Royal Challengers Bengaluru face rivals Kolkata Knight Riders in a crunch Indian Premier League 2025 clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 17. It’s a massive clash for RCB, who are placed 2nd in the IPL 2025 standings with 16 points from 11 matches. Notably, RCB are tied on points with table-toppers Gujarat Titans but remain behind on NRR. RCB can not only take top place with this win but also reach the playoffs under their new captain Rajat Patidar.
Interestingly, the IPL is resuming after close to a 10-day gap after getting suspended due to escalations between India and Pakistan. With a ceasefire agreed upon, the IPL is finally set to complete its last phase. Notably, the suspension led to several foreign players returning to their nations. Despite several players returning, quite a few of them have to return on time due to international commitments.
RCB, in particular, will miss Josh Hazlewood, who is nursing an injury. However, their skipper, Patidar, is recovering well from a finger injury. Mayank Agarwal, who came in for Devdutt Padikkal, got an extended run of practice and could feature.
KKR will be without Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell. Former England ace Mooen and West Indies’ Powell decided against flying back to India after returning.
A look at what could be RCB’s strategy versus the Knights at home
RCB haven’t enjoyed a clean record at home this season, posting three defeats and two wins. As per ESPNcricinfo, RCB will need to be wary of KKR in Bengaluru, having last beaten them at Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2015. RCB would like to get Phil Salt back to open alongside Virat Kohli. Salt missed RCB’s last few games as Jacob Bethell came on and did a reasonable job. Notably, Salt punished his former side, KKR, with a rapid fifty in the IPL 2025 opener. He can provide a fast start and put KKR under pressure.
Bengaluru has witnessef la rainte, and the forecast for Saturday is expected to be on the same lines. In terms of the pitch, moisture under the surface will aid bowlers in purchasing swing. Spinners can make an impact as the match progresses. Bengaluru has mostly been a venue that promises runs, and we are in store for an even contest between bat and ball.
RCB are unlikely to tinker with their playing XI much. Mayank is likely to feature for Padikkal. Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi is expected to play with Hazlewood out injured. RCB have a balanced side with solid batting depth and enough resources with the ball.
As far as KKR are concerned, they have to beat RCB by a massive margin to stand an outside chance of making it through. KKR could bring in an extra pacer for this contest. Ajinkya Rahane’s men bat deep, but the side hasn’t managed to fire this season. RCB will want to keep KKR’s spin twins Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine quiet.
RCB Probable Playing XI vs KKR – Full predicted lineup
RCB Probable Playing XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Lungi Ngidi.
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
Kohli and Salt will open for RCB. With 505 runs this season, Kohli has been firing on all cylinders. He averages close to 50 versus KKR at the Chinnaswamy in IPL and owns an overall tally of 1085 runs against them. Meanwhile, Salt has scored 239 runs for RCB this season. He has struck at 168.30 from 9 matches. He smashed 56 versus KKR at Eden Gardens earlier this season from just 31 balls.
RCB will miss Padikkal, a left-handed batter at number three. It means up till number 7, RCB have all right-handed batters. Patidar could mix things up here and perhaps send left-hander Krunal Pandya earlier.
RCB’s middle order is powerful with some big hitters. Patidar is a solid player of spin, and Jitesh Sharma will back him. Tim David and Romario Shepherd will be the finishers and can dictate the show late on.
Krunal, with his spin, is RCB’s lead spinner. Suyash Sharma will come in to back the veteran. However, they need to be wary of someone like Andre Russell, who has been in good touch in his last two innings.
In pace, RCB’s battery is well powered with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Lungi Ngidi. Notably, Romario is their sixth bowling option. Bhuvi can be immense in the power play. Dayal and Ngidi can be able support cast both at the top and death.
Krunal, as an all-rounder, could be a game-changer. He can be a floater with the bat, and his spin can be used effectively in both powerplay and middle overs.
Kolkata Knight Riders Probable XI: Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.
Impact Player: Anrich Nortje.
Who might miss out from the RCB lineup?
Jacob Bethell scored 51 for RCB in their last clash against CSK. However, with Salt’s return, he is expected to miss the clash. Meanwhile, Liam Livingstone and Nuwan Thushara are also set to sit out. In terms of Indian players on the bench, Rasikh Dar Salam and Manoj Bhandage are worth mentioning.
Who are the key players in RCB’s lineup vs KKR?
Kohli owns 1021 runs versus KKR at 40.84 from 35 matches (32 innings). He owns a ton and fifties against the Knight Riders. However, Kohli will have his task cut out against Sunil Narine, with the KKR spinner dismissing the former 4 times from 17 innings. Kohli owns 136 runs from 129 balls in this contest.
Patidar is a strong player, and it remains to be seen how he comes up as his recovery from a finger injury goes on. Patidar is a game-changer and can be effective. However, he will face a stern test against Chakravarthy, who has one wicket from two innings in this contest. Patidar has scored 7 runs from six balls.