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Former England captain Kevin Pietersen launched a scathing attack on RCB’s inconsistent run in IPL 2024 after Bengaluru lost to RR in Eliminator to crash out of the league on Wednesday. Notably, the Royals ended Bengaluru’s roller-coaster run in the Indian Premier League with a scratchy four-wicket win in the Eliminator on Wednesday.
Pietersen analysed the team’s inconsistency, pointing out the stark contrast between their initial struggles and their late surge in form. Despite reaching the playoffs 10 times, RCB are amongst the only three teams from the inaugural edition to have not won a title, along with Punjab and Delhi.
“From Bengaluru’s point of view, they can take a lot of heart from how they played over the last sort of 4 to 5 weeks. But they’ve also got to stay to themselves. What on earth happened for the first month of the tournament?” Pietersen remarked.
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Can’t expect to win 7, 8, or 9 games
The former England captain’s remarks highlighted Bengaluru’s late comeback, which saw them string together impressive performances after a dismal start. Pietersen emphasised the improbability of maintaining such winning streaks, saying, “Because you can’t expect yourself to win 7, 8, or 9 games in a row. It just doesn’t happen. You have to create history.”
Despite winning six consecutive matches, he urged RCB to reflect on their early setbacks, which ultimately hampered their chances.
Detailing the logistical challenges and the demanding schedule, Pietersen added, “Get up today and then go to Chennai flight tomorrow at some stage and then beat Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday night, okay, and then wake oppression and do what on Saturday today and then KK are replaying brilliant cricket on Sunday.” His comments underscore the relentless nature of the tournament and the pressure teams face.
It’s unfortunate
Reflecting on the broader implications of RCB’s performance, Pietersen expressed sympathy for the franchise and its supporters.
“I think RCB have let themselves down horribly again this season. And, it’s unfortunate for such a wonderful franchise with such brilliant players because of the fan base,” he stated. Pietersen pointed to the passionate celebrations following the women’s team’s success to illustrate the deep connection between the team and its fans.
“Have a look at the celebrations when the women won that tournament, Have a look at what happened in the streets of Bangalore, and you can see how much it means to. The fans were here and I’m gonna, but we had 89,000 people.
“There are probably 88,000 of them that were rooting for Bangalore this evening, and that just typifies the expectation that these guys have to deal with,” Pietersen noted. He lamented the team’s recurring failures despite the overwhelming support and high expectations from their loyal fan base.
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