RCB’s championship ambitions are under danger as they continue their IPL 2025 campaign.

Just when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) looked all set to end their 17-year Indian Premier League (IPL) title wait, a string of setbacks threatens to upset their run. As the IPL 2025 restarts on May 17 after a brief hiatus caused by India-Pakistan cross-border tensions, RCB is staring at a dangerous situation.

With three league games left, RCB has a golden chance to qualify for the playoffs, beginning with a vital game against Kolkata Knight Riders this Saturday. But the franchise’s hopes have been severely dented, with injuries and national team commitments raising doubts over the availability of key players for the last leg of the tournament.

RCB handling multiple cases of injuries prior to resumption of IPL 2025

Star-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal is already out with a hamstring strain. As for fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, there are reservations pending about the fast bowler who sat out the May 3 match against Chennai Super Kings with a shoulder complaint. In spite of his absence, Hazlewood was added to Australia’s team for the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa on June 11, which indicates guarded optimism regarding his fitness.

Skipper Rajat Patidar’s fate too hangs in the balance. Suffering an injury while fielding during the CSK game, Patidar skipped a training session before RCB’s next game scheduled against Lucknow Super Giants, which got canceled later. Patidar’s fitness will now come under questioning with India’s Test tour of England and a shadow squad tour also in the offing.

England include 5 IPL players in ODI team

In addition to RCB’s troubles, English player Jacob Bethell have also headed back home. Though England too wish to express support for the BCCI, they would still wish their best cricketers to play for the Three Lions. A clash of fixtures in store will place IPL teams under a threat of losing these players, particularly if they progress further into the playoffs.

With England scheduled to start an ODI series against West Indies on May 29—on the same date as the IPL playoffs—and a T20I series on June 6, their return is uncertain.

Standout player with the bat against CSK, Romario Shepherd, will also be missing games as he returns with the West Indies team for their series against Ireland from May 21.