Shane Bond Concedes RR’s IPL 2025 Playoff Hopes Over, Vows to “Finish Strong”
Rajasthan Royals’ bowling coach Shane Bond publicly acknowledged their playoff elimination after managing just 4 points from 9 matches (2 wins), admitting the team “probably out” mathematically. Speaking ahead of Monday’s clash against Gujarat Titans, Bond stressed the need to salvage pride in their remaining fixtures.
“We’re 2-7… jeez, where we could sit on the table,” Bond said, reflecting on missed opportunities, including collapses in three winnable chases. Injuries, notably Sanju Samson’s absence, and middle-order frailty under Riyan Parag’s leadership exacerbated their woes.
Despite the bleak outlook, Bond emphasized professional pride: “There’s a lot to play for – pride, contracts, fans.” RR’s five-match losing streak, their worst since l2009-10, has left them 9th with a -0.625 NRR.
With max 14 points possible, RR’s fate hinges on miraculous rival collapses, but Bond’s focus remains on regaining competitiveness: “We’ll get stuck into the next four-five games.”