Already through to the playoffs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru aren’t just looking to extend their red-hot run — they’re chasing a bit of history.
A top-two finish has eluded them since their 2016 runner-up campaign, but that drought could end Friday as they face Sunrisers Hyderabad in a relocated fixture originally slated for Bengaluru, now in Lucknow.
Sitting second with 17 points from 12 games, two more wins would likely lock in that top-two slot.
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But there’s rust to shake off. A 20-day break triggered by the India-Pakistan military conflict saw RCB return with a washout at Bengaluru, halting the momentum of a four-match win streak. Still, Virat Kohli’s in vintage touch — seven fifties in 11 innings — while Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd have added firepower.
Patidar’s dip and finger injury are concerns, but he’s batting freely in the nets. With Josh Hazlewood out and most overseas players available, RCB face an SRH side fresh off a win but still languishing at eighth in the table.
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For SRH, there’s no road to the playoffs anymore — that door’s been shut. Even a win over RCB won’t change their fate. All they’re playing for now is pride and the chance to throw a wrench in someone else’s campaign.
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After an inconsistent season packed with flashes of brilliance but little follow-through, Hyderabad’s only role left is that of a spoiler. And that could still mean plenty in a table this tight.
However, for RCB, it will be a slight setback for their top-two hopes.
What if RCB manages to defeat SRH?
A win, though, changes the entire picture for RCB. Beating SRH would not just lock in momentum — it would push them further up the table and either secure or all but seal their playoff berth, depending on how the net run rate stacks up.
More importantly, it would keep the top-two finish within reach and make it a whole lot tougher for chasing teams to sneak past them.
It’s the kind of result that builds playoff insurance — fewer headaches, fewer calculators, and a clearer shot at that all-important Qualifier 1.
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What if the match is washed out due to rain?
If rain has the final say, both teams will have to settle for just a point. With no reserve day for league fixtures, a washout means RCB and SRH split the spoils — one point apiece.
Under the IPL 2025 rule tweak, there’s a 120-minute buffer built into the schedule to try and get a game in despite delays, but if conditions don’t improve, the result is off the table.
That lone point could end up swinging playoff equations, especially with how tight the table is this season. For RCB, it does not rule them out of a top-two finish, but it might make things tricky.