Following their 42-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) find themselves needing to regroup quickly with playoff stakes high in IPL 2025. Tom Moody and Anil Kumble, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, both advised RCB to not dwell on the loss and instead focus on the positives as they approach their final league match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27.
Moody: “Patch up your wounds and move on quickly”
Tom Moody emphasized the importance of staying mentally upbeat in a long tournament. “They’ve done a lot of good things this season,” he said. “Phil Salt finding form, the strong opening stand — these are positives RCB must take forward. Now is not the time to second-guess roles or overthink.”
RCB’s season has faced numerous hurdles — injuries to Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Hazlewood, departures of Bethell and Ngidi, and uncertainty around Tim David’s fitness. Despite these challenges, RCB remain in contention for a top-two finish.
Kumble: “Start was excellent, but one opener needed to bat deep”
Anil Kumble, while disappointed with the result, praised the opening partnership of 80 runs between Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. However, he pointed out a missed opportunity: “One of them needed to bat deep. That was crucial.”
Kumble also noted how the 25-ball stand between Mayank Agarwal (11 off 10) and Rajat Patidar (18 off 16) stalled momentum after the blazing start. “Their game plan was correct, but the fall of wickets and Tim David’s injury disrupted the chase,” he added.
RCB Still in Playoff Hunt
Despite the setback, Kumble remains hopeful about RCB’s chances to secure a top-two finish. “The good thing is RCB play the final game of the league stage. They’ll know exactly what they need to do.”
RCB sit near the top of the table and with one match left, their destiny remains partly in their hands. A strong finish could see them secure a critical top-two position — a massive advantage heading into the playoffs.
As Moody and Kumble stress, the focus now for RCB is to stay composed, play to their strengths, and not let one defeat derail their momentum.
Stay tuned for all the latest Cricket news, match highlights, player analysis and viral moments!