RCB vs KKR Highlights, IPL 2025, Bengaluru weather updates: Match called off due to rain in Bengaluru; KKR eliminated

Rain played spoilsport on Saturday, disrupting the much-anticipated resumption of the Indian Premier League 2025. The match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was called off without a ball being bowled, as persistent rain made play impossible.

The washout proved to be a knockout blow for KKR, who were eliminated from the playoff race after being restricted to 12 points from 13 games. They became the fourth team to crash out, following Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

RCB, meanwhile, benefited from the shared points. They moved to the top of the standings with 17 points from 12 matches, edging ahead of Gujarat Titans (16 points from 11 games), who face Delhi Capitals in Delhi on Sunday.

The relentless rain has had the final word, forcing the match to be called off without even a toss.

Fans were eagerly awaiting a high-voltage clash as the IPL 2025 resumed after a 10-day break, but the weather had other plans.

Both teams walk away with a point each. RCB, now at the top of the table with 17 points, have strengthened their push for a playoff spot. If either DC or PBKS lose on Sunday, RCB will officially seal qualification.

As for KKR, the defending champions' campaign comes to an end with this no result, knocking them out of the playoff race.

The rain shows no signs of easing. The umpires and officials are on the field with umbrellas, so not a good sign.

According to the broadcast, the toss must take place by 10:40 PM for any chance of play. The absolute cut-off to begin a five-over match remains 10:56 PM.

A few fans have begun leaving the stadium as the rain continues unabated. It has been a persistent drizzle throughout the day, and an official call-off seems imminent.

* KKR Eliminated

RCB’s Path to Playoffs:

RCB will be eliminated only in a very specific scenario—assuming no more washouts. If they finish with 17 points, they can still miss out only if: GT and MI both end up with 18 or more points (GT need at least 18).

A three-way tie occurs involving RCB, PBKS, and DC, taking qualification down to Net Run Rate (NRR).

For this to happen: PBKS and DC must win their next matches. DC must beat PBKS. MI must win both of their remaining games.

Currently, RCB hold the best NRR among these teams, though the margin isn't large.

Simpler Route: If either PBKS or DC lose tomorrow, RCB will officially qualify.

It's still raining in Bengaluru. Looks like the window for a 5-over-a-side contest is closing fast now. The ground staff will need at least an hour to get the field match-ready after the rain completely stops.

The cut-off time for the 5-over match is 10:56 pm, so, ideally the rain has to stop by around 9:55 pm, that's just 10 minutes away from now.

Ominous signs at the ground — the spidercam has been fully covered again after a brief spell uncovered when the rain seemed to ease.

The drizzle continues steadily for now.

The rain continues to fall steadily. It has to stop completely before 10 pm to give ground staff time to make the field match-ready for a 5-over contest as the cutoff time is 10:56 pm for it.

Bengaluru experienced heavy showers overnight, and consistent rainfall has been a regular feature throughout the past week.

The rain has intensified again. The super soppers, ground staff, and umpires are back off the field, and we have started losing overs now.

Persistent rain has overshadowed the highly anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium today.

The toss, originally scheduled for the 7 PM, has been delayed as heavy showers continue across Bengaluru.

IPL officials confirmed the delay on X, stating, “Update: The toss has been delayed due to rain in Bengaluru. Stay tuned for further updates.”

While fans remain hopeful for some cricket tonight, match officials have set crucial timings to determine how much play can take place once the rain subsides.

Good news from the Chinnaswamy Stadium — the rain has stopped, and the umpires along with match officials are out on the field for an inspection.

The covers are coming off and the super soppers are out, ready to do what they do best and get the ground match-ready.

The rain has eased to a light drizzle, and the crowd has come alive with chants of 'RCB... RCB' echoing through the stadium.

The rain has eased to a drizzle, but for any hope of a toss or start, it needs to stop completely.

The rain has intensified in Bengaluru, but there’s still time before overs start getting reduced — that process begins at 8:45 PM.

The cut-off time to start a five-over match is 10:56 PM, so there's a decent window left for some play if the weather clears up in time.

The live visuals from Bengaluru are far from encouraging — it's currently pouring heavily. Players from both teams are seen mingling around, waiting for the rain to subside.

A quick reminder: a shared point won’t hurt RCB too much, as they need just two more points from their remaining three games to secure a playoff spot. But for KKR, it could be a knockout blow. A washout would leave them with just 12 points and only one game left to play.

It’s still raining in Bengaluru, and as expected, the toss has been delayed.

The silver lining is the excellent drainage infrastructure at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which could allow play to begin within an hour of the rain stopping.

"Feeling good, haven't played since a while. Pretty excited to be back. It (power-hitting) is not the thing, I try first during my practice sessions. More than anything else, it's the basics of batting. I am making sure I am aligned and hitting the ball where it comes from. Definitely one of those things I do regularly, in every training session. Just try to stay on top of it. The enjoyment's in everything it takes to get there. I always think back to moments like these (when I do well in the training session). I always think about the basics I have put in before I go into a game. It's all about discipline. There's a sea of people here at the Chinnaswamy, you see it when you come through, we got unbelievable home support here. Every game we have that must-win mentality. It's pretty infectious what comes from the fan base. It's a case of winning three more in the group stages and see where we end up from there. We have not spoken much about it (Virat Kohli's Test retirement), Virat isn't someone to speak about it (at this moment.) It's all about the playoffs and group stages, that's the focus." - RCB's Phil Salt

"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. It breaks our momentum but we are professionals but we are used to play the next day so mentally I know how to switch on and to switch off for the last couple of days, it helps us mentally and it helps me as an individual to reflect and take a break. But, the moment I came to practice two days ago and start hitting and making sure the body is up and running again, it has to do with a strong mindset. It’s easy when you have the mindset, you might be coming off two losses, we are made for this, we look about the future and think about the next game coming up. We have the mindset to be on the par when the team needs us, we as a team are up for the challenge. A few games before the break, I find my mojo and I have been getting opportunities to bat a bit earlier and once I bat earlier, with the batters behind coming me, I know I can be dangerous. Yesterday in practice, I hit the ball very well, I hit two out of the park. There might be some rain around but we are prepared to play our best cricket, we need the two points and hopefully, we will come out with a win tonight." - KKR's Andre Russell

"68 meters on one side, 62 on the other and 74 meters down the ground. Early in the tournament, fast bowlers were having a field day here. But this pitch looks like a batting paradise. Very very little moisture. It looks dry in general but it is sealed and beautiful. Expect runs to flow. (The pitch report was done before it started raining and the covers came on)." - Ian Bishop and Aaron Finch

Not a good sign at the moment. With just 20 minutes left to the toss, it is pouring down heavily in Bengaluru. The pitch and inner circle are under the covers. A delayed start and toss on the card for sure. (Pic credit: X)

Pic credit: AccuWeather

If rain disrupts the much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru, it could have significant consequences—particularly for KKR.

As per IPL regulations, if a league-stage match is abandoned without a result due to rain, both teams are awarded one point each. There is no reserve day for league matches, and even the toss isn't required for points to be shared.

For RCB, a washout wouldn’t be too damaging. Currently placed second on the table with 16 points from 11 matches, an additional point would take them to 17—bringing them even closer to sealing a playoff berth.

The IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders, scheduled for today evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, faces a strong threat of disruption due to forecasted heavy rainfall in Bengaluru. Weather models indicate a steady increase in rain probability throughout the day, peaking around the scheduled toss time at 7 PM.

Bengaluru and nearby regions in Karnataka have already been affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in recent days. According to forecasts, there is a 25% chance of rain at 1 PM, rising to 58% by 5 PM.

The rain threat intensifies at 7 PM with a peak probability of 71% — precisely when the toss is scheduled. However, the chances begin to taper off later in the evening, dropping to 49% by 9 PM and further down to 34% as the night progresses.

Despite the gloomy forecast, there is hope. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts one of the best drainage systems in the country, complemented by an efficient ground crew. If the weather permits, these facilities could play a crucial role in salvaging play from a rain-affected evening.

The IPL resumes on Saturday after a 10-day break caused by India-Pakistan border tensions, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a crucial clash at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB, second on the table with 16 points from 11 matches, need a win to secure a playoff berth, while sixth-placed KKR must win to keep their knockout hopes alive. The break disrupted both teams’ momentum — RCB were on a four-match winning streak, while KKR had won two of their last three.

RCB appear better equipped to handle the restart, with skipper Rajat Patidar returning to nets after a finger injury and key overseas players like Phil Salt, Tim David, and Liam Livingstone back in the squad. However, injuries to Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Hazlewood remain concerns.

The spotlight will be on Virat Kohli following his sudden Test retirement. Fans are expected to show support by wearing whites, though Kohli will rely on inner fire to deliver a strong performance.

KKR's struggles lie in inconsistent batting, with only Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi showing form. While their bowling unit has held firm, the absence of Moeen Ali due to illness adds to their challenges.

For KKR, a washout could be disastrous, leaving them with only a maximum of 14 points, which is unlikely to secure playoff qualification. This wouldn’t be their first encounter with weather disruption — a previous game against PBKS was also abandoned.

RCB, on the other hand, remain in a stronger position, even if points are shared.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium’s excellent drainage provides hope for quick resumption if rain halts play.

However, the broader concern is that more IPL games could be impacted, with Bengaluru hosting another match on May 23, Mumbai facing unpredictable weather for the MI vs DC game on May 21, and Kolkata, the venue for Qualifier 2 and the final, facing the approaching monsoon in early June.

Due to the looming threat of rain, both teams modified their training sessions.

RCB trained earlier in the day on Friday — from 2 pm to 5 pm — with their Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, stating the move was prompted by the uncertain weather.

KKR began their practice at 5 pm but had to cut it short within 90 minutes.

While Bobat acknowledged that weather plays on their minds, he emphasised staying relaxed and adaptable, saying, “If the game’s rain-affected, it’s rain-affected... We don’t overthink those things.”

The IPL 2025 encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scheduled for today in Bengaluru, is under a serious rain threat.

According to weather forecast, heavy showers and thunderstorms, possibly intense, are expected from afternoon into the evening. The IMD has echoed similar predictions of evening rain or thundershowers, raising concerns over the match’s smooth conduct.

Bengaluru has already seen a wet week, with consistent rainfall, including heavy downpours late into Friday night.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Luvnith Sisodia, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson.

Traditionally known for high-scoring matches, the Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch has thrown a few surprises this season. Bowlers, both pacers and spinners, have extracted bounce and grip — something unusual for this venue.

However, the break in play and monsoon’s early arrival could alter the pitch’s nature. Moisture retention or fresh grass might create an unpredictable surface, prompting teams to be flexible in their approach.

While RCB’s pace-heavy squad may relish any assistance, KKR’s spin arsenal would also welcome grip. With uncertainties around pitch behavior post-break, both teams will have to assess conditions quickly and adapt, making the toss and team composition crucial.

Kolkata Knight Riders have had an inconsistent campaign, particularly in the batting department. Apart from captain Ajinkya Rahane and youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi, no batter has produced regular runs. The form of Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh has been patchy, leaving KKR with fragile top and middle-order performances.

However, their bowling unit has fared relatively better. The quartet of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana has shown potential, albeit with occasional lapses in discipline. The absence of Moeen Ali, ruled out due to viral fever, adds another blow to their balance — especially on a pitch where spinners have been effective.

All eyes will be on Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, sending shockwaves through the cricketing world.

Fans are planning tributes, including donning whites at the stadium to honour his illustrious red-ball career. Despite the emotional farewell, Kohli’s passion remains undiminished. Known for his fierce competitiveness, the 36-year-old will look to channel the emotions of retirement into a meaningful performance.

Facing a struggling KKR, Kohli might see this as the perfect opportunity to deliver a statement knock. Regardless of the occasion, he remains the emotional anchor and crowd-puller for RCB, and his presence adds a special edge to the clash.

Before the pause, RCB had built a strong winning momentum with four consecutive victories, and they appear better positioned to resume with purpose. Their captain Rajat Patidar, who had been nursing a finger injury, was seen batting comfortably in the nets — an encouraging sign for the home side.

Furthermore, RCB’s overseas squad has largely returned, with key names like Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, and Romario Shepherd all available.

However, the absence of Devdutt Padikkal due to injury and uncertainty over pacer Josh Hazlewood’s shoulder issue remain concerns. RCB hope Mayank Agarwal, replacing Padikkal, can make an impact at the top.

The IPL resumes today after a 9-day suspension due to India-Pakistan border tensions, bringing with it a sense of renewed purpose and anticipation.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high-stakes encounter at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The abrupt break has disrupted rhythm and momentum, forcing teams to recalibrate quickly.

RCB, second on the points table with 16 points from 11 matches, are just one win away from sealing a playoff berth. KKR, on the other hand, are in a more desperate position, sitting sixth with 11 points from 12 games. A loss here could effectively eliminate the defending champions from knockout contention.