With the 2025 IPL all set to resume on May 17, Kolkata Knight Riders’ cricketers and support staff have assembled in Bengaluru. Ajinkya Rahane and his boys will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in a must-win game for them, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Most of the Indian players arrived in batches in the Garden City. Meanwhile, the Caribbean trio of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell will reach Bengaluru by Wednesday night. The Windies cricketers, along with the assistant coach Otis Gibson and team mentor Dwayne Bravo, were in Dubai after the 2025 IPL was suspended for a week in the wake of cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
After a ceasefire was declared on May 10, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in discussion with all the franchises, broadcasters and stakeholders, decided to re-start the league.
KKR’s wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who returned to Kabul, is expected to join the West Indian players in Dubai before travelling with them to India. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje will connect with the squad in Bengaluru, arriving from Maldives.
There are still a few doubts lingering over England all-rounder, Moeen Ali, and Australian pacer, Spencer Johnson’s returning to India. According to the latest information received, both could rejoin the squad latest by Thursday. However, it is very likely that Proteas wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock may not return for the remainder of the tournament.
After facing RCB on May 17, KKR will play their final league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi on May 25. According to the revised schedule released by BCCI on Monday, a total of thirteen league matches remains, in addition to four playoff games.
The remaining league fixtures will be held across six venues: Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The venues for the playoff matches are yet to be announced. The playoff schedule is as follows: Qualifier 1 on May 29, the Eliminator on May 30, Qualifier 2 on June 1, and the Final on June 3.
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