Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Faf du Plessis, have earned 10 points from 11 games, and currently occupy the seventh spot in the points table. Their goal of qualifying for the playoffs remains unfulfilled, and they must win all their remaining matches to secure a place in the top four.
In their final three games, RCB will play against Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans, and it is imperative that they focus on securing victories.
If RCB manages to win all three matches, their points tally will increase to 16. However, they must also win these games by a substantial margin to improve their net run rate (NRR), which could provide them with an advantage over other teams in the tight competition.
Even if RCB wins their next two games and reaches 14 points, they will likely be eliminated unless they can secure a positive NRR.
The outcome of their game against Rajasthan Royals on May 14 will decide their fate in the tournament this year.
Due to the strong performance of other teams, namely Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings, and possibly Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, or both, RCB’s chances of securing a playoff spot depend heavily on other teams’ performances.
Even if they win all three remaining games, their fate may not be in their hands. In such a scenario, if multiple teams, including RCB, end up with 16 points by the end of the league stage, the team with a better net run rate will progress to the playoffs. It is crucial for RCB to not only win all their remaining matches but also improve their NRR to keep their hopes alive.
To make this route even more easier, they will need to win their remaining all matches and then also hope that teams above them lose points, especially Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, who are the 3rd and 4th team in the points table.
They would also want that both Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals also lose points and don’t disturb on their path towards top four.