Can Punjab Kings Top the IPL 2025 Table After RCB's Loss to SRH?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) Former Indian wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa expressed his confidence in Punjab Kings securing the top position in the IPL 2025 league stage following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow on Friday.

The defeat marked RCB's first away loss this season, dropping them to third place on the points table, behind Punjab Kings and the leaders, Gujarat Titans.

Among the top three teams, only Punjab Kings have two remaining matches in the league, including an upcoming encounter against Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Saturday. Winning both matches would secure them the top spot regardless of other outcomes.

Uthappa discussed the current momentum and the Indian core of Punjab Kings ahead of the PBKS vs DC game, stating, “They’re firmly in contention for a top two finish. Their form, confidence, and Shreyas Iyer's leadership have made a significant impact. Players like Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and Priyansh Arya are in exceptional form, along with Shreyas Iyer. When your Indian players deliver consistently, it’s a tremendous boost — they are meeting all the right criteria. I wouldn’t be shocked to see them finish at the summit,” he remarked on JioHotstar.

Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron shared his predictions for the leading teams, saying, “I’ve consistently supported Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings as my top two. RCB tends to falter in crucial games like this, but I wish for them to win the eliminator and reach the finals for their fans. Currently, GT and Punjab are my preferred teams.”

Reflecting on RCB's 42-run defeat against SRH, Uthappa cited a batting collapse in the final overs as the cause of their loss.

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt got off to a strong start in their pursuit of 232 runs, but after their dismissals, no other RCB batter could contribute effectively, leading to their collapse at 189 in 19.5 overs. Salt scored 62, while Kohli made 43 runs off 25 balls, establishing a solid foundation that went uncapitalized by his teammates.

“They appeared to be in a good position until the 15th over, but things deteriorated rapidly. You need set batsmen and depth to chase a challenging target, and losing key wickets at critical moments was detrimental. Those consecutive dismissals forced them to slow down, and the run-out marked the beginning of their downfall. Losing back-to-back wickets was the final straw. For Tim David and Jitesh Sharma to turn it around from that point would have required a miracle. If you’re expending all your miracles at this stage of the tournament, you may want to conserve a few for the playoffs,” he explained.

Aaron analyzed Kohli’s role and significance in run chases, noting, “As always, he initiated the chase powerfully — he thrives in these situations. However, it underlines his importance to RCB's success in chasing. This was the first instance they lost a chase without him scoring a fifty. He is incredibly stable, focusing on classic, quality shot-making. Phil Salt started strong as well, but his dismissal by Cummins came at a critical time. He should have waited a bit longer to rebuild. After that, they never regained their rhythm. Rajat Patidar had a strike rate around 120, which is concerning. However, this might serve as a wake-up call for RCB — a necessary jolt to organize their strategy before the playoffs.