RCB’s Virat Kohli, during a practice session ahead of the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
The Indian Premier League is not new to disruptions. Over its 17-year history, two General Election cycles and two waves of the Covid-19 pandemic have thrown schedules asunder, compelled a manic rejigging of the timetables and even forced the event out of the country, lock, stock, and barrel.
In a tightly wound international cricket calendar, where one series literally bleeds into the other, these disturbances can feel like the snapping of a guitar string, rendering many a chord incomplete and the instrument practically useless.
But IPL is also famous for its ‘bouncebackability’, returning with increased might after every such upheaval. On Saturday, when it resumes after a week’s suspension owing to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, the hope is for another glimpse of the resurrection king.
KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi indulge in football ahead of their IPL 2025 T20 match against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on May 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Kolkata Knight Riders clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here marks the beginning of the home stretch of this year’s competition — 13 league-stage contests and four playoff matches, including the final on June 3. And franchises will wish that the bodies haven’t gone too cold, and it doesn’t take much for the athletes to spring back to life.
“It was an unusual few days,” said Mo Bobat, RCB’s director of cricket, on Friday. “First and foremost, it’s good that the conflict has come to an end. And for many of our lads, it was a well-earned rest. They enjoyed getting home, seeing family, even if it was for just a couple of days. Actually, we were saying that the boys have come in with a lot of energy.”
For RCB, if this energy can translate into a solid performance, it can mean the sealing of a playoff berth with two games left. A win for KKR, on the other hand, can keep it afloat. Table-topper Gujarat Titans seems primed for a top-two finish, while third-placed Punjab Kings wouldn’t want to squander a fine opportunity to make a dash for a maiden title.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, in all probability, will fight for the fourth spot while Lucknow Super Giants, like KKR, is on the brink of crashing out. The already eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings would want to use the remaining fixtures to generate some amount of tailwind to propel their campaigns next year.
RCB’s Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya during a practice session ahead of the IPL 2025 T20 match against KKR, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (KSCA), in Bengaluru on May 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
K. Murali Kumar
“There is nothing much to lose from here,” said KKR’s Manish Pandey, on match-eve. With two more games to go, everybody is wanting to perform, especially in a stadium like Chinnaswamy and where RCB fans are [in big numbers]. You want to win against these guys.”
Published – May 16, 2025 08:13 pm IST