Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been one of the top teams in the IPL 2025. They have well-balanced batting and bowling lineups, as well as players who can win games in seemingly impossible scenarios. Despite missing key players like as Phil Salt and Josh Hazlewood in several of their games, RCB has shown remarkable bench depth to qualify for the playoffs.
The three-time runners-up have the potential to win the crown for the first time in IPL history. However, given their recent history of failing to qualify for the Qualifier 1 in practically every season from 2020 to 2024, with the exception of the 2023 season, RCB has failed to advance beyond the Qualifier 2.
As a result, the Rajat Patidar-led team would love to qualify for Qualifier 1, which would give them two chances to qualify for the final. It is also important gathering momentum at the proper time, just before the start of the big games, which might make them favourites to defeat other equally strong teams at this stage of the competition, such as the Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings.
IPL 2025 Points Table for Top 4 Teams
| osition | Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net run-rate (NRR) |
| 1 | GT | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | +0.254 |
| 2 | PBKS | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 17 | +0.327 |
| 3 | RCB | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 17 | +0.255 |
| 4 | MI | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | +1.292 |
The Gujarat Titans have completed all 14 planned matches and have 9 wins and 5 losses, with a net run rate of +0.254, the lowest among the Top 4. PBKS, RCB, and MI each have eight wins and one match remaining. PBKS and MI will compete straight for a position in Qualifier 1, with their encounter in Jaipur serving as a direct qualification round for the top two places.
Scenarios for RCB’s top-two finish in league stage
Scenario 1 – Wait for result of MI vs PBKS fixture
If MI win the match, they end with a total of 18 points with a definitely better net run rate than the Titans, which will confirm them playing in Qualifier 1. Likewise, if PBKS beat MI, the Shreyas Iyer-led side will end with 19 points, the joint-most possible scenario for a team, along with RCB. Hence, the winning team between PBKS and MI will surely qualify for Qualifier 1.
Scenario 2 – No-Result in MI-PBKS clash
In case an unlikely rain interference leads to the match between MI and PBKS ending without a result, both teams will gain a point each, which would mean PBKS topping the table due to a better net run rate than GT, which will confirm their qualification for Qualifier 1.
Scenario 3 – Win against LSG
Irrespective of all these scenarios, RCB has a simple method to qualify for Qualifier 1. Their match against LSG in Lucknow will mark the end of the League stage of the IPL 2025. All RCB needs to do is to win it, by any sort of margin, to finish the points table in the top 2. RCB has the fate in their own hands and must make the most of it.
