IPL 2025: Spotlight on Virat Kohli as RCB face KKR at Chinnaswamy

BENGALURU: Although it’s been only a little over a week since the IPL came to a sudden halt in the wake of Operation Sindoor, much has changed in the world of cricket. Virat Kohli has called time on his Test career, several overseas players have returned home and some have decided not to return. The game, though, must go on and the lights, which dramatically went out midway through Punjab Kings’ innings in Dharamshala against Delhi Capitals on May 8, will glow at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday night. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will restart the league by hosting defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and a win will confirm the home team’s place in the playoffs. There is much at stake for KKR too, as two points will keep them in contention for a spot in the next stage. Focus on Kohli: Despite the high stakes, the focus will firmly be on one man — Kohli. His decision to quit Test cricket has shocked his legion of fans, who plan a tribute to him by turning up at the stadium in whites, rather than the RCB jersey. It is stating the obvious that as always, the loudest cheers in the stadium will be reserved for the man who dons the No. 18 jersey. This time, it could be louder, if that were possible. Rain pain: Both teams will have an eye on the sky since rain is forecast. The weather has already impacted one game at the venue — RCB lost a truncated fixture to Punjab last month. Over the past week, it has been raining daily around match time and chances are much of this game too would be interrupted, if not washed out completely. A downpour could well douse KKR hopes. Team combination: In much relief in the RCB camp, skipper Rajat Patidar worked out in the nets on Thursday. The middle-order batter suffered a right ring-finger injury and was deemed a doubtful starter, but the Madhya Pradesh batter cleared the air with an extended net session. But RCB will miss the services of key pacer Josh Hazlewood, who suffered a shoulder niggle earlier in the month and hasn’t returned from Australia after the break. RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat chose to be non-committal about Patidar’s availability. “He [Patidar] suffered an injury to his hand. He’s been building up ever so slowly,” Bobat remarked. “For him personally, probably the disruption gave him a few more days just to get through some of that early healing, for the swelling to go down and to get used to picking up again. He’s practiced the last few days and he’s going well.” In the event of Patidar not being available, Jitesh Sharma is expected to lead the side. On Hazlewood’s availability, Bobat stated, “He’s recovering from his shoulder niggle and doing that with Cricket Australia. The medical teams have been liaising on what that detail looks like. He’s just taking that day-by-day.”