The IPL 2025 is getting ready to restart, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders will face off on Saturday night (May 17), the first game of the IPL 2025 after the tournament suspension amid tension between India and Pakistan. RCB legend Virat Kohli and KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane's old bonding was seen before their upcoming second meeting of the IPL 2025.

The IPL 2025 will restart from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) with the 58th match, RCB vs KKR. Before their upcoming meeting, a KKR published video, captioned "The TATA IPL 2025 action is back", showed that the bonding of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane is still very strong. They were strong batting partners in Test cricket, as Kohli recorded his successful partnerships in Test cricket with Rahane. Both enjoyed their partnerships in Test cricket very well, as they were the best Test partners for each other. 

Virat Kohli-Ajinkya Rahane special bond in Test cricket

Kohli-Rahane recorded 3661 partnership runs in 67 Test innings, including 10 century partnerships and 27 50+ partnerships. They also recorded three 200+ partnerships in Test cricket, including India's highest fourth wicket partnership in Test cricket with 365 runs against New Zealand during the 2016 Indore Test (India's fifth highest Test partnership for any wicket). 

The #TATAIPL2025 action is back!

📌 Location: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/1OitOOMd41

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 15, 2025

See Also: IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians sign in Sri Lankan all rounder for remainder of tournament

IPL 2025 started with the KKR vs RCB match

Interestingly, the IPL 2025 started with the match between KKR and RCB at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Although KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane scored a strong half-century (56), Krunal Pandya's impressive bowling (3/29), and the RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli's powerful starts thrashed the defending champions and the hosts by seven wickets. While Salt scored 56 runs, Kohli scored 59 not out. 

RCB are in the second position in the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points after 11 matches (eight wins and three losses), only behind Gujarat Titans in net run rate. They are not only favourites for the Playoffs, but they are also favourites to finish in the top two places in the points table. 

Meanwhile, the defending champions KKR are fighting to secure their place in the Playoffs this season. They are currently in the sixth position with 11 points after 12 games (five wins, six losses, and one no result). So, all the remaining two matches are KKR's must-win games, as they can't afford any more hiccups. 

RCB vs KKR: Foreign players' availability 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will have their major overseas players like Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Lungi Ngidi, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, and Phil Salt. However, Bethell will return to England after their two upcoming matches. Romario Shepherd and Lungi Ngidi's availability periods are also under question. Although there is no official announcement yet, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is also ready to return to the RCB squad, but no confirmation for his presence during the match against KKR.  

Meanwhile, KKR's foreign players' list is unaffected in the IPL 2025 rescheduling, except for the medical issues. So, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Spencer Johnson are ready to serve for the defending champions in the remaining schedules. Only Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell couldn't join the squad due to medical issues.