‘We’d rather lose now, than in an Eliminator’

Royal Challengers Bengaluru confronted a disappointing defeat by the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad within the Match 66 of the Indian Premier League 2025 on the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. RCB, who’ve already certified for the Playoffs, would have solidified their possibilities of ending within the prime two, however with another league stage recreation to go, there’ll now be fierce competitors with for the primary and second spots, respectively.

RCB’s wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt, who opened alongside Virat Kohli, helped give an ideal begin to the facet as they needed to chase down a 232-run goal. The duo made 80 runs in simply seven overs, however sadly, Virat fell prey to Harsh Dubey and that’s the place the downfall of the Rajat Patidar-led batting unit began. Salt gave it his all with 62 off 32 balls, however lack of help from the opposite finish, meant RCB fell quick by 42 runs on the finish.

Salt opened up after the loss, and mentioned that he does really feel a little bit of disappointment to be on the shedding facet, however he will not thoughts shedding a league stage recreation moderately than the one within the Playoffs. Decided to raise the trophy for RCB, Salt mentioned that there are a number of methods of wanting on the loss, and he appears at it as nonetheless a optimistic factor to be taking place.

“I imply that is a method of it. The opposite approach of it’s, you do not thoughts having this recreation not within the playoffs. You possibly can take it as a disappointment or you possibly can take it for what it’s. We have certified however we have misplaced the sport. Nobody likes to lose video games of cricket. I am hating the truth that we misplaced, as will everyone else in an RCB shirt, however we would moderately have this now than in an Eliminator,” mentioned Salt after the loss towards SRH as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“We did lots of good issues (whereas) chasing it down. Clearly, we obtained it to a degree at 15 overs the place each single particular person in our dressing room would consider that we’ll win that recreation. Clearly, the margins are more often than not effective, however the margins for failure have been very effective tonight. You hit an over of 20 at the moment and also you go a great distance in icing the sport. Cricket could be like that generally. We’ll take a look at what we did nicely and what we are able to do higher,” the Englishman added.

Within the Playoffs, you have to play in a carefree method: Salt

The stumper-batter additional mentioned after a crew has certified for the Playoffs, the purpose for all of the gamers is easy and clear – to play in the perfect curiosity of the crew.

“I am unable to sit right here and inform you that we favor to complete first, second, third or fourth. We have certified for the playoffs, and when you’re within the playoffs, you have to go and play in a carefree method and do what you possibly can to win the trophy. We’re not too far forward of ourselves in the mean time with that considering. In a number of days, we’ll be taking part in right here once more towards Lucknow in a recreation that we wish to win and present everybody how good we’re. It is fairly easy, fairly simple, we’re simply wanting on the subsequent recreation,” he additional mentioned.

Salt, who needed to miss a number of video games earlier within the season owing to sickness, feels that he’s glad to be wholesome again once more, and even happier that the event may resume quickly after going through a brief little suspension following the execution of Operation Sindoor by the Indian authorities.

“It is a humorous one. While you’re unwell, you sit on the mattress and surprise in the event you’re ever going to really feel higher once more. You consider all these belongings you took as a right while you have been wholesome and all that type of stuff. As a gaggle, we hadn’t performed cricket for 3 weeks, and I do not assume I performed in a month, which is a very long time. Greater than the rest, I am simply glad that I am wholesome and taking part in one other recreation of cricket,” the RCB cricketer concluded.

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