Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) push for a top-two finish in IPL 2025 suffered a major setback after their 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Ekana Stadium on Friday. Despite a strong start from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, who added 80 runs for the first wicket, RCB collapsed dramatically, losing their last seven wickets for just 16 runs and getting bowled out for 189 while chasing 232.
Following the defeat, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma’s post-match remarks stirred mixed reactions online. His comment — “sometimes it’s good to lose” — didn’t sit well with many fans, especially with RCB’s top-two hopes now depending on other results.
“It’s Good to Lose This Game,” Says Jitesh Sharma
Speaking after the match, Jitesh acknowledged the team’s poor execution but viewed the loss as an opportunity for growth.
“Yes, we were rusty. The intensity was missing early on,” Jitesh said. “Sometimes losing a game is a good sign. It helps identify mistakes. If you keep winning, you miss the areas that need improvement.”
Jitesh emphasized that this setback could help RCB regroup and come back stronger. “The positive thing is that everyone’s chipping in. After this, we’ll see how to adjust the setup and move forward,” he added.
SRH’s Dominance Leaves RCB Reeling
Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first after RCB won the toss and chose to field. SRH made the most of the opportunity, smashing 231 for 6 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan led the assault with a match-winning 94* off 48 balls, supported by Abhishek Sharma (34) and Aniket Verma (26 off 9).
Jitesh admitted SRH outplayed them, saying, “I think we gave away 20–30 runs extra. In the powerplay, they attacked us hard and we didn’t have any answers. But I still feel the bowlers tried well.”
With just one league game left, RCB’s playoff path is still alive, but the possibility of a top-two finish now depends on how other teams perform. Meanwhile, fans continue to debate whether Jitesh’s remarks showed maturity or complacency in a high-stakes phase of the tournament.
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