The Indian Premier League resumes after 10 days of chaos and uncertainty. However, on the opening day, rain could play spoilsport in Bengaluru with monsoon hitting Indian shores early. But if the match goes on successfully, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have an opportunity to seal a playoff spot and knock Kolkata Knight Riders out. RCB, with 16 points from 11 matches, sit 2nd on the Points Table. KKR are 6th and with 11 points. A loss today will eliminate them. But as IPL 2025 resumes, both teams will be without some of their star players.
Match Details
- Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 58, IPL 2025
- Date & Time: May 17, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Live Telecast/Streaming: Star Sports Network (TV), JioHotstar (App & Website)
Match Preview
RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, have been in scintillating form in IPL 2025, winning 8 of their 11 matches, boasting a 73% win rate. Playing at their fortress, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, they are favourites to dominate. Their batting, powered by Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, has been relentless, while their bowling, despite Josh Hazlewood’s absence, remains potent with Krunal Pandya and Yash Dayal.
KKR, under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, have had an inconsistent season with 5 wins and 6 losses from 12 games. Sitting sixth with 11 points, they face a must-win scenario to stay in the playoff race. Their batting has been patchy, but Andre Russell’s recent form and Varun Chakravarthy’s spin threat keep them dangerous.
Recent Form
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: RCB have been a dominant force, winning 8 of 11 matches. Their batting has been explosive, with Virat Kohli (3202 runs in IPL 2025) and Phil Salt (111 runs in 5 matches) leading the charge. Krunal Pandya’s all-round brilliance (3/29 vs KKR in the opener) and Yash Dayal’s pace have bolstered their bowling. A recent 7-wicket thrashing of KKR in the season opener at Eden Gardens highlights their edge.
- Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR’s campaign has been inconsistent, with 5 wins and 6 losses. Ajinkya Rahane (375 runs in 11 innings) has been their standout batter, while Andre Russell (38 off 21 and 57* off 25 in recent games) is regaining form. Varun Chakravarthy remains a key bowler, but their batting order, including Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine, has lacked consistency. Their loss to RCB earlier this season exposed vulnerabilities in their middle order.
Pitch Report
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch is a batter’s paradise, known for its pace, bounce, and short boundaries. The average first-innings score is around 168, but high-scoring games are common—Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 287 against RCB in IPL 2024 set a tournament record. The pitch tends to slow down later, aiding spinners and slower bowlers. Dew is likely in the evening, making bowling second challenging, so the toss winner may opt to bowl first. Teams batting first typically aim for 200-210 to feel secure, as chasing is favored here.
Bengaluru Weather Report
On May 17, 2025, Bengaluru is expected to have unfavorable weather, with rain threatening to disrupt the game. Cloudy skies and a high chance of precipitation (up to 40% earlier in the day) could impact play, though evening conditions may improve slightly. Temperatures will hover around 22-26°C, with high humidity (70%) and light winds (8 km/hr). A shortened game or delays are possible if rain persists.
RCB vs KKR Head-to-Head Records
- Total Matches: 35 (IPL history up to May 2025)
- KKR Wins: 20
- RCB Wins: 15
- At M Chinnaswamy Stadium: KKR has a better record, winning more games than RCB at this venue. However, RCB’s recent form makes them formidable at home.
Predicted Playing 11
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Captain Rajat Patidar seems to have recovered from his injury. He batted in both practice sessions. Furthermore, Phil Salt has also recovered from injury. However, Josh Hazlewood is currently injured and is not available for selection. With Devdutt Padikkal also out of the season, Mayank Agarwal is likely to play instead.
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma/ Rasikh Salam
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR are without Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell. They haven’t rejoined the squad. However, barring the two, everyone is available for selection. KKR might recall Quinton de Kock after Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to make an impression.
Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana
Impact Sub: Manish Pandey/ Vaibhav Arora
RCB vs KKR Match Prediction
RCB enter as clear favorites, riding high on their 73% win rate and home advantage at Chinnaswamy. Their batting firepower, led by Virat Kohli (1021 runs vs KKR) and Phil Salt, is tailor-made for the high-scoring venue. Krunal Pandya’s all-round form and Yash Dayal’s pace give them an edge over KKR’s inconsistent batting.
KKR, despite Andre Russell’s resurgence and Varun Chakravarthy’s spin, have struggled for consistency, and their 5-6 record reflects this. The dew factor and RCB’s chasing prowess (evident in their 7-wicket win vs KKR earlier) tilt the scales further. However, KKR’s historical edge at Chinnaswamy and Russell’s potential to turn games keep them in contention.
- Predicted Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (70% chance), unless KKR’s spinners exploit a slowing pitch or Russell produces a game-changing all-round performance. Rain could force a shortened game, favoring the team batting second.
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