Spotlight on Kohli as RCB host KKR to secure playoffs spot

After a 10-day pause triggered by military tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to roar back to life this Saturday.

And it does so with a blockbuster clash in Bengaluru — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — where the spotlight will undeniably shine brightest on one man: Virat Kohli.

The former India captain, who stunned fans earlier this week by announcing his retirement from Test cricket, is expected to be the emotional centrepiece at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Fans have responded in kind, planning to don white jerseys in tribute to Kohli’s storied red-ball career. But if history is any indicator, Kohli will be focused more on runs than reverence. And with RCB poised for a playoff berth, the 36-year-old might be ready to pen a new chapter in his T20 legacy.

Before the break, RCB had surged to second in the standings with 16 points from 11 matches, riding on a four-match winning streak. A victory on Saturday could all but seal their place in the playoffs, and they appear well-equipped to resume from where they left off.

The return of foreign stars such as Phil Salt, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, and Lungi Ngidi has come as a massive boost. Skipper Rajat Patidar, who had suffered a finger injury against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), was seen batting fluently in the nets — a reassuring sign for the think tank.

One concern remains: the absence of Devdutt Padikkal due to injury. Mayank Agarwal, who has been slotted in as his replacement, will have a big role to play at the top. Meanwhile, the status of Josh Hazlewood remains uncertain owing to a shoulder issue.

But even without a full-strength XI, RCB’s core group is showing signs of cohesion and confidence. And with Kohli potentially inspired by his Test farewell, KKR could be in for a long evening.

For the defending champions, the equation is simple — win or risk elimination. KKR currently sit sixth on the points table with 11 points from 12 matches. A loss on Saturday could effectively end their hopes of a playoff berth.

Their form before the break was patchy — two wins in three games — and concerns remain around whether they can rediscover the intensity needed for this crunch clash. Batting has been their Achilles’ heel this season. While Ajinkya Rahane and youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi have shown some fight, others like Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell have struggled for consistency.

Compounding their woes is the absence of Moeen Ali, ruled out due to viral fever, leaving a gap in both the middle order and the spin department. Their bowling, though, has offered some hope. The likes of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana have kept the side competitive, even if runs have occasionally leaked.

However, whether this bowling group can tame an RCB batting line-up that boasts Kohli, Salt, Livingstone, and David remains to be seen.

Starc opts out of return to IPL: Australia pacer Mitchell Starc is among the foreign players who will not return when the IPL resumes this weekend, while England batter Jos Buttler will miss the playoffs because of the rescheduling.

Starc has informed the Delhi Capitals that he will not be back for the rest of the season. Buttler, meanwhile, is set to leave the table-topping Gujarat Titans after the league stage has been completed to play for England against West Indies in a white-ball series from May 29.

The Capitals are currently fifth in the table with 13 points from 11 games and still in the running for a spot in the knockout rounds. The 35-year-old Starc has been crucial to their season, picking 14 wickets at an average 27.79 in 11 games.

Delhi’s attacking opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who only managed 55 runs in six outings, will also not return. Both Starc and Fraser-McGurk played in the Capitals’ match against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on May 8, which was abandoned in the first innings due to a security blackout in northwestern India.

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been brought in to replace Fraser-McGurk.

Buttler has scored 500 runs in 11 games for the Titans, including five half-centuries, and is the fifth-highest run-getter this season. The Titans have signed Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis as Buttler’s replacement for the knockouts.

Agencies