IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Preview: Head-to-Head, Pitch Report, Probable XIs, Fantasy Picks And Prediction. After the week-long interruption caused by growing Indo-Pak tensions that led to a temporary suspension of the 2025 IPL, cricket lovers can now breathe again as the league resumes with Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus the Kolkata Knight Riders at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, starting at 7:30 PM IST on May 17, 2025. This crucial fixture comes into being with playoff spots on the line for either side, thus providing a high-voltage atmosphere. RCB, who I believe will, at the very least, want to continue that streak of wins in front of their home crowd, versus a KKR team that stands on the precipice of the points table and would want a win to keep the faint hope alive.
Match Details
Date: 17th May, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Streaming Details: Star Sports Network and JioHotstar
Also Read: Virat Kohli’s Top 5 Memorable Test Innings: A Legacy In Whites
Head-to-Head Record
Total Matches Played: 35
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Wins: 15
Kolkata Knight Riders Wins: 20
Last Match: RCB beat KKR by 7 wickets.
Pitch Report – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch is traditionally known for the batsmen, with short and fast outfields. Batsmen will be rewarded for their strokes, especially during the powerplay overs. But as the match goes on, the wickets will begin to slow down and assist the spinners. The average first innings score at this venue is around 185, suggesting that any total in that range could well be a winning one.
Weather in Bengaluru: The weather forecast for Bengaluru on match day is showing a slight chance of showers, as temperatures hover around 27°C with the humidity also on the higher side. A rain interruption might just play a crucial role in the outcome.
IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Probable Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Krunal Pandya, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Introduces Temporary Replacement Rule For Final Phase
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje.
Top Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Jitesh Sharma
Batters: Rajat Patidar, Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Virat Kohli
All Rounders: Andre Russell, Krunal Pandya, Sunil Narine
Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Yash Dayal
IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Match Prediction
RCB is currently in good form, and it has a home ground advantage, so the outfit is here to take this as a favourite. However, KKR would want to keep their playoff hopes alive, so it could end up being a closely contested clash. Weather interruptions might just play a crucial role in the outcome.
Prediction: RCB will win this match.
Streaming & Broadcast Details
TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
