NEW DELHI: Former Indian batsman
Ambati Rayudu
believes that a victory against Punjab Kings will boost Rajasthan Royals' (RR) 'confidence' to secure a top-two finish in the league stage of the
IPL 2024
, despite their recent three-match losing streak.
Rajasthan Royals became the second team to secure a playoff berth after Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 19 runs on Tuesday, concluding their campaign with 12 points from 14 matches.
Led by
Sanju Samson
, the Royals are looking to bounce back from their recent losses before entering the knockout stage.
The team had a strong start to the season, winning their first four matches and maintaining a top-four position throughout. Despite their recent setbacks, Rajasthan remain second in the points table with 16 points from 12 games.
"They've played well throughout the season and this is the lucky break they've got at a crucial time when they aren't performing at their best. So this will give them the confidence as they go in for their next 2 games and hopefully they can qualify for the playoffs too," Rayudu told Star Sports.
Following their match against Punjab, the Jaipur-based franchise will face table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their final league stage encounter. Rayudu emphasizes the importance of securing a win against Punjab, as Kolkata is expected to pose a significant challenge.
"Of course, they would love to win the next game they are playing and ideally should be winning it because the final game they play is against KKR. I don't think KKR will give them anything easy, because they will be scared about RR coming into the playoffs, especially in the top 2, given the form RR have shown in the tournament," Rayudu said. "So, I feel they have their fate in their own hands and I think they are going to pull through and qualify in the top 2 at the expense of CSK," he added.
SEE ALSO: IPL POINTS TABLE
Paul Collingwood, the former England captain, shared his thoughts on Jos Buttler's replacement and Rajasthan Royals' qualification for the playoffs, stating, "Tom Kohler-Cadmore is very powerful in the first six overs, so he could be a great replacement for Jos. It's an English-to-English switch, which is good for the Rajasthan Royals. They can relax now, they've got the qualification under the belt so they can definitely relax."
Buttler, who has scored 359 runs at an average of 39.89 in 11 matches, including two centuries, has left the Rajasthan camp to begin preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup next month. Rajasthan Royals will face Punjab Kings at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, later today.
(Inputs from IANS)
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