Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 16: After a 10-day pause triggered by the India-Pakistan border tensions, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is back with a bang, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in what promises to be a thrilling contest at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. And all eyes will be on Virat Kohli, who steps out for the first time since his emotional retirement from Test cricket.
RCB, placed second on the points table with 16 points from 11 matches, will look to cement their place in the playoffs with a victory. Meanwhile, defending champions KKR are in must-win territory, positioned sixth with 11 points from 12 games, and any slip-up could dash their playoff hopes.
The hosts return with strong momentum, riding a four-match winning streak. Skipper Rajat Patidar, despite a recent finger injury, looked confident in the nets and is expected to lead from the front. The return of foreign stars like Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, and Romario Shepherd has further bolstered the squad.
But the talking point remains Virat Kohli. The 36-year-old, fresh from his retirement announcement, is expected to receive a hero’s welcome, with fans reportedly planning to wear white Test jerseys to honour the batting legend.
Sources close to the team say Kohli has remained intensely focused, showing no signs of slowing down. Saturday's game might just witness a classic Kohli statement innings, with emotions and motivation running high.
RCB will miss Devdutt Padikkal due to injury, with Mayank Agarwal drafted in as his replacement. Josh Hazlewood, a key pacer, remains doubtful due to a shoulder injury, leaving the franchise tight-lipped about his availability.
For KKR, inconsistency with the bat has been their Achilles' heel. Apart from skipper Ajinkya Rahane and young gun Angkrish Raghuvanshi, others like Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell have underperformed.
Compounding their woes is the absence of Moeen Ali, who is down with viral fever and ruled out of the tournament.
Despite this, KKR’s bowling unit — led by Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, and Vaibhav Arora — has shown promise, albeit with some expensive spells.
Pitch Report & Weather Watch
The Chinnaswamy surface, traditionally a batsman’s paradise, has surprisingly aided both pacers and spinners in the ongoing season. With monsoon clouds looming, moisture in the surface might further tilt the balance in favour of bowlers, pushing both teams to rethink strategies.
RCB Squad:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), 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 Squad:
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Luvnith Sisodia, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson.
With emotions, strategy, and stakes peaking, this RCB vs KKR clash is more than just a league game — it’s a test of momentum, legacy, and survival.