IPL 2025 Match Preview | RCB aim to resume season with qualification at home against old rivals KKR

Last Friday at 8:17 PM

Rajat Patidar's fitness remains under scrutiny on the eve of IPL resumption with an encounter between KKR and RCB at the Chinnaswamy on Saturday

The Indian Premier League is set to resume after a nine-day hiatus with the renewal of one of the tournament's grandest rivalry, between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. While a win for the former would secure qualification, it would also guarantee an early exit for KKR.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will feel hard done by by the sudden pause in the tournament, given they were on a four match winning streak before the hiatus was announced and on the brink of qualification. Nevertheless, the team remains well placed in second with 16 points -- level with Gujarat Titans at the top of the table -- and a win on Saturday will ensure them a top-four finish, their 10th in history. Virat Kohli as always has been their chief run-getter, right in the race to claim the Orange Cap, while Tim David has turned out to be a revelation as a powerful hitter down the order, especially the way he has overcome his weakness against spin.

Kolkata Knight Riders on the other hand no longer have fate in their hands after their defeat to Chennai Super Kings, and will need to win both their remaining games against RCB and SRH to retain any hopes of qualification. The team's top-order has been a shadow from its title-winning campaign last season while their finishers Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh have failed to provide the necessary flourishes as well at the death. Add to that a sluggish campaign for Venkatesh Iyer after being retained for INR 23.5 crore, and it becomes apparent why KKR have struggled such in the season. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has shown some promise since replacing Quinton de Kock and it remains to be seen whether he can capitalize on the potential batting haven that is the Chinnaswamy.

Form Guide

KKR: L W W NR L

RCB: W W W W L

RCB vs KKR Head to head in T20s

Kolkata Knight Riders have for long had the wood over their rivals from the south, building up a head to head gap of six over 18 years of existence for both franchises. In fact, KKR even have a positive record at the Chinnaswamy, where they have defeated the hosts nine times while themselves suffering defeat on only six occassions.

KKR 21-15 RCB

Pitch and Weather

The Chinnaswamy has long been a beacon of powerful batting and big scores in the IPL, courtesy its flat surface and short boundaries. The occasional presence of dew only adds to the reasons for bowling first on the venue but inclement weather of late has seen the side batting first win in the last two games at the Chinnaswamy. Regardless, captains almost always prefer to bowl first here.

All that might seize to matter if the heavens have their say as there is a 75% chance of rain disruption forecast for May 17, with temperatures hovering between 23 and 29 degree Celsius.

Team News

Doubts still linger over Rajat Patidar's availability owing to a finger injury but the RCB skipper did bat in the nets on the eve of the game. Similarly, there has been no official confirmation yet of Josh Hazlewood returning for this last phase of the league season but the pacer did seem to indicate he would be available through his social media. Mayank Agarwal seems set to take over for the injured Devdutt Padikkal.

As for KKR, Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell have opted out for the rest of the tournament, which might pave the path for Spencer Johnson to return to the lineup.

RCB Probable XII: Salt, Kohli, Agarwal, Patidar(c), Jitesh(wk), David, Shepherd, Pandya, Kumar, Dayal, Hazlewood, Suyash

KKR Probable XII: Gurbaz(wk), Narine, Rahane(c), Raghuvanshi, Iyer, Rinku, Russell, Ramandeep, Chakravarthy, Arora, Rana, Johnson