A 14-year-old prodigy may have revived Rajasthan Royals‘ (RR) campaign with a fairytale ton against Gujarat Titans (GT), but as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 enters its final stretch, there will be a time to face the reality. The Royals are staring down the barrel. With just three wins from ten matches, they face a high-stakes clash against a red-hot Mumbai Indians (MI) side on Thursday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Another misstep would mean curtains for RR’s playoff hopes—mathematically and emotionally.
Why a do-or-die scenario for RR?
Rajasthan Royals, currently languishing at eighth on the points table, are on the edge. Having lost seven of their ten fixtures, they are stranded at six points. If they lose this game, it’s all over. Catch how?
After losing to MI, even if RR win their remaining three matches, they can reach a maximum of 12 points—well below the historical playoff cut-off of 16. Their Net Run Rate (-0.349) isn’t doing them any favours either. A loss today would officially eliminate them, similar to what unfolded for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) yesterday, who bowed out of the race after their defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Despite their precarious position, RR have reasons to believe. The emergence of teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who blasted a 38-ball century in the last game, has brought fresh energy. With Sanju Samson unavailable due to injury, the onus will again fall on the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Jofra Archer to step up.
Here’s how RR path to the playoffs shapes up:
| Wins in Last 4 Matches | Total Wins | Points | Playoffs Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 7 | 14 | Likely (NRR will decide fate) |
| 3 | 6 | 12 | Eliminated |
| 2 | 5 | 10 | Eliminated |
| 1 or fewer | ≤4 | ≤8 | Eliminated |
MI eyeing Sixth straight win and Top spot
Mumbai Indians (MI), meanwhile, are in cruise control. Despite a horrible start (1 win in 5 games), they’ve found their rhythm, winning five matches on the trot. A win tonight will not only extend their streak to six but also propel them past RCB to the top of the standings. Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav are in top forms, and MI look like genuine title contenders once again.
The post Explained: Why IPL 2025 match against MI is a do-or-die clash for Rajasthan Royals? appeared first on Inside Sport India.