A clash between Southern rivals Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has never been short of excitement.
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Even when one team is already out of the playoff race, there is always plenty to play for in the high-stakes clash.
As RCB face off against CSK in Match 52 of the IPL 2025 season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, they will not only hope for a second win in Bengaluru but will also be eyeing a playoff spot.
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RCB are third on the points table, while CSK are reeling at the bottom with just two wins. The Sporting News takes a look at how a win, loss or No result due to rain in this match impacts the rest of the teams and their playoff race.
RCB's next game | Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru pitch report | RCB's record at Chinnaswamy
How the IPL 2025 points table looks before RCB vs CSK match
RCB are placed third in the standings despite being tied on 14 points with MI and GT, due to comparatively lower Net Run Rate (NRR).
CSK on the other hand, with four matches in hand, are already eliminated and cannot qualify for the playoffs.
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | +1.274 |
| Gujarat Titans | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | +0.867 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | +0.521 |
| Punjab Kings | 10 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | +0.199 |
| Delhi Capitals | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +0.362 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -0.325 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | +0.271 |
| Rajasthan Royals (E) | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.780 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -1.192 |
| Chennai Super Kings (E) | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -1.211 |
RCB wins & CSK loses - What happens to IPL 2025 points table and playoffs
If RCB wins the match against CSK at Bengaluru tonight, they will clinch two points and take their tally to 16 points.
This would also mean that RCB will climb to first in the points table, overtaking GT and MI. Whether they can hold on to that spot for the remaining games, will depend on their Net Run Rate and results of the other teams.
Check: How is Net Run Rate calculated in IPL?
A loss for CSK would mean nothing for the MS Dhoni-led side as they are already out of the playoff race.
CSK wins & RCB loses - What happens to IPL 2025 points table and playoffs
A fourth loss in five matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025 for RCB would not cause major changes in the points table. However, it could be a setback for the Rajat Patidar-led side.
RCB will hold on to the third spot in the standings despite a loss, but their Net Run Rate will take a hit depending on the margin of defeat. This will be a boost for other teams such as MI, GT, PBKS, DC, LSG and KKR.
On the other hand, with the win, CSK will gain two points and move to six points, but they will continue to remain at the bottom of the table.
This is because SRH and RR, who are on six points have a better NRR than CSK.
RCB vs CSK: What happens if match is washed out due to rain & ends in No Result
If the match is washed out due to rain, both teams will receive one point each.
With one point, RCB will move to 15 points and therefore, will climb to the top of the table. Meanwhile, CSK will remain at the bottom with five points.
Will it rain in Bengaluru during RCB vs CSK tonight?
The chances of rain interrupting play are high. There could be a delay in the start of play or even a complete washout if rain persists after the cut-off time, which is usually 10:55 p.m.
Let's take a look at the hourly weather updates for tomorrow's clash. The match starts at 7:30 pm.
6 PM: 28° Celsius, 47% chances of rain
7 PM: 27° Celsius, 47% chances of rain
8 PM: 25° Celsius, 51% chances of rain
9 PM: 24° Celsius, 51% chances of rain
10 PM: 23° Celsius, 39% chances of rain
11 PM: 23° Celsius, 33% chances of rain
RCB scenario and chances to qualify for playoffs before CSK match
To almost guarantee a playoff spot, RCB needs to win at least one out of their remaining four matches, which would take them to 16 points -- the traditional benchmark for qualification.
However, the final race could come down to net run rate if they manage only 16 points. They will hope to secure a top two spot during the final fixtures in the league stage.
RCB upcoming fixtures, wins required, and chances of qualification
| Upcoming Fixtures | CSK (H), LSG (A), SRH (H), KKR (H) |
|---|---|
| Wins required | 1 wins out of 4 |
| Chances of qualification | 95% |
MORE: Has any IPL team won every away league match in a season? RCB on the verge of history vs LSG
RCB vs CSK in IPL: Full list of H2H results at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
As mentioned above, RCB and CSK have won five matches each in meetings between the sides at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Here are the full list of Head-to-head results at the venue in the IPL from 2008:
| Year | Winner & Result |
|---|---|
| 2008 | CSK won by 13 runs |
| 2010 | RCB won by 36 runs |
| 2011 | RCB won by 8 wickets |
| 2012 | No Result |
| 2013 | RCB won by 24 runs |
| 2014 | CSK won by 8 wickets |
| 2015 | CSK won by 27 runs |
| 2018 | CSK won by 5 wickets |
| 2019 | RCB won by 1 run |
| 2023 | CSK won by 8 runs |
| 2024 | RCB won by 27 runs |
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