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.
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.
'It would have been understandable if, after a gruelling tour where five Test matches were crammed into a little over six weeks, he had opted to rest.''
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 beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets and secured place in IPL Qualifier 1.
'Sometimes it might look wrong in the fans' eyes, but please don't twist things or create narratives that aren't even close to the truth.'
This was India's fourth defeat in the last six Tests at home and in all four Tests -- including three against New Zealand -- their batters have flopped against spin.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowling unit will face a different challenge when they take on Gujarat Titans in an IPL match on Wednesday.
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.
Sunil Gavaskar also urged the misfiring Rohit Sharma to be a bit more selective about his shot-making.
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.
Perhaps, another Ranji title with Mumbai will be a fitting send off for Ajinkya Rahane.
The Rajat Patidar-led team was received by state's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar at the airport.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
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.
Spinner Krunal Pandya upstaged brother Hardik as Royal Challengers Bengaluru edged Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in a high-scoring thriller.
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.
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.
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.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
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.
We have lost battle but not war: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer
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.
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.
Images from the IPL 2022 Playoff Eliminator match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants
Shreyas Iyer was ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting in Hyderabad on Wednesday, with a back injury.
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.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played in Dharamsala on Thursday
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.
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.
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.
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.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for the fifth Test against England?
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.
Rohit Sharma has managed just 38 runs in four matches at an average of 9.50 in IPL 2025.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final played between Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
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.
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