However, it remains to be seen how RCB will cope without players like Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood, who both have been sidelined for at least the first half of this IPL due to injuries. Australian Glenn Maxwell is also unlikely to feature in Sunday's game.
KL Rahul hit a quickfire half-century and Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets in an over but India suffered a 36-run defeat against Western Australia in their second practice match ahead of the T20 World Cup, at the WACA stadium in Perth on Thursday.
The Indian team had a gruelling nets session in Mohali as they prepared for Tuesday's opening game in the three-match T20I series against World Champions Australia.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Friday's fourth T20I against South Africa?
Images from the opening match of the 14th Indian Premier League, between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Chennai, on Friday.
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
Hardik Pandya will be expected to begin his full-time T20 captaincy tenure on a bold note as the Indian team prepares to start its life beyond Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
Vote for your best knock of the Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, Dubai, on Friday.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Dharamsala on Thursday
Skipper Rohit Sharma will be travelling to the port city on Wednesday and is expected to feature in the series-opener.
Was Virat Kohli's celebration after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood for 2 runs off 3 balls over the top?
Had KKR throws run out Dinesh Karthik, perhaps RCB may have lost the game.
Struggling KKR seek change of fortunes against RCB
The major highlights from the deadline day as teams announced their retention list for IPL 2024.
India hit the nets on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, prior to Thursday's first T20I against England at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
When the Royal Challengers Bangalore took on the Punjab Kings on Sunday, Virat was in a constant adrenalin rush; the RCB skipper knew victory would fetch his side -- which has never won an IPL title -- a place in the playoffs with two games still to play.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable performances of IPL 2024
Senior opener and first-choice vice-captain KL Rahul is expected to reclaim his place back in the Indian team along with seamer Deepak Chahar when the squad will be selected for the Asia Cup on August 8.
Punjab Kings would be sweating over skipper Shikhar Dhawan's injury at a time when they need all their firepower against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
High on confidence after making their first playoffs in three years, Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim for a second-place finish in the IPL points table when they take on Punjab Kings in their final league game in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Virat Kohli's tenure as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore may have ended without an IPL triumph but the franchise will nonetheless 'celebrate' his contributions over the years, said the team's pacer Harshal Patel.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will be aiming to halt the Jos Buttler juggernaut when they take on Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League match at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday.
In the recently held Asia Cup in the UAE, India were criticised for their bowling depth (or lack of it) in the absence of Bumrah while Pakistan boasted of bowlers who rattled the batters with their express pace.
The new-entrants have further been bolstered by the addition of the multi-talented duo of Jason Holder and Marcus Stoinis. The two adding more depth in both bowling and batting.
Rajasthan Royals take on Punjab Kings aiming to seal their IPL play-offs berth, in their penultimate league match.
Rajasthan Royals would aim to build on their promising start to the season when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, a side that is yet to unlock its potential.
That three-wicket burst was enough to put SRH on the backfoot as they lost wickets every over with just no runs flowing off the bat.
Mohammed Shami was named as the replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.
Buttler scored all around the ground, creaming bowlers left, right and centre -- he smashed 10 fours and 6 sixes. He ensured to stay right until the end before getting his century (106 not out in 60 balls) -- his 4th this IPL season and decorated it by scoring the winning runs with a massive six!
RCB skipper Faf du Plessis couldn't stop gushing about Patidar
India captain KL Rahul was on Wednesday ruled out of the five-match T20 International series against South Africa owing to a right groin injury
Umesh was brought in as Shami's replacement
India will need another near perfect game to take the five-match series into the decider.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda will replace them in the squad for the series, beginning in Kolkata on February 16.
You need a big upping of the ante when it comes to the fielding if you have to beat big sides in big competitions.'
IMAGES from the 2nd T20I played between India and Australia in Nagpur on Friday.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings in New Delhi on Friday
Seamer Harshal Patel wreaked havoc as Haryana enforced follow-on on hosts Karnataka in a group league game of the Ranji Trophy in Hubli on Monday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Sanjay Bangar believes the inclusion of the experienced Faf du Plessis has added 'real strength' to their batting department.
