The Indian Premier League resumes on Saturday after the IPL 2025 season was halted because of the tensions between India and Pakistan and it does so in Bangalore where the Royal Challengers Bangalore host the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
We return with Bangalore looking good for a spot in their quest for a playoff berth while if the Knight Riders are to extend their title defence they will need to win their last two matches and probably win them big too.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
When the season was stopped the Royal Challengers Bangalore were in second place and that is where they will resume proceedings. They might well have enough points on the board to reach the playoffs but one more win from their final three matches will ensure that they extend their season and the earlier they can pick up that victory the quicker they can set their sights on a top two finish and the advantages that come along with it.
If there is a concern for the Royal Challengers then it will be how their bowling attack finishes the season. Josh Hazlewood was a huge player for them with the ball this term and he hasn’t returned to conclude the season so they are going to have to find someone to do what he did with the new ball and at the back end of the innings. You get the impression that if this is going to be the day that Bangalore get the win to secure their postseason spot then it will need to be the batters who do the heavy lifting.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders looked like they were putting themselves into a position to come with a run to finish off the regular season but prior to the stoppage of the competition they slipped up against the Chennai Super Kings and you fear that will be fatal to their chances of reaching the finals. That has left them with 11 points from 12 matches and while 15 could still sneak a top four spot, the Knight Riders have an inferior run rate so really are up against it.
That might be one of the reasons why Moeen Ali and Rovman Powell have chosen not to return for the remainder of the competition, although neither were regulars anyway. They will be able to be replaced but if Kolkata are going to get the two wins and sufficient run rate boost that they will need then the power and pyrotechnics both can provide with the bat could have been useful. You would imagine Kolkata will try to bowl first here and attempt to catch up with their net run rate in the run chase.
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Key Players
Virat Kohli made the announcement that he is retiring from Test cricket since the IPL came to a sudden halt and this is the first time he will have played since then so all eyes will be on the Indian legend to see the impact.
Andre Russell could be a key man for Kolkata Knight Riders in their last two matches. He is the one who can destroy sides and sort out the net run rate deficit so look for him potentially getting a longer role to play with the bat.
Betting
There is a little bit of rain in the forecast for this match and both sides are having to deal with overseas players not returning so I’m little reluctant to get too involved in this one. I certainly don’t want to get involved in the match betting with the weather around and obviously the other go to punt around here is the sixes but in the rain comes we probably won’t get much time for them to come in. I’ll settle on a top batter bet for some interest.
That comes in the form of Andre Russell for the Kolkata Knight Riders. We know that this ground is nowhere near big enough to contain the Jamaican and even a mishit is going to go for six such is the power he has in his bat swing. Russell ended the first part of the season in decent form with 57* and 38 and with rain around and Kolkata not only needing to win but win pretty big there is an obvious case for him nudging up the order slightly. All that makes the 11/1 quote about him top scoring look too big here.
Tips
Back A.Russell Top Kolkata Knight Riders Batter for a 1/10 stake at 12.00 with Bet365
