Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets and secured place in IPL Qualifier 1.
But the hosts will be a confident group as star batter Virat Kohli made a return to run-making ways after an all too brief blip.
Having added 123 with Priyank Panchal (47) for the opening stand, India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad (21) in the second over of the third morning, when Rachin Ravindra (2/96) got him stumped by keeper Cam Fletcher.
Virat Kohli's nearly two-decade long agonising wait to lay his hands on an IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be up against Shreyas Iyer's resolve to make first-time winners out of the tenacious Punjab Kings.
Jammu and Kashmir's Shubham Khajuria struck a fighting, unbeaten century to rescue North Zone, but South Zone remained favourites to progress to the Duleep Trophy final, in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The official Instagram page of Kolkata Knight Riders shared the video of SRK talking to the team members, which is led by new skipper Ajinkya Rahane this season.
Struggling Mumbai Indians will be hoping their batters get their act together and shoulder responsibility when they take on an inspired Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League match in Mumbai on Monday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowling unit will face a different challenge when they take on Gujarat Titans in an IPL match on Wednesday.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings, two sides chasing their first IPL title, will square off in a tantalising Qualifier 1 encounter on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Hyderabad on Thursday
The Rajat Patidar-led team was received by state's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar at the airport.
Sunil Gavaskar also urged the misfiring Rohit Sharma to be a bit more selective about his shot-making.
Ahead of the mini-auction, scheduled to be held in Doha on December 26, the 10 franchises have released their list of retained and released players.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow, on Friday.
Virat Kohli inched closer to a maiden IPL title after Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Punjab Kings by eight wickets in a lopsided Qualifier 1 match.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore were dealt with a big injury blow as Rajat Patidar was ruled out of the entire season due to injury.
We have lost battle but not war: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer
Spinner Krunal Pandya upstaged brother Hardik as Royal Challengers Bengaluru edged Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in a high-scoring thriller.
Virat Kohli has been with RCB since the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, including nine seasons as captain of a franchise that made the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but lost every time.
Royal Challengers Bangalor will attempt to break a 17-year jinx at the Chepauk stadium when they face Chennai Super Kings in the IPL match on Friday.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to begin on March 22 with a clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This venue will also host the final match of the season on May 25. Dharamsala and Guwahati will host a couple of IPL matches this year, with Dharamsala serving as the second home venue for Punjab Kings and Guwahati hosting Rajasthan Royals matches in addition to their regular home venue, Jaipur.
Gujarat Titans produced an excellent all-round show to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by eight wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj said on Wednesday that his break from international cricket gave him the time to reflect on his mistakes and work on his bowling and fitness.
Bengal veteran Abhimanyu Easwaran was on Saturday named captain of a 13-member India A squad for the upcoming four-day match against visiting England Lions which will be preceded by a warm-up fixture.
Mumbai were bowled out for 181 in their second innings, setting J&K 243 runs to win the season-opening match.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will not be available for the league stage matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy because of personal reasons, but he will join Baroda if they progress to the knockouts.
M S Dhoni may bat at No.7 or No. 8, which will allow him to showcase his big-hitting prowess at the back end of the innings, says former international Robin Uthappa.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli washed away 18 years of hurt and disappointment, conquering Punjab Kings by six runs to lift their maiden Indian Premier League title.
Virat Kohli's unbeaten 73 off 54 balls led Royal Challengers Bangalore to a seven-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
The job is only 'half done' for captain Shreyas Iyer as he chases a second consecutive IPL title, albeit with a new team: Punjab Kings.
Kohli's 55th IPL half-century laid the platform before skipper Rajat Patidar hit a quickfire 34 off 16 balls to help RCB kickoff their campaign on a positive note.
Rohit Sharma has managed just 38 runs in four matches at an average of 9.50 in IPL 2025.
Royal Challengers Bangalore must thank their two unheralded batters Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror for their crucial knocks which played a big role in their 13 run victory against the Chennai Super Kings.
Round up of all the Ranji Trophy action on Thursday
Jitesh Sharma left spectators enchanted with an unbeaten 85 from a mere 33 deliveries while striking handsomely at 257.58, his best in the IPL's history.
Gujarat Titans skipper Gill is expected to captain India on the Test tour of England following the retirement of Rohit Sharma. Rishabh Pant is likely to be his deputy.
Pacer Avesh Khan sparkled with a gritty unbeaten half-century before taking the prized-scalp of Ishan Kishan as India A mounted a strong challenge against India C on day two of the Duleep Trophy final round match here on Friday.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Dharamsala on Thursday
Virat Kohli's exemplary work ethic continues to serve as a source of inspiration for his teammates, said Dinesh Karthik.
RCB's success so far in IPL 2025 hasn't just rested on Kohli and Hazlewood.
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