Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are all set to face the in-form Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) tonight in the 57th match of IPL 2026 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. As the tournament reaches its decisive phase, a victory for table-toppers RCB would officially seal their spot in the playoffs. On the other hand, KKR is chasing its fifth consecutive win to keep its playoff hopes alive.
The defending champions will play their final home match of the season in Raipur, their secondary home venue. In their previous match—a thrilling contest—they defeated the Mumbai Indians by two wickets on the very last ball of the innings. With 14 points from 11 matches, they are in a strong position and will look to cap off the season in style by securing a spot in the top two.
The Kolkata Knight Riders got off to a poor start this season; however, following four consecutive victories, they have now reached a strong position. In their previous match, they defeated the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. With four matches still remaining and their form on the rise, they will make every possible effort to secure a spot in the playoffs this season—a feat for which most experts had previously written them off.
RCB vs KKR Head to Head record
| Description | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 36 |
| Won by RCB | 15 |
| Won by KKR | 20 |
| Tie/NR | 01 |
| First-ever fixture | April 18, 2008 (KKR victory) |
| Most recent fixture | May 17, 2025 (Match Abandoned) |
RCB vs KKR Predicted Playing 11
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell/Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar.
Impact Player: Devdutt Padikkal
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Impact Player: Finn Allen
RCB vs KKR Player Stats
- Virat Kohli (RCB): Has scored 379 runs in 11 matches so far this season.
- Shreyas Iyer (KKR): A standout performer with 392 runs and an average of 56.00.
- Finn Allen (KKR): Recently scored a match-winning century against the Delhi Capitals.
- Rajat Patidar (RCB): Has scored a total of 326 runs in 11 matches.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB): Currently, with 21 wickets, he is tied for the top spot on the list of the tournament's leading wicket-takers.
- Mohammed Siraj (RCB): He has taken 13 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.23.
- Sunil Narine (KKR): With an economy rate of 6.51, he remains one of the most economical bowlers in the league.
- Krunal Pandya (RCB): He has contributed to the team by taking 10 wickets, while also scoring crucial runs in the middle order.
RCB vs KKR Probable Best Performers
Virat Kohli
In this crucial clash against KKR, Virat Kohli could prove to be RCB's most vital batsman. This star opener has scored 379 runs in 11 innings so far this season and remains one of RCB's most dependable players with the bat. However, Kohli's form has witnessed a slight dip after being dismissed without scoring a run in his last two matches. The former RCB captain will now be eager to make a strong comeback and make a significant contribution in the upcoming fixture.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
In the upcoming match against KKR, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could prove to be a key bowler for RCB. This experienced fast bowler currently holds the 'Purple Cap,' having claimed 21 wickets in 11 matches, and has been one of the standout performers of IPL 2026. On the Raipur ground, Bhuvneshwar delivered a magnificent bowling performance against MI and appeared to be in complete control with the new ball.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Why did the GT wear a lavender-colored jersey against SRH?
