Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals sealed the four playoff spots in the TATA IPL, as all four teams chase their second title. JioStar expert Vinay Kumar shared his thoughts on RCB’s strengths heading into the playoffs, ways to counter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and the importance of finishing in the top two on the points table.
JioStar expert Vinay Kumar heaped praise on ‘fearless prodigy’ Vaibhav Suryavanshi and offered advice for the bowlers to counter him:
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a tremendous talent and has been playing phenomenal cricket. But against an aggressive batter like him, bowlers need to stick to their basics and trust their strengths. If he is attacking hard, bowling wider lines or cramping him for room can be effective, along with using your variations. At times, batters go through a purple patch where everything falls into place, and Vaibhav has enjoyed some of that momentum as well. But whenever bowlers get an opportunity against him, they need to capitalise on it and stick to their strengths.”
On RCB’s strengths going into the playoffs:
“RCB have played outstanding cricket this season and, unlike previous years when they were heavily dependent on batting, they are now playing as a team; they look like a complete side. Their middle order, with players like Tim David, Jitesh Sharma and Rajat Patidar, has added stability and power, which is crucial in T20 cricket. The biggest difference, though, has been their bowling. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the rest of the attack have brought discipline to the attack, which was key at a batting-friendly venue like Chinnaswamy. They stick to the basics and bowl stump-to-stump. Krunal Pandya’s inclusion has also given balance to the side. That balance across departments is one of the main reasons RCB qualified early. If they continue to play this way and finish in the top two, they have a strong chance of reaching, and even winning, the final this year. Women have won two titles, so if men can do the same and win back-to-back, nothing like it.”
On Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s role in RCB’s bowling attack:
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s role is extremely important for RCB, both as a bowler and as the leader of the attack. He has bowled brilliantly alongside Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam, maintaining a disciplined, almost Test-match-like approach and lengths. With so much experience, I don’t think Bhuvneshwar or the bowling attack will take any pressure in the playoffs. They will look to treat the playoffs like any other game and focus on executing their basics.”
On the importance of finishing in the top two:
“Finishing in the top two is extremely important in a tournament like the IPL because it gives teams another opportunity to get to the final, even if one game goes wrong. In a shorter format, momentum is everything; once you lose it, it becomes difficult to regain control. That’s why the first target should always be qualification, and the second should be finishing in the top two. I always believe a 14-game league should be treated as two separate seven-match tournaments or series. Break it down into smaller targets, aim for a 5-2 or 4-3 result in each phase. That approach keeps players switched on from the very first game and helps avoid complacency creeping in during a long tournament. When players think they have only seven games left, they are mentally sharper and more desperate to win. RCB have done brilliantly in that regard because they’ve approached every game with the same intensity and focus.”
Watch TATA IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans tomorrow, May 26, at 7:30 PM, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
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