RCB’s Playoff Hopes Dented by Loss to SunRisers
Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced a tough defeat against SunRisers Hyderabad, losing by 42 runs in their IPL 2025 match held in Lucknow on May 23. Chasing a daunting target of 232 runs at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, RCB struggled significantly and fell short in their penultimate league match of the season.
With this defeat, RCB dropped from second to third place in the points table, taking a hit on their Net Run Rate. The team, which aimed to secure a top-two finish for a better shot at the finals, seemed out of sync after a 20-day break between matches. Their performance on the field was lackluster and disappointing.
Ishan Kishan Shines for SunRisers
Ishan Kishan led the charge for SunRisers with an explosive 94 runs off just 48 balls, marking his first half-century since scoring a century at the start of the season. Captain Pat Cummins added to RCB’s woes by taking three wickets, while Eshan Malinga continued his good form, picking up two more. RCB’s batting faltered towards the end, losing their last six wickets for a mere 16 runs under pressure.
"We can learn a lot from losses," said stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma. He noted that while the setback was tough, it’s an opportunity for reflection. “The positive is that everyone has been contributing. We’ll move on from this,” he added.
Despite the intimidating target, RCB started well, with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt putting up 80 runs in just 42 balls. Salt scored a quick 62 off 32, and Kohli managed 43 from 25. Early on, RCB looked poised for a competitive chase.
Struggles in the Middle Order
However, the middle order struggled to maintain the momentum. Mayank Agarwal managed just 11 runs in for Devdutt Padikkal, and captain Rajat Patidar, who came in as an Impact Substitute, could only muster 18 runs off 16 balls.
Jitesh Sharma briefly gave fans hope with a quick 24 runs, but his dismissal in the 17th over ended RCB’s chances. Reliable finisher Romario Shepherd also faced a tough day, going out for a duck, while Tim David appeared uncomfortable, scoring just 1 run from 5 balls due to what seemed like a hamstring issue.
"We were a bit rusty. The intensity wasn’t there initially, but we did bowl better in the later overs," Jitesh reflected. He mentioned he hadn’t spoken to Tim yet, as he felt disappointed after his own dismissal.
Looking Ahead
Now, RCB must win their final league match against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday and also hope for favorable results from other matches involving Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings to stay in contention for a top-two finish.
Though RCB has made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, they have struggled to reach the finals, primarily due to not securing a top-two placement. The upcoming match will be crucial for their playoff hopes.
