their roles virtually to perfection.