Rajasthan Royals will be keen to turn it around against RCB: Graeme Smith

Former South Africa cricketer Graeme Smith believes that the Rajasthan Royals will be under much more pressure in the IPL 2022 Qualifier 2 as compared to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are backed by a victory. While RCB defeated Lucknow Super Giants in their previous game, RR faced a major defeat against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.

The former Proteas player feels that the Qualifier 2 will turn out to be an exciting contest and RR would be eager to turn things around. In the current season, RCB and RR have shown incredible ability to put themselves in a position to break their title drought. While RCB is yet to win an IPL trophy, RR has not succeeded in repeating the heroics after the inaugural season in 2008.

“I think the challenge will be for Rajasthan Royals after their disappointing loss against Gujarat Titans (in Qualifier 1). They must be hurt. Can they pick themselves up? RCB, on the other hand, is on a high. They’ll be keen to turn it around and put back a high skill level in the game. So, I agree with Ravi that we are going to have a cracker of a game on Friday night,” Smith said while speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star Sports.

They both want it badly and it will be a battle of Royals: Ravi Shastri

Former India coach and veteran Ravi Shastri is of the opinion that the Qualifier 2 will be a contest worth watching and feels that the two teams will put in their best game to succeed in the do-or-die match. The winning team would meet Gujarat Titans in the Final of the IPL 2022.

“It’s been 14 years for RCB (as they have never won the title) and 13 years since Rajasthan won their last title in the inaugural season. So between the two of them, it’s been 27 years (laughs). They both want it badly and it will be a battle of Royals. Let’s wait for that one. It’s going to be a great contest as both the teams would want to win it badly,” Shastri said.

The Qualifier 2 and the final will be played in front of more than one lakh people at the world’s biggest cricket stadium – the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.