IPL 2024 Eliminator: Little room for error as RCB take on RR in power-hitting slugfest at the Motera

Just 48 hours after the end of a gruelling group stage, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will come face to face in Qualifier 2 on Wednesday to resume the latest chapter of an engrossing rivalry.

A bit of fatigue may be inevitable at this point considering both teams played their final league games last weekend and have had hectic travel days on Tuesday to make it to Ahmedabad. Neither team should have any trouble, though, motivating themselves given what remains at stake, a ticket to the IPL 17 final.

Rajasthan, erstwhile contenders for a top berth in the group stage, have found themselves grappling with a downward spiral following four consecutive defeats and a washout in their recent encounter against table-toppers Kolkata. Consequently, Sanju Samson's side concluded the league phase in the third spot, trailing Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In contrast, however, Bengaluru has staged a remarkable resurgence from the brink of elimination. Commencing their campaign with seven losses in eight games, the batting-heavy squad embarked on an extraordinary winning streak, culminating in the eviction of defending champions Chennai Super Kings to secure a spot in the IPL playoffs.

While Rajasthan endured a slump with a string of losses and a weather-affected fixture, Bengaluru seems to be hitting the right notes when it matters, having notched up back-to-back wins heading into the playoffs. Naturally, Faf (du Plessis) was a happy man. "How fun was that... so proud of everyone the way they have made the impossible happen. Special night. Special group. Look forward to the next one," the 39-year-old South African wrote on Instagram. In slight contrast, the Royals, though proven match-winners, have suffered a slide in form in the second half of the tournament.

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The Sanju Samson-led side has transitioned from being frontrunners to underdogs in just a matter of weeks. Despite glimpses of invincibility when in rhythm, their recent performances have laid bare vulnerabilities in both batting and bowling departments. The absence of Jos Buttler has considerably diminished their batting firepower, placing substantial reliance on the likes of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (348 runs), skipper Samson (504 runs), and Riyan Parag (531 runs) to reverse the tide on Wednesday.

Under such circumstances, the bigger responsibility could once again fall on Samson and Parag to click with the willow, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore of England is anticipated to partner with Jaiswal, forming a potentially fragile opening combination. Shimron Hetmyer's inclusion bolsters their lower order, which has been relatively subdued in contribution with the bat this season.

Rajasthan's bowling unit could prove instrumental, particularly considering the venue for the Eliminator, which has not been conducive to batting exploits that much. Notably, the Motera stadium has witnessed the 200-run mark being breached merely twice in 12 innings this season, bringing to one's notice the importance of disciplined bowling and a sturdy batting lineup in securing victories.

With a staggering tally of 708 runs from 14 matches, Virat Kohli from Bengaluru could be a potential game-changer in Ahmedabad. The side also has exceptional bench strength with the likes of Du Plessis, Dinesh Karthik, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, and Rajat Patidar, all coming in at different times and contributing.

The departure of the talented Will Jacks has not significantly dented Bengaluru's campaign, with veteran Karthik adding impetus to the lower middle-order with a striking rate even exceeding 195.

Another budding seamer, Dayal impressed one and all, after he struck back and removed the dangerous MS Dhoni to put RCB a step away from the final spot in the playoffs on Sunday. Relying on the slower back-of-the-hand deliveries, he conceded just one run in the next four balls to seal a 27-run win for RCB. This turnaround epitomises the youngster's transition from a bowler beleaguered by conceding five consecutive sixes in an over last year to a reliable asset this season.

Permutations and combinations will have to wait as the two sides look to go all-out for victory in a bid to reappear this Sunday.