Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Despite a strong start, RR’s campaign faltered towards the end, failing to secure a top-two finish after their final group-stage match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was washed out. The team has lost four consecutive matches, and the unavailability of Jos Buttler has significantly impacted their performance.
Jos Buttler, the England captain, departed RR to fulfill national team commitments just before the IPL playoffs. Jos Buttler had been in exceptional form, scoring match-winning centuries against RCB and KKR. His absence has left RR struggling to find an anchor who can accelerate the innings in the crucial final stages.
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan, speaking on Cricbuzz, highlighted the severe disadvantage RR faces without Jos Buttler. Michael Vaughan noted that Jos Buttler’s ability to perform under pressure and his match-winning capabilities are sorely missed by RR.
“RCB have more players in form. Jos Buttler is such a key player for RR. His hundred against KKR shows he knows how to get the job done under pressure. They are missing their key jigsaw piece,” Michael Vaughan stated.
Discussing the playoffs further, Michael Vaughan predicted that KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) would likely meet in the final in Chennai. He agreed with fellow commentator Simon Doull, noting that the team winning the second playoff match would gain a strategic advantage.
“I think KKR and SRH will play the final in Chennai. Whoever wins the second playoff gets the advantage, because they play in Chennai. It’s not a huge advantage, but it is quite significant,” Michael Vaughan concluded.
RR will face RCB on May 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where they will need to overcome both their recent poor form and the absence of their star player, Jos Buttler.
