RCB loses key player before do or die match

Pakistan slated to begin from May 26. Woakes was regular member of the RCB squad in the initial stages of the tournament. But lack of impact performances meant he was soon replaced by New Zeqaland all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme.

While there is still a question mark on Moeen Ali, who has not found a place in the 12-member squad for the first Test match but can surely make his way into the side for the second Test match.

Apart from Woakes, two other England cricketers – Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) have left for England.

The Kohli-led side would however, have to win their remaining two matches to bring their net run rate into play. Their job won’t be easy my any means.

Here is where RCB have their noses in front. With +0.218 they have the best run rate among the teams fighting for the final two spots.

On Thursday they will face table toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad and hours before that they have lost the services of one of their key players.

All-rounder Chris Woakes headed back to England hours before their important match against Sunrisers.

Woakes has been selected in England’s squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan slated to begin from May 26.

But as the league progressed, they found their mojo both with the bat and ball.

One among the four is the Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore. Like every other IPL, their campaign began on the back-foot.

RCB are currently No.6 at points table with 10 points from 12 matches. Ideally, they should have been knocked out of the tournament by now with them having no chance of reaching to the qualification mark of 16 points.

However, the complex dynamics of this season’s IPL has made sure that one or maybe two teams can qualify with 14 points in their kitty, obviously by virtue of a better net run rate.

After 50 matches (only six league games left), only two teams are confirmed for the play-offs and as many as four teams are fighting for the final two spots with all of them having equal chances.

The IPL’s race to play-offs is played on one of the complex and confusing tracks that one can ever imagine, even the best of drivers (read teams) struggle to figure the correct path to reach their destination.