The IPL 2025 season gets started on Saturday, May 17, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. On March 22, the competition began with the same two teams at the storied Eden Gardens, which RCB won by a commanding seven-wicket score.
The outcome of the first game sort of set the tone for both teams. The reason KKR has failed more frequently than not is because RCB has been getting stronger. Bengaluru has 16 points from 11 games and needs just one more victory to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. Kolkata, on the other side, has 11 points from 12 games. They are unlikely to guarantee themselves a spot in the top four even if they win their remaining games.
Bengaluru has won four straight games, which is outstanding. They have really won five of their last six games. It has been some time since they have played cricket, though, and it is unclear if they will be able to maintain their winning streak.
In the head-to-head match, KKR leads RCB by a score of 20 to 15. We look at various goals that players from both teams can accomplish before Bengaluru and Kolkata play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
1. RCB batting star Virat Kohli needs 1 four to complete 750 fours in the IPL
Virat Kohli recently declared that he would no longer be playing Test cricket. Now, the 36-year-old is eager to put all of his attention into IPL 2025 and continue where he left off when the competition was put on hold.
The veteran batter has scored 505 runs at a strike rate of 143.46 and an average of 63.12 in 11 innings, aided by seven half-centuries. In the 2025 IPL, Kohli has hit 18 sixes and 44 fours. To reach 750 fours in the IPL, he has to hit one. He has hit 290 sixes and 749 fours in 263 games.
2. KKR all-rounder Sunil Narine needs 2 scalps for major IPL landmark
Sunil Narine, an all-rounder for Kolkata, has had a stellar IPL 2025 season, particularly when he has the ball. The West Indies cricketer has taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.53 in 11 games thanks to his skillful off-spin. To move up to joint-third place in the IPL in terms of wicket-taking, Narine needs two more.
The 36-year-old has taken 190 wickets at an economy rate of 6.77 and an average of 25.68 in 188 games, including seven four-fers and one five-fer. Right now, Piyush Chawla is the third-leading wicket-taker in the IPL. In 192 games, the leg spinner took 192 wickets at an economy rate of 7.96 at an average of 26.60.
3. Krunal Pandya needs 58 runs for 3,000 T20 runs
Krunal Pandya has played an important role for RCB in the ongoing edition of the IPL. He has taken 14 wickets in just 11 encounters using his left-arm spin. He was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 73 off 47 runs and match-winning figures of 1/28 against Delhi Capitals.
The milestone of reaching 3,000 runs in T20 matches is just within Krunal’s reach. Through 218 matches (176 innings), the southpaw has amassed 2,942 runs at an average of 24.11 with a strike rate of 130.93, scoring five half-tons.
4. Venkatesh Iyer needs 32 runs to complete 1,500 IPL runs
Venkatesh Iyer has struggled this season as he sat out of KKR’s last match due to an injury. He was bought for ₹23.75 crore and currently averages just 20.28 with 142 runs in seven innings.
Iyer needs 32 runs from here on to reach 1,500 runs in total across his IPL career. Over 62 matches, he has accumulated 1,468 runs at an average of 29.95 and a strike rate of 137.32. It includes one century and twelve half-centuries.
