RCB vs KKR IPL 2025: Bengaluru Hosts Key Match Amid Rain Concerns
IPL 2025 resumes as RCB face KKR in Bengaluru. RCB look to secure playoffs while KKR must win to stay alive. Rain possible but drainage strong for play.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) return to action after a 10-day pause in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to the India-Pakistan conflict. The side faces defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with an eye on reclaiming the top spot in the standings.
The fixture mirrors the tournament opener held at Eden Gardens on March 22. RCB had then chased down a 175-run target in 17 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win. The upcoming contest is crucial in determining playoff trajectories for both teams.
RCB, currently with eight wins from 11 matches, stand in strong contention for a place in the top four. A win could confirm their playoff qualification. On the other hand, KKR remain in sixth place, having managed five victories, six defeats, and one match that yielded no result. The defending champions must win both their remaining league matches to stay in contention.
The Bengaluru venue is traditionally known for high-scoring contests, often breaching the 200-run mark. However, the early overs with a new ball could still offer movement for pace bowlers, providing some balance in conditions otherwise favorable to batters.
Saturday’s weather in Bengaluru suggests a chance of evening showers, potentially impacting the match schedule. While rain interruptions remain a concern, the ground’s rapid drainage system is likely to facilitate play, barring extreme downpours. Temperatures are expected to hover around 25 degrees Celsius.
In 35 previous meetings, KKR leads the head-to-head with 20 victories to RCB’s 15. At Chinnaswamy, KKR have won eight of their 12 matches against the hosts, making the venue historically more favorable to the visiting side.
RCB:
Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal
KKR:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora
Victory for RCB will cement their qualification and bolster their chances of finishing in the top two, which offers a second chance in the playoffs. For KKR, a loss would all but end their campaign, making this match a virtual knockout.
