West Indies cricket legend Chris Gayle has made his predictions for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 playoffs, and it seems he doesn’t see Punjab Kings making the cut. Speaking on Jio Cinema, Gayle expressed his belief that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has a better chance of qualifying for the playoffs. With the race heating up, seven teams are currently vying for three coveted spots.
Currently, Punjab Kings hold 12 points from 13 games and are among the teams fighting for the remaining playoff berths. Despite having two home games left, including the recent loss against Delhi Capitals, Gayle doesn’t share the optimism for PBKS. Instead, he favors RCB, who also have two games remaining, to secure a place in the top four.
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Gayle stated, “Royal Challengers Bangalore have a better chance of qualifying as they have two games remaining. If they win their two games, they will see themselves in the top four. Punjab, I don’t think that they are going to qualify. I do not see them qualifying. But in cricket, nobody should write anyone off, but KKR are going to be missing out as well.”
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During the discussion with Graeme Swann, Gayle faced a playful dig from the former England spinner, suggesting that teams might have qualified already if they had picked Gayle himself. Swann humorously stated, “It’s no surprise since you stopped playing, these teams have been outside the qualification zones. If they would have picked you, they surely would have qualified already.”
With Punjab, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Rajasthan all tied at 12 points each, the situation remains intense. However, Kolkata and Rajasthan find themselves at a disadvantage, having only one game left to play. Meanwhile, RCB and Punjab still have two games remaining, giving them a slight edge. Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, with 15 points from 13 matches, are currently the favorites for two of the remaining three playoff spots.
