Despite being at the bottom of the IPL 2024 table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru England batsman Will Jacks believes the team can still make the playoffs.
RCB is the only team in IPL 2024 to have won just one game out of their 8 home and away matches. The South Indian team’s only win of the season came almost a month ago when they defeated the Punjab kings at M. Chinnaswamy in a close encounter. Since then, Bengaluru have lost six games in a row and Will Jacks has been part of the team’s last three defeats.
RCB desperately needs a turnaround
Since their win against Punjab, Bengaluru have lost to Lucknow, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Hyderabad and twice to Kolkata Knight Riders. In their previous game, RCB came very close to victory but just couldn’t secure their second win of the season as KKR defeated them by just one run at Eden Gardens.
In the game ahead of KKR, Faf du Plessis’ side posted their highest ever IPL score as Sunrisers beat Hyderabad by 287 runs at Chinnaswamy. Tonight, in their 10th league match, RCB will take on Orange Army in a return match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, just 10 days after leaking 287 runs.
If RCB cannot win tonight, they will no longer be mathematically capable of reaching the play-offs for the second time in a row. Players like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Will Jacks, among others, will have to run at full speed together and hope that the bowling team puts in their best performance yet.
Will Jacks believes Bengaluru can turn around their miserable season
When Will Jacks spoke to press reporters ahead of RCB’s away match against SRH, he was extremely positive.
The right-hand batsman, who scored his first half-century of IPL 2024 against KKR four days ago, claimed that his team desperately needs to win a few games in a row. If they do that, Jacks believes anything can happen for the South Indians in the final stretch.
“We made a conscious effort to take wickets with the new ball. Hopefully this will pay off. You never know if we win a few games and from then on you never know what can happen.” – Jacks told reporters in Hyderabad.
With RCB’s chances of reaching the knockout stages looking bleaker than ever, Will Jacks’ positive statement is a testament to the belief the team still harbors.
Jacks reveals the recipe for success against SRH
Will Jacks then praised Sunrisers Hyderabad for their current style of play and stressed that they have great confidence.
Jacks highlighted Hyderabad’s three 260+ scores this season and to prevent this, the Englishman suggested the bowlers to take early wickets with the new ball. In his opinion, that could be the recipe for success against the Orange Army.
SRH values self-confidence. They scored three over 260. All the batters appear to be in form and now they are playing at home. It’s a challenge to get here. If we limit them to par or less, we can win.” – Jacks concluded.