Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a setback in their quest for a top-two finish, as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) handed them a 42-run defeat in Lucknow on Friday night. Despite a high-scoring match that saw 420 runs and 16 wickets, the Orange and Purple Cap standings remain unchanged at the summit. However, here’s a breakdown of the current leaderboard and potential future shifts.
Orange Cap Standings
Virat Kohli, previously just behind the leaders, found himself slipping on the leaderboard following the washout against Kolkata Knight Riders and a six-day gap without play. Upon returning to action against SRH, Kohli played a brisk innings, scoring 43 runs in 25 balls and forming an 80-run opening stand with Phil Salt. Despite this effort, he remains at No. 6 with 548 runs from 12 innings. Given his form this season, it’s likely he’ll be back amongst the top soon, especially since the two players immediately above him, Yashasvi Jaiswal of Rajasthan Royals and Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants, won’t compete in the playoffs, having been eliminated.
Currently, Gujarat Titans’ B Sai Sudharsan leads with 638 runs, followed closely by Shubman Gill with 636. Suryakumar Yadav from Mumbai Indians holds third place with 583 runs.
Purple Cap Standings
Josh Hazlewood’s ongoing absence has kept RCB’s top wicket-taker from adding to his tally of 18 wickets, leaving him in fourth place. Ahead of him are Gujarat Titans’ Prasidh Krishna and Chennai Super Kings’ Noor Ahmad, both with 21 wickets, and Mumbai Indians’ Trent Boult who also has 18 wickets.
As Punjab Kings prepare to face Delhi Capitals on Saturday night, Arshdeep Singh is a bowler to watch. He stands at No. 8 with 16 wickets, and a strong performance could see him climb the ranks.
In addition to these individual performances, the IPL 2025 season has showcased top talents across various aspects of the game, from strike rates and economy rates to the number of sixes and best bowling figures in a match.
This latest result has left fans and analysts alike debating RCB’s bowling tactics, with experts Anil Kumble and Tom Moody weighing in on the strategy and adjustments needed for upcoming fixtures.
