 "RCB are finally playing like a team in IPL. Image: Reuters")
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs before as well, in fact nine times and three times in the final as well, but they will have a different sort of belief when they walk onto the ground for the Qualifier 1 today (29 May, Thursday) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Follow live: PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1, IPL 2025
The belief that was on display in their last league game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday, where Jitesh Sharma played an unbelievable knock from the No.6 slot to help RCB secure a top-two finish . When Jitesh walked in to bat, Bengaluru still needed 105 more runs to win from just 52 balls.
In any other season, the team would have capitulated and settled for just a playoff spot, but not this RCB, which is coached by Andy Flower and captained by Rajat Patidar.
Belief and teamwork are RCB’s secret sauce
When the odds seemed heavily stacked against them, lesser-known Jitesh played an innings of his life, smashing 83 not out off just 33 balls and helping RCB win by six wickets.
What he said after scripting a miraculous win underlined why RCB have been so good this season. “The belief system in our team is very strong and whichever players you see, everyone is a match-winner and even if we lose 3-4 wickets, we always had the belief,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
Also Read | IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, PBKS vs RCB: Key battles to watch out for
Yes, it’s very much about the belief otherwise, how else do you explain RCB having eight different Player of the Match award winners in IPL 2025? This goes on to show that the team is no longer dependent on just one player. It’s not about just Kohli anymore.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMultiple match winners in one team
Yes, Kohli has been influential with 602 runs at a strike rate of 147.91 and eight fifties, but eight different Player of the Match award winners highlight that whenever there was a need, a new player stood up and took the team across the finish line.
That’s the major reason why RCB collected nine wins in the league phase in IPL 2025 and managed a top-two finish, which will give them two chances to qualify for the final .
Also Read | What happens if PBKS vs RCB Qualifier 1 is washed out?
The playoffs or the final are sometimes like a lottery, but if RCB keeps the trend going and at least one player decides to make it count, this probably could be the year where the IPL trophy finally lands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.