Despite the Rajasthan Royals coming off a dominant start to the season in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the all-rounder, Donovan Ferreira reckons that the side should have qualified by now but still has a great chance of finishing the league stages in the top-two spots.
Now the Royals will have their next test as they take on the Chennai Super Kings at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai where both sides will be fighting hard for the win. Both sides are also coming in after loss in their respective sides and will be eager to return to winning ways.
“We should have already qualified for the playoffs by now. But, the IPL is a long tournament, and obviously, the second half is important,” said Ferreira during a pre-match press conference here on Saturday.
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“We had set out nicely by winning most of the games in the first half, and this game (against CSK) is quite important. We have three games left, but we don’t want to leave it too late and put pressure on ourselves,” he added.
The middle-order for the Royals has been a fair weak point for the side with the absence of Shimron Hetmyer in the previous game against Delhi Capitals. Rovman Powell was looking in good touch but lacked support from the other hand after the skipper Sanju Samson was dismissed on 86. However, Ferreira suggested that the middle-order batting can take the side over the line.
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“We just need to keep backing ourselves. With three games to go, we don’t want to test ourselves but keep the momentum going. It’s about training with the match intensity with the middle order so that when the moment arrives, your skills are sharpened, and you back yourself to pull the game through.”
Tomorrow’s game at the Chepauk will be the first afternoon game in Chennai in IPL 2024 and the South African implied that spin would play a big role considering the hot and dry conditions.
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“Obviously, this is a turning track. So, Ashwin will play a big role with (Yuzvendra) Chahal tomorrow.”
“Fortunately, most of our training schedule has been in the afternoon, so we are kind of used to the heat. But, it’s not possible to replicate the match intensity in training,” he added.
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