Match Preview Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to dominate the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), they both teams will face off for the second time in the season at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru as the IPL comeback after a week break. Royal Challengers Bengaluru The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are poised to solidify their playoff position in IPL 2025 as they face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With 16 points from 11 matches, a win would not only secure their spot in the playoffs but also enhance their chances for a top-two finish. RCB's batting lineup, led by Virat Kohli, who has amassed 505 runs at an average of 63.13, has been instrumental in their success. However, the absence of left-handed batters could be a tactical disadvantage against KKR's spin attack . Additionally, weather forecasts predict a 65% chance of rain, which could impact the match outcome . Kolkata Knight Riders For the Kolkata Knight Riders, this match is critical to keep their playoff hopes alive. With 11 points from 12 matches, a victory is essential to remain in contention. KKR's bowling, spearheaded by Varun Chakaravarthy, who has taken 17 wickets with an economy rate of 7, will be key to their strategy . The team aims to exploit RCB's lineup lacking left-handed batters, potentially giving their spinners an edge. However, they must also contend with the possibility of rain disrupting the match . RCB vs KKR - Match Details RCB vs KKR Match Details Venue M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru Date and Time 17 May 7:30 PM IST Live Broadcast Details Star Sports Live Streaming Details JioHotstar (app and website) Pitch Report The surface at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for being batting friendly. However, the conditions at this venue in this season appears to be like the 2017 season. The track was under covers since two days and hence, a slow track is expected for this game as well, just like the past matches at this venue in this season. RCB vs RR - Head-to-Head Record H2H Records - RCB vs KKR in IPL Total Matches 35 Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru 15 Won by Kolkata Knight Riders 20 Tied 0 No Result 0 RCB vs RR - Probable Playing XI Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma (Impact Subs: Mayank Agarwal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh) Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Anrich Nortje (Impact Subs: Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande) Toss Prediction Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue In the last 5 IPL matches at this venue, the toss-winning teams had decided to bowl first in all 5 matches. Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch Out of last 81 IPL matches played at this venue, the batting first teams have registered 34 wins to their name while the fielding first sides have registered 44 victories. So, chasing at this ground would be a good option as the pitch gets easier for the batters in the 2nd innings. It will be fair to say that fielding first teams have more advantage as compared to batting first. Match Scenario Scenario 1 Toss Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (opts to bowl first) Power-Play Score: 45-50 KKR Total: 165-185 Match Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Scenario 2 Toss Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders (opts to bowl first) Power-Play Score: 55-65 RCB Total: 190-205 Match Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Who will win the match between RCB vs KKR? KKR have historically dominated over RCB, but considering the recent performances of both the teams, it is likely that Royal Challengers Bengaluru will emerge victorious.