IPL 2025 Qualification scenarios: How can RR qualify for the playoffs after their 2-run loss to LSG?

Modified Apr 20, 2025 00:20 IST

2025 IPL - Rajasthan Royals v — Shimron Hetmyer (in Pink) lets a cry out in anguish after getting out- Source: Getty

Rajasthan Royals played their eighth game of the season against Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on Saturday, April 19. The hosts slumped to yet another loss in the last over, with LSG winning the game by two runs.

Bowling first, LSG scored 180/5 thanks to contributions throughout the batting lineup and half centuries from Aiden Markram (66 off 45) and Ayush Badoni (50 off 33). RR got off to a good start, with debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi (34 off 20) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (74 off 52) adding 84 runs for the first wicket. However, the middle order failed to step up, and RR slumped to yet another narrow defeat.

This defeat keeps RR in eighth place in the points table, with two wins and four points to their name and a net run rate of -0.633. With six games remaining in their season and having 16 points as a threshold for teams to qualify for the playoffs, RR will have to win all of their remaining games. While doing so, they will also have to get wins that improve their net run rate, consistently getting wins by a large margin when bowling first and chasing a score quickly when batting second.

Considering 14 points as the minimum needed by a side to make it into the playoffs, RR can afford another loss, but not by a huge margin. They will have to win five out of their remaining six games and, once again, work towards steadily improving their net run rate.

Rajasthan Royals take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next encounter

After the slender defeat against LSG, RR will shift their focus to their next game, where they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Thursday. The three-time losing finalists have a great time away from home, but a torrid time hosting teams, as they have lost all three encounters at the venue held so far.

A win in that encounter will help RR boost their net run rate, with the two points also taking them up a spot in the points table.

About the author

Lavil is a cricket journalist at Sportskeeda with an experience of over 4 years. He A Bachelor’s of Engineering degree holder in Electronics and Computer Science, he is a firm believer of verifying information from multiple websites, and always checks his sources' authenticity in order to provide his readers the most accurate information.

An ardent Team India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru fan, Lavil had his first tryst with cricket during his childhood and has grown up admiring how the sport brings people together over the years. He is a huge admirer of Mahendra Singh Dhoni due to the player's calm and collected nature. He would like to go back in time and revisit the 2011 ICC World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka if ever got his hands on a time machine.

Lavil, who used to play cricket at school level, has interviewed sporting personalities like Robin Uthappa, Leander Paes, Ankita Raina, Prashant Surve, and Des Buckingham so far in his career. He does not feel ODIs should be completely replaced with T20Is as he reckons every format has its own beauty.

In his free time, he watches Manchester United attempt to get back to their former glory days or plays FC 25.

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Edited by Arshit Garg