The Media Times 

standingRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a significant setback in their quest for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 standings after a 42-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 23.  Chasing a formidable target of 232, RCB were bowled out for 189, with Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 94 off 48 balls and Pat Cummins’ 3/28 playing pivotal roles in SRH’s victory.
Prior to this match, RCB held the second position with 17 points from 12 games.  The loss has now dropped them to third place, trailing Gujarat Titans (18 points) and behind Punjab Kings (also on 17 points) due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).   This defeat not only cost RCB valuable points but also adversely affected their NRR, a crucial factor in tight playoff races.
RCB’s final league match is against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27.  A victory in this game would elevate them to 19 points.  However, their top-two finish would still depend on other results:
If both GT and PBKS win their respective matches, RCB would finish third, missing out on the Qualifier 1 spot.
Gujarat Titans losing their final match against Chennai Super Kings.Punjab Kings dropping at least one of their remaining two games.
Amidst the disappointment, a silver lining for RCB was the return to form of opener Phil Salt.  His aggressive start in the powerplay provided momentum, indicating that he could be a key asset in the crucial upcoming match against LSG.
While RCB’s path to a top-two finish has become more challenging, it remains within reach.  A win against LSG is imperative, coupled with favorable outcomes in other matches.  The team will need to address their middle-order vulnerabilities and maintain a