Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) received a significant boost as they achieved a resounding 112-run victory over the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Sunday, according to Captain Faf du Plessis. The comprehensive win has greatly improved RCB’s net run rate, making it imperative for them to win their remaining two league phase games to stay in the race for the playoffs.

Expressing his satisfaction, du Plessis stated during the post-match presentation, “It was really good to win it this way. Indeed a big boost as we needed it, especially in terms of the net run rate.” He further expressed hope that this victory would set the stage for their final game against the Gujarat Titans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 21. The captain believes that the team’s success on Sunday will instill extra motivation in the players for the upcoming matches.

Du Plessis acknowledged the challenging nature of the Jaipur pitch, where batting proved to be difficult. Even during the Powerplay, the ball was keeping low, leading the team to believe that a total of 160 would be competitive on such a surface. The late surge in runs, particularly by Anuj Rawat, propelled RCB to a formidable score. Du Plessis attributed credit to the team’s batting group for their performance, highlighting the momentum gained from the last over of RCB’s innings.

Wayne Parnell, du Plessis’ former South Africa teammate, made a notable contribution to the team as he came in as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood and was awarded the Man of the Match title for his impressive figures of 3/10. Parnell also commended RCB’s batting unit, emphasizing their execution of the game plan. All the batters shared the same strategy of taking the pace off the ball and aiming for the stumps.

The emphatic victory not only rejuvenated RCB’s prospects in the tournament but also boosted their confidence. With their net run rate significantly improved, the team is now determined to carry the momentum forward and secure their place in the playoffs.