IPL 2021, PBKS vs RR: Kumar Sangakkara confident of RR’s playoffs chances – After a tumultuous three months, Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals will resume their IPL 2021 campaign against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. During these three months, RR have been plagued with uncertainty over players’ return, pull-outs and before that injuries. However, ahead of the match RR coach Kumar Sangakkara sounded confident on the squad and said that it will be about winning one match at a time.
“We have to win a majority of the seven matches. That’s the simplest way of looking at it, try from game one to see if we can win. We will try to do everything because we are out here to make the playoffs. That’s the big ambition. But to do that, we need to win those games. If you have the games, you have to try and win the majority of them,” Kumar Sangakkara told Khaleej Times.
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IPL 2021, PBKS vs RR: The first headache for Rajasthan Royals is to get the team to gel together well and fast and motivate them. The new recruits have only arrived recently and will need to spend time with the squad. But Kumar Sangakkara believes motivating the players will not be difficult especially with the T20 World Cup coming.
“It’s not very difficult to motivate the players at all. They come very highly motivated. There is a lot to play for in terms of the season. A T20 World Cup is coming up as well. They have got to be in form because the players are in their teams. So motivating them is not a problem at all,” the former Sri Lankan captain said.
IPL 2021, PBKS vs RR: What RR will need is consistency in their performance and the players. RR have been plagued with inconsistencies including their captain Sanju Samson. If they can address that, the team is good enough to make the playoffs.
“At the Royals, we stay very relaxed and focused, we are quite unemotional when it comes to results as long as we play good cricket. So it’s about getting our tactics, strategy and selection combinations right. And then the players are free to go and express themselves,” Kumar Sangakkara said.
IPL 2021, PBKS vs RR: The Royals coach further added that although the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will be big miss, the team’s new faces have made the team stronger.
“It’s crucial, any part, whether you have the players or the replacement players. We had injuries throughout the first half of the IPL, and players who had to withdraw and leave early. So we have players who couldn’t turn up this time as well. But the players we do have are more than capable of doing the job and helping us become a better side. We just need to perform really well. And the combinations, strategies and tactics, getting them right is crucial irrespective of the players you have,” Kumar Sangakkara said.
IPL 2021: What do Rajasthan Royals need to do to make playoffs?
Rajasthan Royals (5th, 6 points): Another season another inconsistent performance. But their inconsistency is mostly down to the unavailability of players. They have missed Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer greatly. They have won three and lost four and that has to be the opposite in the last phase. RR face PBKS, RCB, CSK, MI, KKR, DC, SRH in their last seven matches and need to win at least five.
- They need to sort out the squad first. They will miss Jos Buttler and that will be a blow.
- Sanju Samson has done well but needs consistency while in the bowling department, Mustafizur Rahman could play a leading role with the kind of form he is in.
- They need five wins and it won’t be easy but they could still qualify with some good performances.
- The replacement players and Liam Livingstone will have to come good.
