RCB’s Final Group-Stage Hurdle: Stakes and Strategies
This is the crunch moment for RCB. As IPL 2025 barrels toward the playoffs, Royal Challengers Bangalore find themselves at a crossroads. Sitting third on the table with 17 points from 13 matches—eight wins, four losses, and a no-result—they know what’s at stake. Beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the last group-stage face-off, and they’ll jump into that sweet top-two finish. That means a second chance in the playoffs—something no team wants to miss.
RCB are licking their wounds after a pretty embarrassing 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, which dented their momentum. But, the team looks balanced as they head into Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, a ground where anything over 180 runs puts pressure on the chasing side. The playing surface usually helps batters but can surprise with extra bounce and slower deliveries.
Predicted Playing XIs and Key Match-Ups
The RCB think-tank seems eager to stick to a combo that has, for the most part, worked this season. Here’s what their starting XI could look like:
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Mayank Agarwal
- Jitesh Sharma (captain & wicketkeeper)
- Romario Shepherd
- Liam Livingstone
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Thushara
- Suyash Sharma
Rajat Patidar has often stepped in as the impact player, especially when they want to deepen the middle order or ramp up scoring in the late overs. They’re not starved for choice either, with guys like Tim David and Nicholas Pooran waiting in the wings. Team management has occasionally rotated based on matchups, so don’t rule out a change or two.
On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has quietly kept it steady and put a leash on opposition batters. Spin options with Krunal Pandya and mystery bowler Suyash Sharma make life difficult for batters looking to break free in the middle overs. But what really spikes RCB’s chances is their flexibility—Shepherd and Livingstone both slot into pretty much any role that’s thrown at them, whether it’s hitting at the death, opening the bowling, or putting in a tidy spell of tight overs.
Facing them, LSG are a team that loves the home turf. The crowd at Ekana Stadium can be intimidating, and LSG’s own batsmen know how to take full advantage of those hard-hitting conditions. RCB can’t take anything for granted. Fielding and smart Powerplay tactics could make all the difference.
Virat Kohli, as always, stays the big hope at the top. He’s pretty much RCB’s anchor, taking on not just the new ball but setting up the pace for the innings. Phil Salt has shown streaks of aggression, while Jitesh Sharma stepping up as both skipper and keeper has let Kohli focus on leading with the bat.
For the big names who aren’t in the starting XI—like Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh—the squad’s depth is a silent threat. Should RCB need a change in approach or quick-fire runs, expect to see tactical substitutions.
This RCB-LSG matchup isn’t just about making the playoffs. For Bangalore, it’s about proving they can hold their nerve and punch through the pressure. With the knockout rounds looming, everyone knows what’s at stake: a single win could reshape their entire IPL 2025 campaign.
