SRH beat RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) missed a key opportunity to secure a top-two finish in the IPL points table, falling to a 42-run defeat against a determined SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) side at the Ekana Stadium on Friday. Powered by a quickfire innings from Ishan Kishan, SRH disrupted RCB’s momentum at a critical stage of the tournament. With this result, RCB remain one point behind table leaders Gujarat Titans (GT), while Punjab Kings (PBKS), with a game in hand, are within striking distance. The playoff spots for IPL 2025 have been confirmed, with GT, RCB, PBKS, and Mumbai Indians (MI) all qualifying. However, the fight for the top two positions is still on. These spots are crucial, as the teams finishing first and second will face each other in Qualifier 1 on May 29. The winner advances directly to the final, while the loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2, facing the winner of the Eliminator between the third- and fourth-placed sides. IPL 2025, RCB vs SRH highlights RCB’s struggle to break into the top two has been a recurring theme in recent years. From 2020 to 2024, they qualified for the playoffs in four of five seasons but failed to reach the final each time. Notably, their last appearance in an IPL final came in 2016—the same year they last finished in the top two. History appears to be repeating itself, and unless results elsewhere go their way, RCB might once again find themselves taking the longer, more uncertain route to the final. Gujarat Titans (Points: 18, net run rate: 0.602), Remaining games: vs CSK (Ahmedabad) If GT win their last match vs CSK: GT will have 20 points. They are guaranteed a top-two finish. RCB and MI cannot reach 20 points. Only PBKS can go past them (to 21 points), but GT will still be in the top two. If GT lose their last match (stay on 18 points) GT can still finish in the top two if: RCB and MI lose all their remaining matches. Or, RCB and PBKS lose all their remaining matches. GT will not finish in the top two if: PBKS beat DC but lose to MI. PBKS, MI, and GT could all end on 18 points. Then the Net Run Rate will decide the top two. GT may miss out in that case. Punjab Kings (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.389) Remaining games: vs DC (Jaipur), vs MI (Jaipur) If PBKS win both remaining games: Finish with 21 points. Will top the table and be guaranteed a top-two finish. If PBKS win one and lose one: Finish with 19 points. Can still finish in top two if either GT or RCB lose their final league match. If PBKS lose both games: Stay on 17 points. Will not finish in the top two, as GT are already ahead and MI will overtake them with a win. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.255) Remaining games: vs LSG (Lucknow) What RCB need to do: Must win against LSG to have any chance of finishing in the top two. If they lose, they are out of the top-two race. If RCB win vs LSG (reach 19 points): They will not finish in the top two if: GT beat CSK (GT go to 20 points), and PBKS win both remaining games (PBKS go to 21 points) They can finish in the top two if: GT lose to CSK then RCB just need to win vs LSG to finish top two. GT win but PBKS lose one match ? RCB must beat LSG with a better net run rate than PBKS. Mumbai Indians (Points: 16, net run rate: 1.292) Remaining games: vs PBKS (Jaipur) What do MI need to qualify for the top two: MI must beat PBKS to reach 18 points. Only one of the other three teams (GT, RCB, PBKS) should end with more than 18 points. If MI finish in a tie on 18 points, their strong net run rate could help them top the table or at least make the top two. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don’t miss a moment! Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: May 24, 2025