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After an unexpected ten-day pause due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, the IPL 2025 season resumes with the same clash that launched it—Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With tensions now eased and a ceasefire in place, the Chinnaswamy Stadium is once again buzzing as the tournament enters its final leg.
Logistical challenges and the sudden exit of several overseas players threatened the continuity of the league, but tireless coordination from team staff and organizers has brought the season back on track. In the spotlight tonight are two teams facing vastly different scenarios.
For RCB, who haven’t finished in the top two since 2016, the equation is simple: win two more games and seal a top-two finish. They come into this match sitting second on the table with eight wins and are buoyed by the homecoming of Virat Kohli, who is set to play his first match since announcing his retirement from Test cricket.
KKR, meanwhile, are in a more desperate position. To qualify, they must win both their remaining matches to get to 15 points and then hope for favorable results elsewhere to spark a net run-rate shootout for the final playoff spot.
RCB: WWWWL (most recent first)
KKR: LWWNL
Rajat Patidar: After a strong start to the season, Patidar has struggled recently, averaging just 10.6 in his last five innings. He’s also been nursing a finger injury, but the break has given him time to recover, and RCB are optimistic about his availability.
Andre Russell: After a quiet start to the season, Russell has exploded in his last two innings with 95 runs at a strike rate of 207. His resurgence could be critical for KKR's late push.
RCB will be without Josh Hazlewood (shoulder niggle) and are monitoring Patidar’s fitness.
KKR miss Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell, but all other players are available.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson
Recent thunderstorms in Bengaluru have affected training, leaving the pitch largely covered. The moisture is likely to aid swing and zip for bowlers. Thunderstorms are forecast again for matchday evening, potentially affecting play.
RCB haven’t beaten KKR at home since 2015.
Sunil Narine has dismissed Kohli four times in 17 IPL innings, keeping him to a strike rate of just 105.
RCB and MI have the best death-bowling economy (10.20), with KKR close behind at 10.30.
Kohli is one fifty away from surpassing David Warner for the most IPL half-centuries (62).
KKR’s opening average (19.3) is the lowest among all teams this season.
"Over the next few days, we'll think about potential replacements. I prefer not to push these things, so we'll just take our time." – Mo Bobat, RCB Director
"Especially in a stadium like Chinnaswamy and where RCB fans are there, you obviously want to win against these guys." – Manish Pandey, KKR batter
With plenty on the line and emotions running high, the return of IPL 2025 promises a dramatic and charged resumption.
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