IPL 2025, RCB vs KKR Highlights: Match called off, Kolkata Knight Riders knocked out

Now we did say earlier that the cut-off time for a 5-over match to take place is 10.56pm IST. But for all means and purposes, the cut-off time really is 10.40pm because that is the latest a toss for said 5-over match can take place. We are very, very close to that time, just over 20 minutes away in fact. KKR's fate getting clearer by the minute. 

The big talking point if the points are shared today is that KKR's race will be run. They will be knocked out of contention for the playoffs this season. RCB, on the other hand, will have a foot and a half on the first playoff spot. If either Punjab Kings or Delhi Capitals lose tomorrow, RCB will become the first team to have a confirmed spot in the playoffs this season. In fact, it will be highly improbable for RCB to miss out on a playoff spot at all if they avoid defeat today. 

Just a reminder, the cut-off time for a 5-over match is 10.56pm, which is a couple of minutes under an hour away. We are starting to run out of time and if a game does happen today, it will quite the rapid dash. 

He didn't have the greatest of seasons last year but B Sai Sudharsan didn't let that bring him down. Instead, he used that as a database to use as he plotted his plan for this season. And boy, hasn't he bounced back. He has been striking at 153.31, 12 more than last season and 10 more than his career strike-rate. And the best part of all it has been that he has been able to do it without deviating from his game and not compromising on his compact technique. He spoke about how he turned it all around with our very own Venkata Krishna B and you can read that interview here. 

He has been making a splash in his first season with RCB but yesterday, Tim David did that literally. The rain that has prevented this match from happening thus far today also played spoilsport during the team's practice sessions yesterday. However, David traded his training kit for swimming trunks and well, you can see the rest for yourself. 

And it is that ...*drumrolls*... it is still raining! Yes, the ground is glistening with water, as is the cover on the main square and the puddles that have collected on it and on the outfield. The broadcast has resorted to showing the part of RCB podcast in which Virat Kohli speaks about his early days with the franchise. We started to lose overs about 45 minutes ago. 

Well just when activity started ramping up on the ground, the rain picked right back up. Off go the officials and the super soppers. Up go the umbrellas in the lower tiers. 

Fans at the stadium are cheering like a six has been hit. The covers are very much uin place but we can see about three super soppers going around them.

The fans have found their voices here as the rain goes down to a slight drizzle. The players are still very kmuch in the dressing room in their training kits but we can see officials taking a ginger walk out there. They either have folded umbrellas in their hands or none at all. 

Andre Russell had a chat with the host broadcasters where he spoke about the unexpected break that ends with this game, if it does take place that is. Here is what he said in the interview: "It’s a very good feeling to be a part of this amazing tournament and quick turnaround for us after a week or so, we are here, excited to play some games. (On the break before the restart) It breaks our momentum but we are professionals and we are used to travelling from one country to another and we are used to play the next day so mentally I know how to switch on and to switch off for the last couple of days, it helps us mentally and it helps me as an individual to reflect and take a break. But, the moment I came to practice two days ago and start hitting and making sure the body is up and running again, it has to do with a strong mindset. It’s easy when you have the mindset, you might be coming off two losses, we are made for this, we look towards the future and think about the next game coming up. We have the mindset to be on the par when the team needs us, we as a team are up for the challenge. A few games before the break, I find my mojo and I have been getting opportunities to bat a bit earlier and once I bat earlier, with the batters behind coming me, I know I can be dangerous. Yesterday in practice, I hit the ball very well, I hit two out of the park. There might be some rain around but we are prepared to play our best cricket, we definitely need these two points tonight and hopefully, we will come out with a win tonight."

Virat Kohli came very close to playing a match for Surrey many moons ago. That was to prepare for the 2018 series in England in which he ended up smashing nearly 600 runs but he could never play for the County side before that due to a neck injury. Now, his Test career is done but Middlesex (who play at Lord's) are interested in having a conversation with the India great about maybe having a go at the county championship or the one-day cup. Will Kohli do a Sangakkara? Only time will tell. 

There is still just under an hour to go for that. We start losing overs from 8.45pm IST. The cut-off for a five-over match is 10.56pm. Strap in, we are set for a long wait tonight. 

Oh well, that slight decrease was only a false dawn after all. It is absolutely pouring now at the Chinnaswamy. More puddles on the covers and the outfield. We can see a lot of fans in whites in the stands with Kohli or Rohit's names painted on the back. Most of them are sitting with expressions that reflect different degrees of frustration. 

But it is still around. One can sense a feeling of hope going around in the stadium now. People are gingerly making their way to the seats on the lower decks, tissues and towels at the ready to wipe of their seats. 

Aaron Finch and Ian Bishop were on the pitch report today for the host broadcasters. The dimensions are 68 meters on one side, 62 on the other and 74 meters down the ground. They furher said that this pitch is looking like a batting paradise, as opposed to what was the case earlier in the tournament when fast bowlers were having a field day. Very very little moisture. It looks dry in general but it is sealed and beautiful. Expect runs to flow. 

It is confirmed now. Images on the broadcast shows puddles everywhere - on the covers, in the outfield, beyond the boundary and before the stands, even on the seats. Absolutely no update to be seen for miles around on when there could be a resumption as the rain is still pelting unabated on the stadium.

(Pic credit: By special arrangement)(Pic credit: By special arrangement)Tribute white shirts with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's names on the back are on high demand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium today. No surprises there of course. In case you missed it, the two stalwarts of Indian cricket announced their Test retirements within few days of each other this month.

And well, RCB have not made a similar post but surely they feel the same way. It is the first match after quite an unexpected break and all the players would want would be to get out there and do what they do best. 

Fans have evacuated the lower stands that are uncovered and there are big puddles forming on the covers. Some on the outfield as well. We are still about half an hour away from the toss but it seems quite obvious now that we will have to wait longer for it. 

It is not looking good at all in Bengaluru. There are rivers in the streets and the covers are firmly in place at the Chinnaswamy. Hardly any activity at all at the ground with about 45 minutes to go for the toss. Surely the game is going to be delayed but keep the thoughts of a washout on hold considering just how good the drainage system is at this venue. 

And that is largely because KKR have won four of the last five matches played between these two sides. Overall, they lead 20-15. At the Chinnaswamy, KKR have won eight out of 12 games. 

Now this may be a special occassion for Virat Kohli, what with this being the first game he is playing after bringing the curtains down on his glorious Test career. But he would know far more than anyone else that once the match starts, the opposition won't care too much about all that. They will be trying to dismiss him as quickly as possible and Sunil Narine could have a thing or two to say in that department. Kohli has fallen four times in 17 innings to Narine and strikes at just 105. 

RCB have had a far, far better season thus far than KKR. This is quite obvious when one takes a look at the league table, with RCB sitting as many as five points ahead of KKR. Strangely though, the two sides have had similar levels of success in the death overs. RCB concede just 10.20 runs an over in this phase of games, which is joint-best with MI. KKR are just a nudge behind, conceding 10.30.

RCB vs KKR live score: The destructive opening stands between Sunil Narine and Phil Salt was a big factor in KKR clinching the title last season. Then, they chose to let go of Salt and now, their opening record for the 2025 season stands in stark contrast to the fortunes they reaped last year. KKR's opening stand averages just 19.30 this season, the lowest among all teams. 

There are few batting records in the IPL that don't belong to Virat Kohli, among which is the one for most fifties in the history of the tournament. But the RCB veteran has been chipping away at that record at quite a rate this season, scoring seven half-centuries in 11 matches to take his career tally to 62. One more and he will overtake David Warner to become the player with most fifties in the IPL. He already holds the record for most fifty-plus scores - Kohli has 70 and Warner sits second with 66. 

Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru share a long and enduring bond in the IPL, marked by stability and dependability. Despite a stellar career, the IPL title remains elusive for Kohli, with past final defeats, especially in 2016, causing significant heartbreak. After a period of struggle, RCB has revived, reaching the playoffs consistently, with Kohli remaining their key player and top scorer. Interestingly, Kohli's association with RCB was somewhat accidental; Delhi Daredevils surprisingly overlooked him in the initial draft, allowing RCB to quickly seize the opportunity. For Kohli, now freed from significant international duties, winning the IPL with RCB is a major remaining ambition, and his recent exceptional form provides a strong possibility of achieving this long-cherished goal.

The surprising way Virat Kohli ended up playing for RCB. During the inaugural IPL draft in Kuala Lumpur, while other U-19 players received their team assignments via text message, RCB's management was puzzled as to why Delhi Daredevils, Kohli's local team, didn't pick him despite him being the U-19 captain. This unexpected oversight from Delhi led to Kohli being available for RCB to select in the U-19 draft, a decision that shocked the other franchises.

The weather is expected to be unfavorable with a couple of thunderstorms predicted. The temperature will range from a high of 31 degrees Celsius to a low of 21 degrees Celsius.

Since stepping down from captaincy, the IPL has become a liberating platform for Virat Kohli, allowing him to express his natural, creative, and aggressive batting style. In his recent resurgence over the last three seasons, he has been exceptionally influential, scoring heavily and at a rapid pace (1885 runs at an average of 59.3 and a strike rate of 146). This remarkable form presents a strong opportunity for him to finally achieve his long-sought-after first IPL title.

RCB's journey after the painful 2016 final loss. They experienced a downturn in the following seasons but rebounded after the pandemic, making the playoffs in four out of five seasons starting from 2020. Currently, they are on the verge of securing a playoff spot this season, and Virat Kohli continues to be central to their success, leading their run-scoring with 505 runs at a strike rate of 143.47.

Virat Kohli's longing for an IPL title, the only significant achievement missing in his career. He has experienced the pain of losing three finals with RCB, particularly the 2016 defeat at home by a narrow margin, which continues to be a painful memory despite his phenomenal personal performance that season.

Virat Kohli and RCB share a long-standing, stable, and dependable relationship in the IPL. With Kohli's reduced international commitments, he is now fully dedicated to RCB. Winning the IPL is portrayed as a significant remaining goal in his illustrious career.

“However, he is playing ‘Virat’ knocks now. He is already in the Orange Cap race, and Virat knows how to play him. He is also playing the sweep now. Along with the paddle sweep, he is also playing the slog sweep. He is reading the bowlers well from their hands. It will be important for Virat to look to dominate a little,” 

“Virat Kohli is the swami at the Chinnaswamy. He won’t be able to dismiss Virat now because he is playing in rhythm. The record you are talking about his four dismissals in 18 years, he might have gotten stuck somewhere,” 

The weather is expected to be unfavorable with a couple of thunderstorms predicted. The temperature will range from a high of 31 degrees Celsius to a low of 21 degrees Celsius.

The Bengaluru pitch generally favors batting, although bowlers might get some early seam movement. The wicket can be a bit inconsistent in pace. However, batting becomes easier in the evening, giving an edge to teams bowling first. If the opening batsmen can handle the new ball in the first innings, the pitch becomes excellent for batting, allowing teams to put up good scores even when batting first.

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell/Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam/Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey/Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Varun CV, Harshit Rana

"Virat's just business as usual, as he always is. There's enough of the public and the nation's attention on him, he doesn't want any more of that. He just wants to get on with his business. He's usually ambitious about what we can achieve this year with RCB and that's what he does." 

"I just think last time [in 2024] we were winning games, we won a lot of games which is very important in a tournament like IPL. This time we were winning one, we were losing one. The whole tournament has been like that." 

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Mayank Markande, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Spencer Johnson, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Rovman Powell, Chetan Sakariya

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Philip Salt, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Josh Hazlewood

Hello and welcome to our liveblog of the Indian Premier League 2025, which is a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. We have had an unforeseen break due to the geopolitical conditions between India and Pakistan. The teams had an opportunity to reset and revise their plans, at least those in contention for playoffs. We do have exciting times coming up, do stay with us for all the updates.