IPL 2025: Will RCB qualify for playoffs after winning vs CSK in Bengaluru?

If the match between RCB and CSK fails to produce a result due to rain, both teams will have to share one point each

Rajat Patidar-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are looking to secure their first Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy by winning IPL 2025, defeated one of their biggest rivals, the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium today in match number 52 of the season by 2 runs in a last-ball thriller to go to the top of the points table with 16 points under their belt.

 

However, can we say RCB have already qualified for the playoffs based on the number of points they currently have? Let's take a look. 

 

 

Is 16 points enough for RCB? 

Now, if we go by history, there has never been an instance where a team has been disqualified after having 16 points on the points table. However, with the number of teams increased from eight to ten and the teams from the top spot to number six having minimal differences between them, we could witness, for the first time in the history of the IPL, teams struggling to find a place in the playoffs of IPL 2025.

 

How do RCB’s chances look? 

For a team to qualify for the playoffs in the IPL, they must have more points in their account than at least six teams (from IPL 2022). Currently, RCB have ensured that at least three teams—CSK, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad—will not be the ones to eliminate them, as none of these teams can reach the 16-point mark. This means RCB will need at least three more teams to lose enough matches so that they too cannot reach 16 points, in order to confirm their qualification.

 

But regardless of all permutations and combinations, RCB still have three matches to go, and even if they win just one of them, it will be enough to get them the ‘Q’ mark in front of their name.