IPL 2025 Match Preview | RCB to push for Qualifier 1 berth as Sunrisers aim for positive finish

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad have been eliminated from the playoff race and are looking to bow out with a strong performance. They are eighth in the standings with 9 points from 12 games. RCB will be eager to win their remaining two matches and potentially finish at the top of the table for the first time since 2016,  the season they last reached the IPL final. SRH, for their part, will aim to finish their campaign on a positive note by making the most of the remaining games.

Form Guide:

RCB: NR, W, W, W, W

SRH: W, NR, L, W, L

RCB vs SRH head-to-head:

Out of the 24 matches played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, SRH hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record. RCB have emerged victorious in 11 of these encounters, while SRH have won 13. This closely contested rivalry has seen several memorable battles over the years, reflecting the competitive spirit and balanced nature of their matchups.

Pitch and Weather:

Batters often found it difficult to score freely at this venue due to the sluggish pitch and large boundaries. However, the conditions have improved this season, offering better support to the batters. As for the weather in Lucknow on Friday, there is no forecast of rain, with temperatures expected to reach a high of 37°C and drop to a low of 28°C.

Team News: 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have roped in New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert as a temporary stand-in for England’s Jacob Bethell. In addition to Bethell’s absence, RCB are also facing uncertainty regarding Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who is currently based in Brisbane at Cricket Australia’s High-Performance Centre to gear up for the World Test Championship final next month. South African pacer Lungi Ngidi is another key player who will miss the playoffs, as he too is preparing for the WTC final. To cover for Ngidi, RCB recently brought in Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani on a short-term basis.

RCB Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

SRH Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Atharva Taide, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammad Shami, Simarjeet Singh

Broadcasting Platforms

The Indian Premier League will be digitally streamed on JioHotstar and telecast on the Star Sports network.