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

The much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has officially been called off due to persistent rain. Handshakes between players and officials confirmed the inevitable as weather conditions showed no signs of improvement. Both teams will share a point each, impacting their playoff prospects in different ways.

The rain shows no signs of relenting at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but the broadcast has confirmed a crucial update — the toss must take place by 10:40 PM IST for any possibility of play tonight. As per IPL regulations, the cut-off time to begin a five-over match is 10:56 PM IST. With the weather still grim, hopes for even a shortened contest hang in the balance.

The mood has turned somber at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as the rain refuses to let up. Ashish reports that many fans, having waited for hours with hope, are now beginning to leave the ground as their patience wears thin. With steady rain continuing and no signs of improvement, the chances of any play tonight are looking increasingly bleak.

If rain has the final say in tonight’s IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), both teams will be awarded one point each, as per IPL rules.

For RCB, that would take their tally to 17 points from 12 matches, keeping them firmly in the playoff race. However, they will still need to win at least one of their remaining fixtures—and may rely on net run rate—depending on how other teams fare.

For KKR, a washout would be a massive setback. It would take them to 12 points from 13 matches, leaving them with a maximum of 14 if they win their final game. That would put their playoff hopes on thin ice, as teams with 14 or more points could surpass them based on net run rate.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Bengaluru is under an Orange Alert for wind, with thunder showers and strong winds expected in isolated places over the city and surrounding areas until 11:00 PM IST.

Ominous signs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as the spidercam has been fully covered once again, moments after it was briefly uncovered when the rain appeared to ease. The drizzle continues steadily, dampening hopes of a restart any time soon.

Steady rain persists in Bengaluru, edging closer to the match’s cut-off time. With no sign of clearing skies, the chances of overs being lost or the game being abandoned are rising.

Punjab Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur in the first match, followed by Delhi Capitals clashing with Gujarat Titans. Except for Rajasthan Royals, all teams remain in the playoff hunt.

Yes, it’s still raining steadily. An hour and 35 minutes of playtime have already been lost, leaving little action to look forward to at the moment.

We’ve officially started losing overs now. The rain had nearly stopped at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, raising hopes briefly, but it has returned in full force—dampening both the outfield and the spirits of cricket fans. Stay tuned for further updates.

The rain shows no signs of letting up at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. According to on-ground updates, it poured heavily overnight and has remained persistent through the past week.

While the DJ is doing his best to lift spirits, the atmosphere has gone quiet, with little hope at the moment of play beginning anytime soon.

Persistent rain has disrupted the much-awaited IPL 2025 fixture between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The toss, scheduled for 7:00 PM IST, was delayed due to continuous showers in Bengaluru. IPL officials posted an update on X, confirming the delay and urging fans to stay tuned for further announcements.

Despite the gloomy weather, fans remain hopeful of witnessing at least some cricket tonight. Match officials have outlined key timings that will come into play depending on how long the rain persists and when conditions improve.

Overs will start reducing after 8:45 PM IST, and the cut-off time to begin a five-over-per-side match is 10:56 PM IST.

Andre Russell, in a chat with the host broadcasters, spoke about the break leading up to the RCB vs KKR clash and how it impacted the team. “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,” he said. Reflecting on the unexpected pause, Russell admitted, “It breaks our momentum but we are professionals. We are used to travelling from one country to another and playing the next day, so mentally I know how to switch on and switch off. The last couple of days helped us mentally, and it helped me as an individual to reflect and take a break.”

He added that once practice resumed, it was all about getting the body ready again. “The moment I came to practice two days ago and started hitting, I made sure the body was up and running. It’s all about having a strong mindset. Even if you’re coming off two losses, we are made for this — we look towards the future and think about the next game. We have the mindset to deliver when the team needs us. As a team, we’re up for the challenge.”

Russell also talked about his recent form. “A few games before the break, I found my mojo and started getting opportunities to bat earlier. Once that happens, with batters behind me, I know I can be dangerous. Yesterday in practice, I hit the ball very well — two went out of the park. There might be some rain around, but we’re prepared to play our best cricket. We definitely need these two points tonight and hopefully, we’ll come out with a win.”

The rain has intensified once again at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, forcing a halt to any hopes of immediate resumption. The supersoppers have been called back into action, with the ground staff scrambling to cover the pitch and playing area. Even the umpires, who had earlier stepped out to assess conditions, have retreated, signaling another delay in proceedings.

Down to a mild drizzle now, with no action yet on the field. The PA system is pumping up the crowd as ‘R-C-B’ chants echo around, sounding like vocal warm-ups. Fourth umpire strolling out onto the ground, umbrella down, greeted by cheers from the fans.

Rain continues to pour in Bengaluru, with RCB’s Krunal Pandya and KKR’s Manish Pandey spotted sharing a friendly chat in the stands. Quinton de Kock and other KKR players are also seen waiting patiently for the rain to ease.

People have started returning to their seats, with some RCB chants echoing around. The rain has eased to a light drizzle, but there’s still no activity on the ground. Overs will start getting lost after 8:30 pm, and 10:56 pm is the cutoff time to begin a five-over match.

RCB is firmly focused on clinching their first IPL title in Season 18. A win today will secure their spot in the playoffs, bringing them one step closer to that dream. While their fast bowling attack may pose some challenges in the knockout stages, the team has shown resilience and depth throughout the season. With strong batting performances and a solid overall unit, RCB remains a formidable contender as they aim to maintain their momentum into the playoffs.

Kolkata Knight Riders have turned the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, traditionally the fortress of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, into their hunting ground. Since 2015, KKR have maintained an unblemished record against RCB at this venue, winning all six encounters. Despite the roaring home crowd and familiar conditions favoring the hosts, KKR’s consistency and strong performances have kept them ahead, making Chinnaswamy a challenging place for RCB to secure a win.

Kolkata Knight Riders face near-elimination in IPL 2025, but the team hopes for a late resurgence. Key players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have shown promise recently, and KKR will rely on their performances to secure wins in the final two matches.

KKR’s Bowling Strengths

KKR boasts the best economy rate in IPL 2025 at 7.41, along with the highest dot ball percentage of 35.9%. They also have the lowest boundary percentage, just 13.11%, making them a tough bowling unit.

Varun Chakaravarthy’s Impact

Varun CV has been a key wicket-taker in the middle overs, claiming 10 wickets so far—tied for the second-highest tally alongside Kuldeep Yadav.

RCB’s Death Over Dominance

Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the batting charts in the death overs (16-20) with an impressive scoring rate of 11.97 runs per over, making them the most destructive side in the final stages of the innings.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), currently second with 16 points, could secure their playoff spot with a win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). A victory would also propel them to the top of the table, strengthening their chances of finishing in the top two.

For KKR, the situation is more challenging. They must win both of their remaining matches to reach 15 points and then rely on favourable outcomes in other games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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

Heavy rain continues to pour at Chinnaswamy Stadium, pushing the start time well past schedule. Officials now expect overs to be lost until at least 8:45 PM, with a possible five-over match needing to begin by 10:56 PM to ensure completion.

After the heartbreaking defeat in the 2016 final, RCB went through a tough phase in the next few seasons. However, they bounced back strongly post-pandemic, reaching the playoffs in four of the last five seasons since 2020. This season, they are once again close to securing a playoff spot, with Virat Kohli playing a pivotal role—leading their batting with 505 runs at an impressive strike rate of 143.47.

Light drizzle continues, though less intense than before. While there were large puddles on the outfield earlier, many have now drained thanks to the SubAir system. #icymi, fans wearing white are visible in the stands, showing support following Virat Kohli’s recent Test retirement.

Virat Kohli is closing in on one of the few IPL batting records that still eludes him — the most fifties in the tournament’s history. The RCB star has scored seven half-centuries in 11 matches this season, bringing his career total to 62. With just one more fifty, Kohli will surpass David Warner and claim the top spot. Kohli already leads the IPL with the most fifty-plus scores at 70, ahead of Warner’s 66.

Last season, the powerful opening partnership of Sunil Narine and Phil Salt helped KKR win the title. But after parting ways with Salt, KKR’s 2025 opening stands have struggled, averaging just 19.30 — the lowest among all IPL teams this season. This stark contrast highlights their early-season challenges.

Virat Kohli may be the emotional centrepiece tonight after his surprise Test retirement, but sentiment won’t count once the match begins. Sunil Narine, who has dismissed Kohli four times in 17 T20 innings, could pose a serious threat again—especially with Kohli’s modest strike rate of 105 against him.