NEW DELHI: The race for the final playoff position has reached a fever pitch in the wake of a rain-induced washout that secured Sunrisers Hyderabad's spot in the 2024 Indian Premier League playoffs.
With Delhi Capitals joining Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans on the elimination list, three teams remain in contention for the coveted fourth spot: Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants.
As anticipation builds for the crucial clash between RCB and CSK in Bengaluru on Saturday, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has offered his insights, predicting a fiercely competitive encounter.
Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan highlighted the unique challenges and strengths each team brings to the match.
"Nothing is easy. It's not going to be easy for both teams. RCB has the momentum, a solid momentum. And if they win with this momentum and qualify for the playoffs, it will be a big danger for the other three teams in the playoffs as there is no more dangerous side than the one in strong momentum," Pathan remarked.
RCB's recent performance surge positions them as a formidable opponent, but Pathan also underscored the enduring pedigree of CSK, despite their current struggles.
"CSK bring in the pedigree of being the team who knows how to win crucial moments. But they have lots of issues at the moment. Injury issues, new captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no longer leading them," he noted.
"You might have seen him occasionally setting the field, but he is not the captain. You might have remembered what happened when [Ravindra] Jadeja led the side and it didn't end well, the same can happen again. CSK fans will hope that they march ahead of these issues and win the crucial two points."
The match promises numerous intriguing subplots, not least of which is the potential end of an era for CSK with what could be Dhoni's last game.
"It could be the last game for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or it may not," Pathan suggested, adding to the drama surrounding the fixture.
Pathan also pointed to the potential impact of RCB's bowling unit, particularly Mohammed Siraj.
"We can see a different bowling attack from RCB, their weak point so far. [Mohammed] Siraj can come up with six yorkers in an over and win the match for RCB as he is gaining form in the last few games," Pathan observed.
Concluding his analysis, Pathan expressed his hopes for standout performances from the two legendary figures: "For me, two main things I want to see in the match are -- Virat Kohli scores runs and from the other end, Dhoni comes to bat a little higher [Mere liye toh Virat Kohli runs banaye aur MS Dhoni thoda upar aaye ballebaazi karne]."
As RCB and CSK prepare to face off in what Pathan describes as a "mouth-watering clash," fans eagerly await the outcome, knowing that the result will significantly shape the playoff landscape.
