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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have recently become one of first three teams to qualify for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs, alongside Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
RCB qualify for IPL 2025 playoffs amidst growing expectations
Their qualification was sealed after the May 18 game between GT and Delhi Capitals, ensuring a top-four finish regardless of their remaining fixtures. This marks a historic achievement for Rajat Patidar‘s leadership, with the team delivering consistent performances across departments. Their scheduled clash against Kolkata Knight Riders was unfortunately washed out due to rain, but the squad remains firmly in the playoff race. Upcoming matches against SunRisers Hyderabad (May 23) and Lucknow Super Giants (May 27) could be pivotal in securing a top-two finish, which would give them two shots at making the final. The mood in the camp is optimistic, but the challenge ahead is massive, and former RCB legend AB de Villiers has some powerful words of advice to guide them through.
AB de Villiers makes massive request from RCB players ahead of the IPL 2025 Playoffs
Asked by a fan if he had any advice for RCB ahead of the playoffs, especially for skipper Rajat Patidar and young star Jitesh Sharma , AB de Villiers began with a passionate appeal. Highlighting how physically staying on the field is the first requirement for title contention, de Villiers emphasized that RCB finally have the right mix of momentum, confidence, and leadership, especially with the presence of an in-form Virat Kohli. He further urged the squad to avoid injuries at all costs, maintain physical readiness, and keep the team intact for the high-stakes matches ahead.
“First of all uh most importantly just stay fit please these injury scares are killing me really like stop that now all of you RCB players get fit um stay fit uh because I feel this is a this is a great opportunity for us to go all the way this season there’s momentum there’s confidence there’s a virat goalie uh there’s an informed team just stay on the park please people,” De Villiers said.
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De Villiers shares lessons from playoff heartbreaks
De Villiers went beyond general encouragement and delved into the psychological side of knockout cricket, something he’s intimately familiar with. Drawing from his own playoff heartbreaks, he stressed that tiny decisions and minor errors, like a no-ball, a mistimed shot, or a dropped catch, can swing the outcome. He also sharing how such pressure points have haunted him in hindsight.
” I mean I can go back through all the knockouts and all the disappointments in my career there were pivotal moments sometimes still at night I think of one or two one or two games and I go like ah that was the moment you didn’t realize it in that at the time but always in hindsight you look back and you go that was the moment and it was so um unpredictable no one saw it coming there was a a stop in the field or a noble ball at the wrong time or a batter deciding to go from fifth gear to second gear just for a brief moment and then fire again little things like that. That will be my advice uh stay calm uh use all the resources of the of the team the momentum the confidence you’ve built uh throughout this season and take that to those big moments and and go and win those big moments for the team all right,” the former RCB player added.
He advised RCB to be mentally aware and emotionally steady in such instances, to recognize when such turning points arise during the game and to win those key moments as a united team. He further explained that great teams like CSK have historically won titles not by dominating throughout, but by handling these moments better
“Look at CSK against RCB the other night you just could see it’s not CSK season uh bowling no balls at the wrong time Jadeja and MS not getting it away I’m talking about a few weeks back now obviously but just to sum up what I’m trying to say there will come pivotal moments where you’ll have to use your dynamic and your presence as a unit to cross the line and and that’s what knockout games are all about,” De Villiers concluded.
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