RR vs RCB: "Bad day can come..." - Aakash Chopra issues stark warning to Virat Kohli-starrer RCB ahead of Eliminator

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra stated that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Eliminator match. Aakash Chopra highlighted that the momentum and hunger make the Royal Challengers Bengaluru a formidable team.

The Rajasthan Royals will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, May 22. It's a must-win encounter for both teams in the ongoing season. The winner of the 'Eliminator' match will face the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai on May 24.

The Faf du Plessis-led team won six consecutive matches to secure a berth in the playoffs. The Sanju Samson-led team lost four of their five matches in the league stage. The last match of the Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Have The Momentum - Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that only a poor performance could prevent RCB from progressing to Qualifier 2. The former Indian opener acknowledged the possibility of a bad day but stated that they have been in consistent form.

"The scales, without doubt, are tilted towards Bengaluru. They have the momentum. The only thing that can go against them is that they have won six consecutive games. A bad day can come anytime but they are a team on the rise with a lot of hunger. So I am going with RCB," Chopra said.

This Team's Graph Is Going Upwards - Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that Virat Kohli's stellar performances have been exemplary and crucial for RCB's resurgence. Aakash Chopra highlighted the Bengaluru team's upward trajectory after the disastrous start.

"This team's graph is going upwards. So which are the big, big pieces that have worked well? Virat Kohli's passion, aggression and consistency. He has been absolutely stellar. He is unstoppable. He has decided that he has to do and show something different this season. Virat Kohli consistently doing well is absolutely mandatory in their turnaround," Chopra added.

Virat Kohli is the leading run-getter in the ongoing tournament. The right-handed batter has amassed 708 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 64.36 and a strike rate of 155.60. He smashed a century in RCB's last match against the Royals but failed to secure victory in Jaipur on April 6.

The 46-year-old commentator highlighted Faf du Plessis and Rajat Patidar's form as significant positives for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Chopra said that Du Plessis has provided good opening partnerships, while Patidar has been performing consistently well after a slow start.

"Faf du Plessis - this team also started coming back based on his performances because the opening partnerships started becoming good. Rajat Patidar's sudden reclamation of form because he started the IPL from where he left the Test series. There was even a question about whether he should be played or dropped but he has consistently played well now," Chopra further added.

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