The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have signed the Sri Lanka duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera for the second leg of the  IPL 2021. The franchise has also signed Singapore batsman Tim David who keep impressing in the other leagues with his hitting prowess. The shuffle in the RCB squad comes after Australia players Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Daniel Sams have decided not to travel for the IPL.

Read Also : How Bharat Arun Helped Mohammed Siraj Become a World-Class Bowler!

Moreover, there is also a change in the support staff. The head coach Simon Katich stepping down from his position due to personal reasons. The Director of Cricket Operations of the franchise, Mike Hesson, will take over the head coach's role now only for the rest of the IPL season. The RCB Vice-President and Head Rajesh Menon thanked Katich for his contribution while at the helm and wished him success for the future.

The IPL 2021 contract is the reward for both Hasaranga and Chameera for their impressive performances at the international level. Even as Sri Lanka lost all the games in England, the two players were on top of their game. Also the same continued when they hosted India for three ODIs and as many T20Is in July.

Hasaranga was brilliant in the T20I series against India picking eight wickets. Moreover, he also played an important role with the bat in the last two matches to help Sri Lanka clinch the series. Chameera, on the other hand, didn't have expected numbers to show. Although, he made the ball talk all the time and impressed the India head coach Rahul Dravid on the tour. Meanwhile, Tim David is the specialist when it comes to T20 cricket. In 49 matches, he has scored 1171 runs at a brilliant strike-rate of 155.

Also Read : 'He's spring in his strides, give his 100% every time': Sachin Tendulkar lauds Siraj

Finn Allen and Scott Kuggeleijn on national duty & misses out the second leg of IPL 2021

The reason why RCB had to pick Chameera and Tim David in the line up was the unavailability of the New Zealand players Finn Allen and Scott Kuggeleijn. Allen is part of the T20I and ODI squads for the tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan. While the Bangladesh tour concludes well before the IPL resumes, the Pakistan tour clashes directly with the cash rich league. Meanwhile, Scott Kuggeleijn, is only the part of the T20 squad on both the tours and will also miss the IPL for the same reason. RCB will resume their IPL 2021 campaign on September 20th with the game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Achieving consistent playoffs mark is a big flex for IPL franchises. Some teams have made their way to the playoffs so many times that now it feels weird when they don't qualify.

We are very close to the playoffs of IPL 2025, and some teams have already booked their berth, adding a number to their playoff appearance.

So which team has qualified for IPL playoffs most times? It is time to find out.

Chennai Super Kings (12 times)

Chennai Super Kings stands as the IPL playoffs King, having qualified 12 times in their 16 seasons. This unmatched legacy grows even stronger with their title winning history.

CSK also holds the record of reaching the IPL finals most number of times (10 times), and winning 5 out of them, in the years 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (10 times)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the 10-time playoff qualification mark in IPL 2025. They were among the first three teams to qualify for the playoff this season, which made it their 10th qualification.

This side is yet to grab the title despite having qualified several times. It will be interesting to see if they can achieve that in this season itself.

Read Also: IPL Playoffs: Teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats

Mumbai Indians (10 times)

Mumbai Indians are another IPL powerhouse with exceptional playoffs record. They qualified for IPL playoffs 10 times and are also the five-time champions.

Their current position in IPL 2025 points table look pretty steady, and a win against DC would secure their spot in the playoffs, which obviously increases their count.

Can they make it to the playoffs for the 11th time? We will know soon.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

Other teams with 5+ playoff qualification

Breaking records is what IPL is all about and Virat Kohli's record of 973 runs in IPL 2016 is unmatched for 9 years. IPL 2025 can be the record-breaking year, as GT's opening pair is having an incredible season with the bat, shuffling the orange cap with every match.

As we are heading towards the end of the tournament, it will be a major thing to keep an eye on.

Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season? Or maybe it is truly unbreakable.

How big is Virat Kohli's 973-run record?

Virat Kohli set the batting standards up in IPL 2016 that everyone talks about till date. He scored 973 runs in 16 matches with an 80+ average.

He scored 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, bagging the Orange cap in that season.

This is the phenomenal record of most runs in a single IPL season that no one could break since 2016.

Read Also: Most Runs in IPL History: Virat Kohli leading the charts

Shubman Gill aims for the TOP

The only player who ever came to Kohli's record is Shubman Gill, with his 890-run season in IPL 2023. He is having another successful one in IPL 2025 and has already surpassed the 600-run mark.

The way Gill is firing this season for Gujarat Titans, he might just break the record and get in top. He scored 601 runs in 12 matches with 6 half-centuries to his name so far.

Calculating the remaining target for Shubham Gill 

With potentially 5 innings left (2 league matches + playoffs), the race is heating up. This is subject to GT to lose Qualifier 1 and get an extra innings to go play for the IPL title.

• Required: 974-601 = 373 runs more (to break Kohli's record)
• Required Avg for next 5 innings: 74.6 runs per inning
• Required Avg if they get 4 innings to play: 93.25 runs per inning

Read Also: Most Fifty Plus Scores in IPL by an Opener Since Gill's Debut

Sai Sudharsan's rising form

Sai Sudharsan is currently the leading run-scorer in the race for Orange Cap in IPL 2025. He scored 617 runs in 12 matches, with 1 century and 5 fifties to his name.

This rising star has remarkable potential to with the kind of explosive form he has right now.

Calculating the remaining target for Sai Sudharsan

As for GT, Sudharsan also gets the same number of innings as Gill. It is either 2 league matches and 2 playoff matches, or a loss in Qualifier 1 to get an extra innings, making it 5 innings in total.

• Required: 974-617 = 357 runs more (to break Kohli's record)
• Required Avg for next 5 innings: 71.4 runs per inning
• Required Avg if they get 4 innings to play: 89.25 runs per inning

Read Also: Highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs

A look at IPL 2025 Top 5 run-scorers

Virat Kohli stands at the top 5 race for orange cap in IPL 2025. The battle will be intense to see if someone finally breaks the mountain of runs.

Or will the king himself come closest to surpassing his own legacy?

In a highly competitive tournament like IPL, every match counts. The pressure intensifies during playoffs and Eliminator is one such example of an high-pressure knockout match. 

From close defeats to disappointing ones, want to know which teams could not manage to survive this round the most times?

Here's the teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats.

Introduction of Eliminator in IPL

IPL's playoff format expanded in 2011 with introduction of Eliminator and Qualifier matches. The previous 3 seasons consisted of two semi-finals, involving the top 4 teams.

The introduction of Eliminator added another layer of excitement and intensity to the game ever since.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

Teams with most IPL Eliminator defeats

Plenty of teams consistently made their ways to Eliminator by ending up in the 3rd or 4th place in league stage, but only few could make it to the next round.

We have 2 franchises with equal number of defeats in here.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3 defeats)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are yet to have their fairytale ending in IPL. They appeared in Eliminator 5 times and lost thrice out of them, which is most number of defeats by a team in IPL Eliminator.

• IPL 2020: lost to SRH by 6 wickets
• IPL 2021: lost to KKR by 4 wickets
• IPL 2024: lost to RR by 4 wickets 

Sunrisers Hyderabad (3 defeats)

Sunrisers Hyderabad shares the joint position with RCB for having equal number of IPL Eliminator defeats. They also played 5 Eliminator matches, and lost 3 out of them.

• IPL 2013: lost to RR by 4 wickets 
• IPL 2017: lost to KKR by 7 wickets 
• IPL 2019: lost to DC by 2 wickets

Read Also: Highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs

Other teams with more than one defeat in IPL Eliminator

The intensity of IPL playoffs brings out extraordinary performances. Several players have set the bar high with their fearless batting skills and bagging those victories for the teams.

With the IPL 2025 playoffs approaching, it is the best time to examine the highest individual scores by players in the IPL playoffs.

Check out the full list of the highest individual scores by players in the IPL playoffs.

1. Shubham Gill (129 runs) | GT

Shubham Gill shattered all the big batting records of IPL playoffs with his unbelievable knock of 129 runs off 60 balls against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 Qualifier 2.

His performance as an opening batsman took Gujarat Titans to a huge total of 233 runs, which they defended comfortably and booked their final berth.

This groundbreaking knock tops the chart for the highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

2. Virender Sehwag (122 runs) | PBKS

Virender Sehwag's 122 runs off 58 balls against CSK was the long-standing record of the highest individual score in playoffs for 9 years.

This sensational knock in Qualifier 2 helped Punjab Kings reach the IPL final for the first time.

3. Shane Watson (117* runs) | CSK

The Australian legend, Shane Watson, holds the third position with his 117* runs from 57 balls against SRH in the IPL 2018 Final.

His phenomenal performance led the Chennai Super Kings to their third IPL victory.

Watson smashed 11 fours and 8 sixes, with a strike rate above 200.

Read Also: Safest hands: Most catches in IPL history

4. Wriddhiman Saha (115* runs) | PBKS

An incredible season for the boy of Bengal, Wriddhiman Saha, who dominated till the very end against KKR in the IPL 2014 Final. He scored an unbeaten 115 runs from just 55 balls and helped PBKS reach a defendable total. Saha's ton was the first ton ever scored in an IPL final.

Even though Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a brilliant victory in that match, Saha's performance won the hearts of the fans!

5. Murali Vijay (113 runs) | CSK

Murali Vijay single-handedly took CSK to a humongous total in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2012. His remarkable contribution of 113 runs from 58 balls made things easier for their team.

With this victory against Delhi Capitals, CSK headed towards the Final and Murali Vijay was rewarded player of the match.

Read Also: Most Sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL

6. Rajat Patidar (112*) | RCB

Rajat Patidar has proven to be one of the impactful figures for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ever since his debut in 2021. He left a stellar lasting impression with his knock of 112* runs from 54 balls against LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator.

His contribution was extremely crucial for the team as their batting line-up collapsed early in the first innings. However, RCB successfully defeated LSG to move ahead in the tournament, with credit to Patidar.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced ticket refunds for their IPL 2025 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, which was called off without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain on Saturday.

Also Read: IPL 2025 updated squads and full replacement list of each team

RCB announced on their social media handle on X that they will provide a refund to the ticket holders for the cancelled IPL 2025 game against KKR at the Chinnaswamy.

🚨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐂𝐁 𝐯𝐬 𝐊𝐊𝐑 🎟️

As the game between RCB and KKR on 17th May 2025 was abandoned due to inclement weather, all valid ticket holders are eligible for a full refund.

Digital ticket holders will… pic.twitter.com/Wfpub1p5h3

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 18, 2025

"As the game between RCB and KKR on 17th May 2025 was abandoned due to inclement weather, all valid ticket holders are eligible for a full refund," the franchise said in a statement.

"Digital ticket holders will receive their refunds within 10 working days to the original account used to book the tickets. In case you do not receive the refund by 31st May, kindly send an email to refund@ticketgenie.in with your booking details to escalate the matter."

Both teams awarded one point each

After Saturday's rain, both RCB and KKR were awarded one point each. RCB topped the IPL 2025 points table with 17 points from 12 matches and moved closer to sealing their place in the playoffs, while KKR were out of the race for the top four with 12 points from 13 matches.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Will Mitchell Starc have to pay the price for pulling out mid-way? Explained

RCB to seal their place in playoffs 

RCB will now host Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 and then take on Lucknow Super Giants on May 27. RCB can seal their place in the last four even before playing their next match, as they will advance if either Punjab Kings or Delhi Capitals lose on Sunday.