While a tough seven-wicket loss by Punjab Kings in Jaipur took the steam out of Rickelton’s optimistic view about his team’s chances in the IPL Eliminator, the defeat does imply that Mumbai is no longer in the top two, and will either be facing Royal Challengers Bangalore or Gujarat Titans.
In the post-match press conference, Rickelton admitted that PBKS was better on the day and emphasized that improvement must be sought before that big game. “They outplayed us, so it was a bit of a wake-up call,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the end of the world. Honestly, we are getting along really well as a team.”
The South African said that there are things to work on but he is optimistic about his skills and chances. “We just need to tighten up a couple of things with the bat, ball, and in the field,” he explained. “We’ve got what it takes to win the Eliminator,” he added.
Rickelton supports his fellow players in stepping up as the race for the playoffs grows fiercer. “The guys will definitely focus on what we need to improve, and I’m sure we’ll put on a strong performance.”
Read Also:- IPL 2025 Points Table
Hence, MI remains to see if it’ll be RCB or GT that they will be taking on in the Eliminator. With Priyansh Arya and Josh Inglis, Punjab Kings got a solid win to lead the IPL points table and secure a place in Qualifier 1. This is only the second time PBKS has finished top two for Qualifier 1, the last time being back in 2014. On the other hand, MI has struggled in Jaipur, winning only one of the matches against Rajasthan Royals.
