The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fixtures are in. The mega showdown will begin with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a repeat of the first-ever IPL matches in 2008. While both teams will be represented by new captains altogether, the IPL 2025 schedule is a tricky one for RCB. Announcing Rajat Patidar as the leader of the pack, the Bengaluru-based franchise will definitely have a tough task at their hands. They didn’t have an ideal IPL 2025 mega auction as well, and the dynamics of IPL fixtures might not be suiting them either!
Why RCB at disadvantage playing at M Chinnaswamy Stadium?
There are two chants that send the decible metre through the roof. One being the fan favourite, “MS Dhoni,” and the other one, of course, the ever-lasting “RCB, RCB” chants. The passion that the Bengaluru crowd has for their local team is quite extraordinary. However, they deserve more success than they actually get. It is true that RCB is quite successful in being the most unsuccessful team. But unlike the other teams, they haven’t even made their own M Chinnaswamy Stadium their fortress.
The reason is simple: lacklustre bowling. The iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium, in the heart of Bengaluru, is renowned for being extremely batting friendly. The bowlers tend to go for huge runs. With small boundaries on either side, the shot-making is relatively easy here. Hence, RCB have historically struggled at the venue. Despite having the massive fanbase as their 12th man, RCB have tinkered with their bowling united quite a lot, with their batting unit always outshining their bowling.
RCB record at M Chinnaswamy Stadium
| Mat | Won | Lost | NR | RPO | HS | LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 15 | 18 | 1 | 9.16 | 262 | 119 |
As we can clearly see above, RCB don’t have an ideal record at the venue. While they make 200+ scores on a regular basis, they even leak those totals more often than not, giving themselves no real advantage of playing at home. Playing at home has been an underutilised luxury for RCB. Hence, come the IPL 2025, it would definitely be a massive headache for Rajat Patidar. At IPL 2025, RCB would be playing four of their last six group fixtures at home. It would be a time where a single slip-up could massively hamper their situation in the league table. Since 2012, RCB’s home wins in an IPL season have only exceeded their home losses four times out of ten!
This is indeed an alarming sign for Patidar, who will once again have an entirely new bowling arsenal to control. RCB let go the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Lockie Ferguson and have surely found able replacements. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam have enough potency to shine, but can they gel well to turn their fortunes around at home?
RCB full schedule for IPL 2025
| Date | Home | Away | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 22 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| March 28 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| April 2 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Gujarat Titans | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 7 | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| April 10 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Delhi Capitals | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 13 | Rajasthan Royals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | 3:30 PM |
| April 18 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Punjab Kings | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 20 | Punjab Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | MYSC Stadium Stadium, Mullanpur | 3:30 PM |
| April 24 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Rajasthan Royals | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 27 | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| May 3 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai Super Kings | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| May 9 | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Ekana, Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 PM |
| May 13 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Sunrisers Hyderabad | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| May 17 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Kolkata Knight Riders | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
RCB squad for IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Sanju Samson blows another chance to go past Abhishek Sharma & Jaiswal in race for T20 World Cup spot
Top Stories
