RCB Bold Diaries: Captain Faf du Plessis reveals what was said in the team meeting ahead of RCB vs RR

The RCB caravan has within 2 days moved to Pune for the game against RR after a heavy loss to SRH. All out for 68 came out of the blue for a team that has been one of the IPL 2022’s more consistent ones with 5 wins out of 7 till that point.

There are so many questions that arise after such a game. How does the team bounce back after such a game? Who better than Captain Faf to answer the question, “For me, it’s almost like a blip in the radar if you can explain it like that. I think you have to look at it in context; in a season you’re playing a lot of games. So, for me, whether you lose by 1 run or by 500 runs, you still try and reach the level of wins which you need to reach to make the knockout stages. And obviously, we are very disappointed about that game, but you have to move on really quickly because if you carry the baggage of a game like that, then it drags on into one or two or five or six matches. So, what’s really important for me is cutting that game off, putting it behind us, and focus and move forward.”

What goes on in a team meeting after being completely outplayed in a game? “The important thing for me is that you look ahead. I have been fortunate enough with a lot of guys in our dressing room that understand the ups and downs of sport. Even just last year, I remember going through the same experience playing for a different team; but, I think we were bowled out for 60 or 70 or so and ended up winning the competition. A game like that is a bad day at the office. You literally have to make sure you put it behind you; not worry about what people are saying, what they are thinking, you just put that focus back into your group,” revealed captain Faf.

Looking ahead to the game in hand, how’s the morale in the team? “Everyone’s really, really hungry to perform. That’s the one thing that I genuinely do feel within us as a group - every single player is desperate to put his best out there, and at the end of the day, that’s all you can ask for as a captain. Effort and attitude is one of the things we can control, and if we do that, hopefully, the result will be on our side,” explained the RCB skipper.