After a nervous 10-day break, the IPL 2025 is set to bounce back into action at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face off against the Kolkata Knight Riders in what promises to be a mouth-watering ‘opening game’. The RCB vs KKR clash will be Virat Kohli’s first since announcing his Test retirement.
RCB vs KKR, IPL 2025: Patidar and Co eye to end 10-year jinx vs KKR
RCB have had a fine season so far before the tournament came to a halt. Rajat Patidar’s side needs just 1 win in their remaining 3 fixtures to qualify for the playoffs. Finalists in 2016, RCB could even finish in the Top 2 and guarantee an extra chance at making the final.
The game marks the momentous occasion of Virat Kohli’s first game back at Bengaluru since retiring from Test cricket. The 36-year-old will naturally be greeted by a zealous crowd. Kohli however will have his task cut out against KKR, who have beaten RCB in their last 4 games.
That record worsens when it comes to the Chinnaswamy. RCB haven’t beaten their opposition at their home ground since 2015. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side have won on their last 6 visits to Bengaluru. In fact the last time RCB beat KKR at Chinnaswamy, Gautam Gambhir was still KKR captain.
KKR are all but knocked out of the playoffs race and need a series of favourable results in other matches. They will also need to make a substantial improvement in their net run rate. The defending champions have struggled for consistency in IPL 2025, but a break could have done wonders for the side.
RCB vs KKR Head to head
Wins: KKR 21- 14 RCB\
Wins in Bengaluru: KKR 9 – 4 RCB
Most runs: Virat Kohli (962)
Most wickets: Sunil Narine (26)
Team News: No Hazlewood for RCB, KKR miss Moeen Ali
There has been a flurry of activity as far as team news is concerned for all IPL 2025 franchises. RCB will miss Josh Hazlewood, who is back in Australia recovering from a shoulder injury. Fortunately, the rest of their overseas contingent is available for selection as far as the league stage is concerned. Rajat Patidar would have missed a few games, but is now available with the league’s suspension allowing him to recover. Devdutt Padikkal, however, is ruled out with Mayank Agarwal coming in.
Probable RCB Playing XII: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
KKR are without Moeen Ali, who opted against returning. Rovman Powell is also out injured. The rest of their squad is intact and available for selection.
Probable KKR Playing XII: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson.
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