A tense pause in the IPL due to border tensions gave way to a blockbuster showdown as Royal Challengers Bengaluru is taking on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Chinnaswamy Stadium today. However to everyone’s disappointment it has been raining heavily in Bengaluru right now, which means the toss has been delayed.  The break may have dulled momentum, but with high stakes on both sides, the fire is bound to reignite quickly. RCB, riding high with four straight wins, are on the cusp of playoff qualification. In contrast, KKR must win to stay alive in the race. Virat Kohli’s presence adds an emotional dimension, fresh off his surprise Test retirement. Fans are expected to show up in whites to honour the legend, setting a charged backdrop. Questions over rhythm, form, and intensity loom large after a 10-day disruption, but the pressure promises compelling cricket. Both teams will need to shake off the rust and hit the ground running—RCB to secure their top-tier finish, KKR to simply survive. ALSO READ: IPL 2025, RCB vs KKR: Bengaluru weather forecast, hourly rain forecast

   Rajat Patidar captaincy record in IPL 2025

• Matches: 11
• Wins: 8
• Losses: 3
• Tied: 0
• Win percentage: 72.72%

Ajinkya Rahane captaincy record in IPL 2025

• Matches: 12
• Wins: 5
• Losses: 6
• N/R: 1
• Win percentage: 41.66%

RCB playing 11 vs KKR (Probable) 

RCB enter the contest in a strong position, bolstered by the return of key overseas stars including Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Tim David and Liam Livingstone. Rajat Patidar’s return to the nets after a finger injury is a timely boost, even as the franchise remains without Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Hazlewood—two critical absentees. Mayank Agarwal is expected to fill the void left by Padikkal. Hazlewood’s shoulder injury remains a lingering concern, with no official update on his status. Despite those setbacks, RCB appear better equipped to handle the post-break transition, with a stable core and playoff qualification within touching distance.

 RCB playing 11 and impact subs (Probable): Jacob Bethell / Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi / Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

 Impact player: Suyash Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh

 RCB squad for IPL 2025: 

Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh

 KKR playing 11 vs RCB (Probable) 

KKR’s campaign teeters on the edge, and the loss of Moeen Ali to viral fever is another blow to an already shaky season. While the bowling unit, led by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, has often stood tall, the batting has faltered too frequently. The onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi—the few consistent run-scorers—to carry the load. Big names like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh must deliver if KKR hope to challenge RCB’s momentum. With just two wins in their last three, the Knight Riders must rediscover form and urgency—fast.

 KKR playing 11 and impact subs (Probable): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora 

Impact player: Harshit Rana

 KKR squad for IPL 2025: 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Mayank Markande, Ramandeep Singh, Luvnith Sisodia, Chetan Sakariya, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson

 RCB vs KKR key player battles: 

RCB Batters vs KKR Bowlers Batter Bowler Inns Runs Outs Avg SR Virat Kohli Sunil Narine 21 171 4 42.8 102 Virat Kohli Andre Russell 14 121 3 40.3 148 Virat Kohli Varun Chakravarthy 8 55 1 55 115 Virat Kohli Harshit Rana 3 33 1 33 138 Virat Kohli Anrich Nortje 9 41 2 20.5 98 Virat Kohli Mayank Markande 5 36 1 36 109 Virat Kohli Moeen Ali 6 26 2 13 144 Rajat Patidar Andre Russell 2 1 2 0.5 25 Rajat Patidar Mayank Markande 2 43 1 43 307 Tim David Andre Russell 8 64 2 32 188 Tim David Sunil Narine 6 19 0 – 86 Tim David Spencer Johnson 4 20 2 10 87 Tim David Anrich Nortje 5 23 2 11.5 135 Krunal Pandya Sunil Narine 10 32 3 10.7 91 Krunal Pandya Andre Russell 6 39 2 19.5 139 Romario Shepherd Andre Russell 5 53 1 53 204 Romario Shepherd Sunil Narine 6 10 2 5 56 Romario Shepherd Anrich Nortje 6 41 0 – 158 Phil Salt Andre Russell 8 73 2 36.5 221 Phil Salt Varun Chakravarthy 3 41 1 41 256 Phil Salt Mayank Markande 2 19 2 9.5 119 Mayank Agarwal Andre Russell 6 22 3 7.3 92 Mayank Agarwal Sunil Narine 8 40 2 20 125 Mayank Agarwal Harshit Rana 2 27 2 13.5 150 Mayank Agarwal Varun Chakravarthy 4 16 1 16 80 Mayank Agarwal Anrich Nortje 3 32 0 – 145 Liam Livingstone Andre Russell 7 54 1 54 193 Liam Livingstone Varun Chakravarthy 7 24 3 8 104 Liam Livingstone Sunil Narine 6 21 1 21 84 Liam Livingstone Moeen Ali 3 18 0 – 86 KKR Batters vs RCB Bowlers Batter Bowler Inns Runs Outs Avg SR Rahmanullah Gurbaz Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4 22 2 11 110 Rahmanullah Gurbaz Nuwan Thushara 6 43 3 14.3 148 Sunil Narine Bhuvneshwar Kumar 12 35 2 17.5 106 Sunil Narine Yash Dayal 4 34 1 34 148 Sunil Narine Rasikh Salam 3 43 1 43 239 Ajinkya Rahane Bhuvneshwar Kumar 18 104 7 14.9 89 Ajinkya Rahane Krunal Pandya 10 61 4 15.3 115 Ajinkya Rahane Yash Dayal 3 44 0 – 244 Ajinkya Rahane Rasikh Salam 2 30 0 – 214 Angkrish Raghuvanshi Yash Dayal 2 4 2 2 80 Manish Pandey Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7 22 4 5.5 100 Manish Pandey Krunal Pandya 8 59 0 – 111 Rinku Singh Yash Dayal 3 37 1 37 336 Rinku Singh Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4 27 0 – 129 Andre Russell Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7 106 2 53 247 Andre Russell Yash Dayal 2 41 0 – 241 Moeen Ali Lungi Ngidi 6 37 3 12.3 218 Moeen Ali Liam Livingstone 3 30 0 – 273 Quinton de Kock Bhuvneshwar Kumar 16 67 2 33.5 96 Quinton de Kock Lungi Ngidi 7 38 2 19 141 Quinton de Kock Josh Hazlewood 7 42 4 10.5 124 Venkatesh Iyer Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7 49 0 – 136 Rovman Powell Romario Shepherd 4 47 1 47 235 Rovman Powell Bhuvneshwar Kumar 6 37 1 37 119 Rovman Powell Krunal Pandya 3 17 1 17 74 Rovman Powell Liam Livingstone 7 101 2 50.5 253 Rovman Powell Josh Hazlewood 4 9 2 4.5 113