Can Rajasthan Royals still qualify for IPL 2025 playoffs: Check scenarios, schedule and points table

Rajasthan Royals find themselves at the brink of elimination following their latest defeat in the ongoing IPL season. The IPL 2022 runners-up have consistently failed to chase straightforward targets in their recent fixtures, thus failing to accumulate the crucial points. The RCB vs RR IPL 2025 match marked the third consecutive instance of Rajasthan Royals failing to sail above the chase. Consequently, in 9 matches at the league stage, RR have earned just four points, with a defeat from here enough to push RR out of the IPL 2025 playoffs contentions. However, as it stands right now, the team remains in the race, though an uphill run from here on.

RCB vs RR IPL 2025 match: Has the latest defeat ruled Rajasthan Royals out of playoffs race?

Following the trend at home, the RCB skipper, Rajat Patidar, lost the toss for the fourth time in as many matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Winning the toss, the interim captain of the Royals, Riyan Parag, opted to chase in the RCB vs RR match. The opening innings saw Virat Kohli finally shedding the shackles at the venue, charging up to a sublime half-century. Devdutt Padikkal, meanwhile, played the perfect partner to Kohli, coming up with a fifty of his own as RCB set the base for a favorable finish. Cameos by Tim David and Jitesh Sharma at the death led RCB to cross the 200-run mark for the first time at home in the ongoing season.

In answer to the 205 scored by the home team, Yashasvi Jaiswal started strongly. Taking Chinnaswamy by storm, Jaiswal hit as many as 10 boundaries with 3 sixes in the powerplay to score 49 off just 19. However, the opener fell to a rogue hit off Josh Hazlewood at the last ball of the powerplay, a mere run away from completing his half-century. Jaiswal's fall marked the second wicket for RCB in the powerplay, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar had bowled the 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi out earlier. RR looked dusted from that point itself until Dhruv Jurel took charge, after the skipper Riyan Parag was dismissed by Krunal Pandya at 22 off 10.

The finisher partnered with Nitish Rana and later Shimron Hetmyer to keep RR in the chase. Even though Hetmyer departed, Jurel put on the real game, hitting 22 in the 18th over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, tides turned in the penultimate over as Josh Hazlewood marked his run-up. The Australian pace spearhead dismissed Jurel and Jofra Archer in consecutive deliveries. RR needed 17 off the last over with Shubham Dubey and Wanindu Hasaranga at the pitch.

However, it was a lot to ask from the team that arrived after fumbling two chases, one at home, and another in Delhi, where they needed just 9 off the last over with Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer. With two more dismissals in the last over by Yash Dayal, RR lost the match by 11 runs.

How can Rajasthan Royals qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs from here?

Rajasthan Royals are placed at the eighth spot on the IPL 2025 points table, above SRH and CSK. With 2 wins and 7 defeats in 9 matches, RR have managed an NRR of 0.625. It's a non-negotiable for the former champions to win every fixture from here onwards. If Rajasthan manage 5 wins, the team would collect 14 points. Clearly, just 14 points would not be enough to qualify. Currently, there's a congestion at the points table. KKR have the chance to win 16 points, while the likes of PBKS and LSG remain strong contenders despite being out of the Top 4 right now. Meanwhile, GT, MI, RCB, and DC are the strongest contenders for the IPL 2025 playoffs contention.

Gujarat Titans, currently at the top, along with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, need just two wins to get to 16 points. Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, need three. For Rajasthan Royals to earn an entry among the Top 4, the team needs to ensure that four teams don't get to earn 16 points, a hard ask with the form of top-placed teams. Simply put, the IPL 2008 champions need to win all their matches from here, with the best margins they can manage, while hoping for a majority of the teams to fumble their upcoming fixtures.