'I do a lot of hard work to ensure I look after my body to be able to play this brilliant game we love so much.'
Faf du Plessis says Virat Kohli's infectious energy, which easily rubs off on everyone, is the secret of the brilliant on-field and an equally fulfilling off-field equation he shares with the Indian superstar.
From a maths perspective, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans can still reach the IPL playoffs, but they need to ward off inner gremlins on Saturday to notch a mandatory win to keep that dream flickering.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL campaign that began with optimism has melted into chaos. Their bowlers require a drastic transformation in mindset against Sunrisers Hyderabad for them to register an elusive win in Bengaluru on Monday.
Vidwath Kaverappa dismissed Faf du Plessis and Will Jacks but had Virat Kohli dropped twice off his bowling.
Faf du Plessis seems to be a master of fourth innings chases. On his Test debut he batted for seven hours 46 minutes against Australia at Adelaide in 2012-13, saving South Africa from certain defeat.
Images from the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Chennai Super Kings bowling consultant Eric Simons heaped praise on Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for executing plans perfectly and setting up a comfortable six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL opener in Chennai on Friday.
Notwithstanding Virat Kohli's sparkling form, the Royal Challenger Bengaluru batters are struggling for "form and confidence", says Head Coach Andy Flower following his team's fourth defeat in five games this IPL season
The Bengaluru outfit will hope for a reversal at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, a venue that carries similar traits as RCB's home -- Chinnaswamy Stadium -- in terms of a smooth pitch and a blistering outfield adding value to the batters' shots.
Rajat Patidar's strike rate when batting against spinners is an incredible 224, having hit 182 runs from 81 balls, with 20 sixes and five fours.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a scintillating display with the bat while chasing a mammoth target in their Indian Premier League contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, and head coach Andy Flower stated that they will take positives out of the match and come back stronger in the upcoming game.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh voiced his concerns regarding Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowling unit, which conceded the highest total in the history of the Indian Premier League against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Pushed into a tight corner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru rose above their frailties to notch four wins on the trot and stay alive in the race to play-offs. However, a volatile Delhi Capitals offer them a different challenge in their penultimate IPL league match in Bengaluru on Sunday.
RCB's openers gave the hosts the perfect start, before the middle order delivered once again to take the hosts to a defendable total. Cameos from Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell added the final flourish.
The KKR think-tank might not be unduly worried as their campaign is still at a nascent stage, but they would like to see the first-choice pacer and spinner finding their range at the earliest.
Desperate Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be under tremendous pressure to get their act together against an equally struggling Mumbai Indians when the two teams face-off in an Indian Premier League match in Mumbai on Thursday.
Virat Kohli may be leading the IPL charts with 316 runs as an opener, but Rajasthan Royals' head coach Kumar Sangakkara feels Jos Buttler is, by far, the best white ball opener in world cricket.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL 2024 campaign is just one-match old, but it has already exposed their biggest chink. It's fragility in bowling, and they need better returns from bowlers against a confident Punjab Kings at an unforgiving M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Monday.
'The next objective is to make sure we create the right performance, and culture where the players can really go and showcase what they are capable of, and go out and entertain the public.'
With five consecutive defeats, bottom-placed RCB have the daunting task of winning their remaining seven games to keep their play-off prospects alive.
Green pocketed just one wicket, but his tight overs put the necessary pressure on the DC scoreboard as the match slipped away from the visitors.
Karn Sharma took a sharp catch off his own bowling to send back Abdul Samad.
Virat Kohli feels that opposition bowlers want him to go hammer and tongs every time he comes out to bat, but he prefers adapting to match conditions without any predetermined strategy as he did in his unbeaten century against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match on Saturday.
A look at the best catches of the match.
The camaraderie between Royal Challengers Bangalore Captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Mrs Kohli is not limited to just spending time together. The trio also share inside jokes, indicating a deep friendship.
A spirited performance from their bowlers saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru outclass Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to qualify for the play-offs.
Images from the IPL 2024 opener between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The likes of Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar have not been among the runs so far in IPL 2024.
An inconsistent Royal Challengers Bengaluru would be eager to hit the turnaround button when they host Lucknow Super Giants, who will keep an eye on regular skipper KL Rahul's fitness, in the IPL in Bengaluru on Tuesday
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
Images from the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Travis Head revealed that his celebration after completing the century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) was for head coach Daniel Vettori.
With back-to-back player of the match performances in his debut season, the 21-year-old has emerged as the find of season.
A high-stakes match between cross-city rivals Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Chennai on Friday will usher in IPL 2024, but, beyond the grandeur around it, the two protagonists will have to find early answers to some deep questions as they attempt to enter a rarefied territory.
Needing 10 off 2, Jadeja was the man who could take CSK into the play-offs. But Dayal bowled two dots on the trot to knock CSK out of the tournament.
Tahir felt left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep was able to grab the opportunities that came along his way.
Once again, RCB are looking on course to finish without a trophy after losing six out of their first seven games.
