Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continued their relentless march toward a maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a dominant six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), sealing a top-two finish in the league stage and booking their place in Qualifier 1 on May 29.
RCB’s statement win and historic away streak propel them to IPL 2025 Playoffs
Chasing a mammoth 228-run target in their final league fixture at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, RCB showcased their batting depth and composure under pressure, ensuring they enter the playoffs with confidence and momentum on their side. With the triumph in Lucknow, RCB became the first team ever to win all seven of their away matches in a single season under the home-and-away format. It’s a testament to their adaptability, unity, and tactical sharpness across diverse playing conditions.
RCB concluded the league stage with 19 points , tied with Punjab Kings (PBKS), but settled for second place due to a marginally lower net run rate (+0.30). This marks RCB’s highest league finish since the 2016 season, when they ended as runners-up. A huge part of this success has been the form of their top-order batters, particularly Virat Kohli, who recently crossed 9,000 T20 runs for RCB, further extending his stature as the franchise’s all-time legend.
Kohli has led the run-scoring charts for RCB this season, amassing 602 runs in 13 innings at an average of over 60, a vital cog in the team’s campaign. As they prepare to face PBKS in Qualifier 1, RCB will be banking on this newfound balance, combining explosive batting with effective bowling options. It’s a clash that promises fireworks, especially with both teams having crossed the 200-run mark on multiple occasions this season.
Qualifier 1: Former RCB head coach urges two crucial change vs Punjab Kings
Former RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar has weighed in with crucial insights ahead of the all-important IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, suggesting strategic changes to strengthen RCB’s lineup. Speaking on Star Sports show, recognizing PBKS’s formidable batting prowess, Bangar emphasized the need for Bengaluru to bolster their bowling unit by making two calculated changes. Bangar advocated for the inclusion of Nuwan Thushara in place of England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, citing the latter’s poor form throughout the season.
According to Bangar, his presence could be pivotal against a PBKS side that has crossed the 200-run mark at least six times this season, often dominating in powerplay and death overs. The second recommendation was to replace West Indian all-rounder Romario Shepherd with Australian finisher Tim David, who alongside Josh Hazlewood missed the previous match due to injury but is expected to be fit for the playoffs
“Livingstone, who is playing as an overseas batter, is not scoring runs. So, make your bowling totally strong. Play Thushara in place of Livingstone. Then the bowling will become incredible. Then Phil Salt, Thushara, Josh Hazlewood, and Tim David for Romario Shepherd. I feel that combination can be made. The Punjab Kings is against them and i think Punjab have crossed 200 six or seven times this season,” Bangar said.
Despite being a high-profile INR 8.75 crore signing, Livingstone has only mustered 87 runs and taken two wickets in eight matches, failing to make a meaningful impact in either discipline. In contrast, Thushara impressed on debut against LSG, where he bowled economically and showed great composure under pressure. Shepherd conceded 51 runs in four overs against LSG, exposing RCB’s vulnerability in the death overs with an economy of 12.75.
