The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to resume after a 10-day break, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what promises to be a high-voltage contest. Scheduled for May 17 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, this match serves as a rematch of the tournament opener held on March 22 at Eden Gardens.
RCB enter the clash with strong momentum, having won eight of their 11 matches so far. Another victory could confirm their spot in the playoffs, placing them among the top contenders this season. In contrast, KKR are hanging by a thread with just five wins and a no result from their 12 games. They must win both their remaining matches to stay in the playoff hunt.
Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for producing batting-friendly tracks, often yielding scores of over 200. However, early assistance for pacers with the new ball can also be a game-changer. The average first-innings total here hovers around 168. Fans can catch the live action on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network at 7:30 PM IST.
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Historically, KKR have held the upper hand in this rivalry, winning 20 of their 35 encounters against RCB. That said, RCB were dominant in their previous meeting this season, chasing down a target of 175 with ease in just 17 overs. Despite that, their home record against KKR isn’t great—only four wins in 12 outings.
As both sides return refreshed, all eyes will be on the key player battles that could shape this thrilling contest.
#1 Sunil Narine vs Virat Kohli
RCB talisman Virat Kohli, in stellar form with over 500 runs this season, has historically found Narine to be a tough nut to crack. In 17 IPL innings against the mystery spinner, Kohli has scored 136 runs at a modest strike rate of 105.42, falling to Narine on four occasions. While Kohli has struck 10 fours and two sixes in this match-up, Narine’s tight lines continue to trouble him.
#2 Ajinkya Rahane vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The KKR skipper has been steady this season, but Bhuvneshwar has been his nemesis in the IPL. The swing specialist has dismissed Rahane seven times in 18 innings, conceding just 104 runs off 117 deliveries. No other bowler has removed Rahane more often in the league.
#3 Rajat Patidar vs Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy is another mystery KKR spinner who can shine in the upcoming game. He has scalped 17 wickets at an economy of 7 this season. Rajat Patidar, known for his fluency against spin, faces a real test against Varun. Patidar has fallen to Varun once in two meetings and strikes at 132.35 against spin in IPL 2025.
