Bengaluru, April 25, 2025 – The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are charging hard in the IPL 2025 season, their eyes locked on a coveted top-two finish in the points table. After a gritty win against Rajasthan Royals on April 24, RCB’s playoff hopes are buzzing, but the path to Qualifier 1—where the top two teams get a double shot at the final—is a gauntlet. With five games left, here’s the hard truth about what Rajat Patidar’s squad needs to pull off to claim one of those golden spots.
RCB’s latest triumph, a nail-biter at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, snapped a three-game home losing streak. Josh Hazlewood’s four-wicket haul, including a clutch penultimate over, sealed a victory that pushed RCB to 12 points from nine matches. They’re now third, level with Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals, but trailing slightly on net run rate at +0.482. That number, a razor-thin edge, could be the difference-maker in a tiebreaker. The top two? Still within reach, but it’s a steep climb.
To lock in a top-two berth, RCB needs at least three wins from their remaining five games. That’s the math. Two wins might secure a playoff spot, but three—especially against heavyweights like Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants—could propel them into the elite duo. Their schedule is a mixed bag: three home games at Chinnaswamy, where they’ve finally tasted victory, and two away matches. The home stretch includes Chennai Super Kings on May 3, Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 13, and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 17. On the road, they face Lucknow Super Giants on May 9 and Delhi Capitals, dates still pending but critical.
The Delhi and Lucknow clashes are do-or-die. Both teams are playoff rivals, and victories here wouldn’t just add points but could dent the momentum of direct competitors. RCB’s flawless away record this season—five wins in five—gives them swagger, but dropping points against bottom-half teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad or Chennai Super Kings could derail the dream. Net run rate, already a strength, needs to hold or improve. A big win, like their nine-wicket thrashing of Rajasthan earlier this season, could be a game-changer.
Virat Kohli’s bat is firing, with half-centuries anchoring chases, while Devdutt Padikkal and Liam Livingstone add firepower. Hazlewood’s bowling, backed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, has found its edge. Rajat Patidar, the new captain, is steering a squad that’s finally gelling, but there’s no room for slip-ups. Gujarat Titans, with 12 points and a +1.104 net run rate, and Delhi Capitals, with 10 points from seven games, are breathing down their neck. Every match now feels like a knockout.
RCB’s last top-two finish was in 2011, when they topped the table but fell in the final. This season, with a revamped squad and Andy Flower’s coaching, the Bengaluru faithful are chanting “Ee Sala Cup Namde” louder than ever. Whether they can turn that roar into reality depends on winning big, and winning now.
RCB has 12 points from nine matches, with a net run rate of +0.482. They need at least three wins from five remaining games to contend for a top-two spot. Their next confirmed matches are against Chennai Super Kings on May 3, Lucknow Super Giants on May 9, Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 13, and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 17.