When fans and critics marked Shardul Thakur as one of the possible reasons behind India's loss in the first innings against England, Ajinkya Rahane, the former skipper, showed lots of trust in the all-rounder. The experienced batter discussed the outcomes from the Headingley Test in his YouTube episode.

Captain Shubman Gill utilized Shardul in very limited overs. Here, Rahane wants some updates. Showing faith in Shardul, Rahane described him as the wicket-taking bowler who can swing the ball in both ways and has the ability to deliver the new Duke ball as well. So, Rahane would like to see Thakur pairing up with Mohammed Siraj or Jasprit Bumrah.

"I feel an all-rounder's role is very important. Shardul Thakur has been an experienced player and has done well in Test cricket overseas. I want to see more overs from Shardul. If the Indian team can use Shardul Thakur in a better way, that will be great. Whatever I have seen with him, he can swing the ball both ways and is a wicket-taker. If Shardul can bowl the first change or even be given the new ball, he can swing it both ways," he said.

Read More: Jasprit Bumrah to miss ENG vs IND 2nd Test? Gautam Gambhir answers

Rahane urged Krishna and Siraj to provide the necessary support for Bumrah 

The top-order batter advised Team India to forget about the past result and keep focused on the upcoming assignments. India's next match against England will be at Edgbaston. Along with this advice, Ajinkya would like to see team India bowlers with more consistency and proper support for Jasprit Bumrah. 

"What I would like to see is support from the other end. Bumrah is obviously bowling his attacking lengths, but if he can get support from Siraj and Prasidh, that will be great for him... India would like to forget about this test and move forward, though I feel there were a lot of positives. We batted well. Five hundred. We bowled well in patches, but the bowling unit would like to be consistent and try and help each other," he opined in the same video. 

Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane and Bollywood superstar Salman Khan joined hands to sponsor the Sneh Asha Foundation's new education and technology program at the Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra West. The event was held on June 20, which was a major thrust in empowering students from low-income backgrounds through digital connectivity and learning material. The foundation announced the inauguration of 10 new state-of-the-art computer labs in BMC and TMC schools and welcomed 12 new students into its flagship scholarship program.

Over 800 attendees, including government officials, corporate leaders, educators, and philanthropists, were present at the event. Ajinkya Rahane, who has consistently supported youth-oriented causes, expressed his delight at being part of this movement. Taking to X, he wrote, “When education meets opportunity, the future shines. Honored to be part of a meaningful initiative by the Sneh Asha Foundation, empowering 15,000+ students with access to technology and education. Grateful to share the moment with Hon’ble Minister @ShelarAshish ji, @BeingSalmanKhan, @N_Hiranandani, @SJaiswal_IAS, and other dignitaries working towards a brighter tomorrow.”

Adding star power to the initiative, Salman Khan presented medals and personalized gifts to the scholarship awardees and generously donated 30 brand-new laptops to the Foundation. The newly inaugurated computer labs house over 600 high-performance systems and are set to directly benefit more than 15,000 students from Grades 6 to 10. These centers aim to equip students with critical digital skills ranging from basic computer literacy to more advanced fields like coding, artificial intelligence, and data analysis.

A Big Step Forward in Digital Learning

The event also commemorated Batch 3 of the Sneh Asha Scholarship Programme, which provides holistic support to underprivileged students. The program involves academic guidance, college fees, mentorship, laptops, and career guidance to ensure that students are not only educated but ready for life as well.

When education meets opportunity, the future shines.

Honoured to be part of a meaningful initiative by Sneh Asha Foundation, empowering 15,000+ students with access to technology and education.

Grateful to share the moment with Hon’ble Minister @ShelarAshish ji,… pic.twitter.com/IueG2pyWlD

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) June 21, 2025

See Also: Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal opens up to Dhruv Jurel after smashing maiden Test century in England

Scholars are nurtured through three focused tracks: Saraswati (for the toppers of Class 10), Shakti (for graduates), and Laxmi (for postgraduates). It is a patterned method through which students develop at various levels of academics with customized help so that they can overcome the cycle of poverty and have opportunities.

As the highly anticipated Test series between India and England draws near, senior Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has shared his predicted playing XI for the opening match starting Friday. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rahane surprised many by including young players Arshdeep Singh and Sai Sudharsan in his lineup. The selection reflects a blend of youth and form, with Rahane opting for performers who impressed in warm-up matches and domestic cricket.

Notably, Rahane left out experienced names such as Karun Nair and pacer Prasidh Krishna. Instead, he chose wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel as a middle-order option and backed Shardul Thakur for his all-round contributions, particularly after a strong showing in the intra-squad warm-up game. At the top, Rahane placed his confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as openers, while debutant Sai Sudharsan was given the critical No. 3 slot.

Skipper Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Rishabh Pant form the backbone of the middle order, adding depth and flexibility. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur provide dual skills as all-rounders, while the pace department features three fast bowlers—Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh—forming a well-rounded attack.

Gill on bowling strength and India's selection strategy

Ahead of the series opener, Indian captain Shubman Gill emphasized the importance of bowling in red-ball cricket, underlining that taking 20 wickets is the key to winning a Test. “Yes, definitely in Test matches, if you want to win a Test match, you can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets no matter how many runs you score,” Gill said at the pre-match press conference. “That has been one of our key discussion points: how we will take 20 wickets.”

Gill also revealed that the team management is weighing its options regarding team balance. "There might be a case where we go with six pure batters, and you will see a bowling all-rounder and three or four premier fast bowlers," he explained. With conditions expected to differ slightly from the usual English summer, the team is approaching its combination with caution and flexibility.

Ajinkya Rahane’s Predicted XI for 1st Test vs England:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.

India will take on England in a much awaited five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. This series begins the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. As the Men in Blue prepare for another tough challenge in England, let’s rewind and relive some of the finest batting efforts by Indian players on English soil in the 21st century.

Rahul Dravid (146 at The Oval, 2011)

The 2011 tour was a nightmare for India, ending in a 4-0 series defeat. But one man stood tall Rahul Dravid. Known as ‘The Wall’, Dravid was India’s best performer with the bat, scoring three centuries in the series. His unbeaten 146 runs at The Oval stood out. He opened the innings and carried his bat, facing 266 balls and hitting 20 boundaries in a historic day. Even though India lost the match and the series, Dravid’s fight and class shone through what he has and how he can play in crucial games.

Rohit Sharma (127 at The Oval, 2021)

Rohit Sharma answered all the questions about his overseas form with a calm and classy century at The Oval in 2021. In the fourth Test, India were 99 runs behind, and the pressure was on. But Rohit stayed focused, batted with patience, and scored a brilliant 127. His knock changed the course of the match and helped India take control. It was one of his best Test innings away from home.

KL Rahul (129 at Lord’s, 2021)

KL Rahul’s hundred at the Lord’s came in the second Test of the 2021 series. He, along with Rohit Sharma, gave India a strong start and pull down england, putting on 123 runs for the first wicket . Rahul’s knock of 129 came off 250 balls with 12 fours and a six. His calm and composed innings helped India post 364 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 151 runs. Scoring a century at Lord’s is always special and Rahul made it count.

Virat Kohli (149 at Edgbaston, 2018)

Before the 2018 series, critics discussed about Kohli’s ability to perform in England. He silenced them with a stunning 149 in the first Test at Edgbaston. India were in trouble at 54/2, but Kohli took charge and battled against the likes of Anderson and Broad. He smashed 22 fours and a six, fighting alone to keep India in the game. Though India lost the match by 31 runs and the series 4-1, Kohli’s knock is remembered as one of his finest away performances.

ALSO READ: What are the highest successful 200+ chases in Tests at Lord’s before SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final?

Ajinkya Rahane (103 at Lord’s, 2014)

India’s only win in the 2014 series came at Lord’s, thanks to a gutsy knock from Ajinkya Rahane. On a green, seaming pitch, Rahane scored a brave 103 off 154 balls. He hit 15 fours and a six, and stitched a crucial 90-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His century helped India post 295 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 95 runs. It remains one of India’s most memorable wins in the overseas games.

As India gets ready for this high-stakes series, these past performances remind us of the kind of courage and skill needed to succeed in England. From Dravid’s rock-solid defence to Rahane’s cool-headed knock at Lord’s, Indian batters have shown they can rise to the occasion. With a new WTC cycle kicking off, fans will be hoping for more such magic as India aim to make history once again.

The just-concluded IPL 2025 season witnessed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) break their title jinx at last with a heart-stopping six-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final of the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. In nail-biting finishes, astronomical totals, and dynamite batting, a trend was noticed – the power of veteran batters who not only dominated T20s but also, importantly, the most demanding version of the lot: Test cricket.

Glory in both the IPL and Test cricket is a special combination of temperament, versatility, and technique. Here, we pay our hat off to four special players who have scored more than 5,000 runs in both formats – a testament to their all-format greatness.

4. Ajinkya Rahane – The Calm Craftsman

Ajinkya Rahane is not maybe the flashiest name in T20 cricket, but unbeknownst to many, his consistency has earned him a place in the 5,000-run club in Tests and the IPL. Captaining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025, Rahane also had a decent season, scoring 390 runs from 12 matches at a batting average of 35.45 and a strike rate of almost 148.

During the IPL season, Rahane went past the 5,000-run mark. His whole aggregate – 5,032 runs in 198 matches – comprise two centuries and 33 half-centuries. In Tests, the 37-year-old has accumulated 5,077 runs from 85 games, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, at a decent average of 38.46. Although he hasn't appeared in a Test since 2023, his contribution is still imprinted on Indian cricket history.

3. AB de Villiers – The 360-Degree Mastermind

AB de Villiers revolutionized modern batting with his aggressive strokeplay and unmatched versatility. An RCB regular, de Villiers amassed 5,162 runs in 184 IPL games at 39.70 average with a strike rate of 151.68. He recorded three centuries and 40 half-centuries in the course of the league and was always the player RCB entrusted to come good under pressure.

In the longer version of the game, South Africa's great was just as productive with 8,765 runs in 114 Tests at a staggering average of 50.66. His 22 centuries and 46 half-centuries feature a record-breaking 278 not out against Pakistan in 2010. De Villiers' panache and determination helped to establish him as a master.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Memorable Moments from IPL 2025

2. David Warner – The Pocket Dynamo

David Warner's transformation from a T20 specialist to a Test match colossus is a nightmare turned dream. The Aussie opener has been unstoppable in the IPL,        aggregating 6,565 runs in 184 games at a 40.52 average and a strike rate of almost 140. Warner has four centuries and 62 half-centuries to his name, with a record of consistency that is hard to match, particularly as captain in SRH's championship-winning year of 2016.

In Tests, Warner's same hunger and ferocity came to the fore with 8,786 runs in 112 matches at 44.59. Among his 26 centuries is a career-best 335* against Pakistan in 2019. Warner's capability of changing gears between formats shows the class and thinking mind of the man. 

1. Virat Kohli – The Run Machine

No surprise there – the list is topped by Virat Kohli. Indian cricket behemoth Kohli is the IPL's highest run-scorer with 8,661 runs in 267 games at 39.54. The 36-year-old totalled eight hundred and 63 half-centuries, including one season in 2025 when he made 657 runs at a run-a-game average of eight fifties.

Kohli’s Test career is equally monumental. Though he retired from the format earlier this year, he signed off with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85. His 30 centuries and 31 fifties placed him among India’s greatest-ever red-ball batters. Despite a dip in form post-2020, Kohli’s legacy in Tests is well secured.

In a specialist batsman age, these four batsmen have shown that class, hard work, and adaptability could transcend formats. Scoring more than 5,000 runs in both IPL and Tests is not a stat game; it's an indication of consistency at the highest level. These men did not just play games; they grew, they adapted, and survived from the slog-fest of five days to the 20-over fireworks. Legends overall.

On Saturday (May 24), the Men’s Selection Committee selected an 18-member Indian senior men’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour, where they will play a five-match Test series. Here, we are going through the unselected India XI for the England tour. 

India will start their 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship journey with the five-match Test series in England. Due to the recent retirement of Test captain Rohit Sharma and legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, along with legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India have some new Test faces along with special comebacks. 

India tour of England 2025: Key Indian squad facts

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are the new faces in Indian Test cricket, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have returned to the Test squad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been selected as the new Test captain, while Rishabh Pant is set to play his deputy role in the red-ball format.

India tour of England 2025: Top unselected Indian players

Meanwhile, we are missing some strong names in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming England tour. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are the two strong names who could take important responsibilities with their strong experiences, especially when we miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Shreyas Iyer, who has played 14 Tests, is also an important name on the missing list. His last Test was the 2024 Visakhapatnam Test against England. 

See Also: IND vs ENG: Why Shreyas Iyer was not selected in India’s Test squad for England tour?

Two-Test experienced Ishan Kishan is another strong name to miss the England tour, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his Test debut. Sarfaraz Khan, who made his Test debut during the England tour of India 2024-25 season and has played six Tests, has been dropped from the Test squad.  

Anshul Kamboj is a special pace-bowling all-rounder, who was in the news in November 2024 after becoming the third Ranji Trophy bowler to record a 10-wicket haul in an innings. The 24-year-old has huge potential. Axar Patel, with 14-Test experience, is also missing from the Test squad.

Among the pacers, we are missing Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana, along with the veteran Mohammed Shami, whose fitness is reportedly still a concern for Test cricket. Khaleel is yet to make his Test debut, while Harshit has played two Tests after making his debut during India's tour of Australia last season.  

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, and Khaleel Ahmed are set to travel to England earlier in the Test series as a part of the India A squad. So, any of them can join the Indian Test squad during the upcoming England tour. 

Unselected India XI vs England

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed 

Cheteshwar Pujara is currently out of the Indian Test team. He has not been part of the squad since the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023. India will tour England next month, but it looks unlikely that Pujara will be selected. However, the batsman has said that he is not available for selection.

Pujara made his Test debut in 2010 during the series against Australia. His career has spanned over 13 years, but he never got the chance to lead the Indian team as captain.

In a recent interview with a well-known Indian media channel, Pujara broke his silence on this matter. Along with his views on not getting the captaincy, he also shared his thoughts on the leadership styles of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma.

Also Read  - Good news for RCB fans: Major update on star player’s availability ahead of upcoming clash

Pujara said in a recent interview with a popular media outlet that he is not sad about not getting the captaincy. He believes in his own ability. Pujara said, "Captaincy is something that, if given to you, you take up that role. If it’s not given, you don’t go and ask for it.

Whenever I have captained—whether it was India A or Sussex, where I helped the team move from Division Two to Division One—I played the role of a senior player. Even in the Saurashtra team, I have led before. I understand what is needed as a captain and what ability is required.

So, whether you are the captain or not doesn’t matter. What matters is how you support the team, how you give input, and how you help. That’s more important. I have no sorrow or regret about not getting the captaincy."

Cheteshwar Pujara On His Bonding With Rohit Sharma ❤️. pic.twitter.com/CcsyQaIgoD

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) May 23, 2025

What Pujara Said About Dhoni, Kohli, and Rohit’s Captaincy

Cheteshwar Pujara made his Test debut in 2010 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After that, he played under the leadership of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma.

Talking about playing under four different captains, Pujara said, "My debut was under Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). It was a special feeling. He always stayed calm. He could tell from a player’s body language how they were feeling. He would simply say—Don’t take too much tension, just play the way you always do.

Then, Virat became captain. He was aggressive and always wanted to win every match. With Virat, there was a strong desire to go out and win series abroad.

When I played under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, he was also calm. I was the vice-captain then, and we used to talk a lot about the game. Then Rohit Sharma became captain. He speaks openly and shares whatever is on his mind.”

M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) is ready to host the IPL 2025 restart, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders (RCB vs KKR) has been scheduled for Saturday evening (May 17) in the 58th match of the season. Both teams previously met during the first game of the season at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where RCB won by seven wickets. 

Here, we are going through the Dream11 top three captains and vice-captains for the RCB vs KKR match. 

IPL 2025, Match 58: RCB vs KKR Probable XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted Playing XI: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Mayank Agarwal/Suyash Sharma (Impact Player Sub), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI: Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Rinku Singh, Vaibhav Arora/Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Impact Sub), Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy

See Also: IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Match 58- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

IPL 2025, Match 58: RCB vs KKR Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Dream11 Captain choices

Virat Kohli: RCB legend Virat Kohli is the fourth leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025 with 505 runs in 11 matches, with an average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46. He recorded seven half-centuries this season, including scoring 50+ runs in the last four straight matches. 

Varun Chakravarthy: KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy is the second most wicket-taker as a spinner and fifth overall most wicket-taker in the IPL 2025 with 17 wickets in 12 matches. Although the Bengaluru pitch can be challenging for him, he is in great form with the ball, as he took two wickets in each of the last three games. 

Vaibhav Arora: KKR right-arm pacer Vaibhav Arora is the leading wicket-taker among the uncapped bowlers in the IPL 2025 with 16 wickets in 11 games. Although his economy rate this season is above 10, he is a strong wicket-taking bowler. 

Top 3 Dream11 Vice-captain choices

Andre Russell: KKR all-rounder Andre Russell had some useful moments with the ball this season, and only lately has he managed to produce his familiar dangerous batting form. In their last two games, Russell smashed 57 not out off 25 balls and 38 off 21 balls, respectively.  

Krunal Pandya: Krunal Pandya is the second leading wicket-taker for RCB this season with 14 wickets in 11 matches. RCB were desperate to secure him this season, and the reason is clearly visible now. Pandya’s batting has hardly been required this season, but when RCB were struggling at 26/3 in their 163-run chase against Delhi Capitals, Pandya scored a match-winning 73 not out off 47 balls with five fours and four sixes and had a valuable 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Virat Kohli. 

Ajinkya Rahane: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane is the only consistent performer for the defending champions this season, as he has scored 375 runs in 11 innings with an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 146.48, including three half-centuries. In his all last four innings, Rahane scored 25+ runs. 

With the IPL 2025 slated to resume on Saturday, 17 May, after a temporary halt due to the military deadlock between India and Pakistan, seven franchises are still in contention for the playoff spots. This pause-enforced extension has led to a modified schedule for the remaining games, and the same has been circulated to all the teams. Unlike originally, only six grounds have been selected to host the remainder of the season, and the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is not among them. This also takes away the opportunity to host the final, as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions.

The Knights have had a not-so-great IPL campaign in 2025. The change in their coaching staff, as compared to their victorious run last year, made them look depleted of ideas. The squad has largely been the same, with a noticeable change in the leadership. The Ajinkya Rahane-led team has been below par this season and finds themselves on the verge of exit. They have failed to find the right playing eleven on the majority of occasions. Their batting has been submissive, and it has usually been their spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, in the bowling department, that has bailed them out from tough situations.  Their star and retained players (Venky Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh) have been average this term, and thus, it justifies their current position.

See Also: WATCH: Dwayne Bravo shares video of West Indian player touchdown in India for IPL 2025

KKR’s Qualification scenarios for IPL 2025 Playoffs.

Matches Played: 12, Points: 11, NRR: 0.193

Upcoming Matches: Away – RCB (17^th May); Delhi – SRH (25^th May)

Best Possible Finish: 15 points

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are on the brink of elimination as the maximum they can finish with is 15 points. There are already two teams who have more than 15 points, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) are on 15 with three games to go. Assuming that those three teams go through, KKR will have to hope that Mumbai Indians (MI) lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14 points. Since one of their matches is against Delhi Capitals (DC), who are currently on 13 points, that will take DC to 15. 

In this scenario, the fourth spot will come down to a Net Run Rate (NRR) battle between KKR and DC. On the other hand, if PBKS lose their three remaining matches, then MI will go past 15 points, while DC, PBKS, and KKR could all be on 15 points, fighting for the fourth spot. KKR's hopes rest on a lot of factors - fortune above anything. 

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.