Top 5 players to watch out for in the RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 match

In the first match after the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be crossing the swords with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 17, 2025 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Incidentally, both these teams have witnessed quite contrasting fates so far in the ongoing edition of the T20 competition. The Royal Challengers Bangalore are almost through to the IPL 2025 playoffs having managed to win as many as 8 out of their 11 games so far this season. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are stuck in a really challenging position as they need to win both of their remaining matches and also hope some of the other results to go in their favour for them to stay in the contention for the knockouts. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top five players to watch out for in the RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 match. 

Top 5 contenders to watch out for in the RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 match

1. Virat Kohli

After having announced a suddent retirement from Test cricket, there will be a massive spotlight on Virat Kohli taking the field for the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday. The former RCB skipper has been in an impressive form so far in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League. After winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2024, the former RCB captain has notched up an impressive tally of 505 runs from as many as 11 games during this season at a superb average of more than 63. Interestingly, Kohli has smashed a total of five 50+ scores in this T20 competition so far. The 36-year-old has scored as many as four back-to-back half-centuries during the last few matches of the IPL 2025 season. Thus, Virat Kohli will once again be a key player to watch out for in the RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 match. 

2. Varun Chakaravarthy

For the Kolkata Knight Riders, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has once again been a key wicket-taker in this edition of the competition. He has managed to take as many as 17 wickets from 12 games at an average of 19.35 and an impressive economy rate of 7. Interestingly, Chakaravarthy has picked up a total of seven wickets from the last 5 IPL matches. KKR will depend a lot on their spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine to pick wickets on regular basis in the middle-overs against RCB. While talking about Varun Chakaravarthy stats in IPL so far, he has taken a total of 100 wickets from 82 matches at an economy of 7.48. 

3. Josh Hazlewood

It has been the bowling attack that has played a major role in the success for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and overseas fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been the mainstay protagonist this year. The Aussie speedster has picked up as many as 18 wickets from a total of 10 games at an average of 17.28. He missed the last match against Chennai Super Kings due to a shoulder niggle. RCB will be hoping that Hazlewood plays all the three remaining league stage matches against Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants because he is still unlikely to be available for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Josh Hazlewood is part of the Australia Test squad for the WTC final 2025 against South Africa starting from 11 June, 2025. 

4. Ajinkya Rahane

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has surely led his side from the front especially in the batting department so far in IPL 2025. The former Indian captain has notched up a fine tally of 375 runs in 12 matches this season at an average of nearly 40 that includes three half-centuries. Incidentally, Rahane scored a brilliant fifty in the previous match of this tournament against RCB. Thus, KKR team management will be hoping that their captain comes good in this important game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

5. Krunal Pandya

For the Royal Challengers Bangalore, left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya has performed excellently well so far in this Indian Premier League 2025 season. He has picked up as many as 14 wickets from 11 matches this season at an average of 21.43. The southpaw all-rounder also scored an exceptional half-century during the previous match in this competition against the Delhi Capitals. Moreover, Krunal has picked up wickets at crucial junctures for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this IPL season and he will once again be expected to deliver the goods in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders as well.