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‘Good For Dinesh…’ Faf Du Plessis Sees Silver Lining In RCB’s Defeat To CSK In IPL 2024

Dinesh Karthik roared back to form with a crucial 38* (AP)Dinesh Karthik roared back to form with a crucial 38* (AP)

The RCB franchise slumped to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of defending champions CSK in the opening match of the IPL 2024 season at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium. After shaping up 173 runs upfront, the visitors had their target overhauled with more than an over to spare.

Despite coping a demoralizing defeat earlier in the tournament, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis seems to be maintaining a positive mindset, as evidenced by his post-match presentation speech.


Faf du Plessis cites defining moment, praises Karthik

RCB captain Faf du Plessis acknowledged team’s top-order failure, claiming that they fell 15-20 runs short of a competitive total after he won the toss and opted to bat first. The former South African batsman believes his team lost its plot in the middle-overs in front of CSK spinners.

“When you play here, you always think you have to get yourself ahead. Chennai is a very good team and they bowl really well in the middle overs with their spinners. They bowled well and our batters had to rebuild. I feel we were 15-20 runs short," he said while speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony.

After RCB charted 173 upfront, bowlers Cameron Green and Yash Dayal did deliver timely breakthroughs to keep their side in the hunt during CSK’s run-chase. Despite having gained some momentum when CSK slipped to 110-4, RCB skipper believes the hosts were always “in front of the game” because the short ball strategy of his bowlers did not work in the middle overs.

“We were behind in trying to get ahead of the game. They were still in front of the game despite us pulling it back. We just tried to get some wickets with the short ball in the middle overs but there weren’t enough runs on the board for us," Faf du Plessis added.

Captain Faf further praised seasoned warhorse Dinesh Karthik and young wicketkeeper-batsman Anuj Rawat for lifting RCB from a precarious 78-5 to a respectable 173-6 by the completion of their 20 overs. The South African legend also expressed his jubilation over Karthik’s return to form, after the cricketer had undergone a difficult phase last season. 

“It’s really good for Dinesh. Someone who hasn’t played much cricket in the last year, it was good to start that way. Anuj also showed good promise. Tonight, he showed great composure for a young guy and it’s a positive sign for us.”

Faf du Plessis along with the rest of his RCB troops will now face Punjab Kings in their subsequent IPL 2024 challenge at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The much-awaited contest will be staged on March 25, and will mark RCB’s first home game of the season.