Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Shane Bond, the bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), has conceded that they are “probably out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in terms of points table.” While speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of RR’s upcoming IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the former New Zealand fast bowler rued the fact that they missed out on finishing off the last three matches from winning position, which has put them firmly in the bottom half of the points table.
Notably, RR suffered defeats in their last three matches of the IPL 2025 while needing to chase a handful of runs in the last few overs at the death with at least one set batter at the crease, but they succumbed to some exceptional death bowling from opposition pacers. They went down against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the super over before losing by two runs at home to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and their trip to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended in a 11-run defeat.
For 35 overs of games we've played really well and in fact have been in control: Shane Bond
Ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 clash at home against GT, Shane Bond, the RR bowling coach, fronted up for the pre-match press conference, and said, as per Cricbuzz, “The hardest thing is that, for 35 overs of games we've played really well and in fact have been in control in some games and probably got into positions where we should have won. You have to give credit to the opposition, they were good enough in those tight moments to go over the top of us and win those games.”
After crediting the oppositions for holding their nerve in crunch moments, Shane Bond alluded to how their inability to finish has been a difference-maker in terms of them potentially being in the hunt for the playoffs. He remarked, “I suppose that's what hurts us. We're 2 (wins) and 7 (losses), and go, jeez, where we could sit on the table, but there's nothing we can do about that now. We're probably out of the tournament in terms of the points table, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot to play for.”
“Obviously, as a team, we want to make sure we finish the season strong and continue playing well, but also for individuals there's a lot to play for, for the next season, wanting to stay with the franchise,” he added.
