Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will field Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) rely on Finn Allen, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy in Match 57 of IPL 2026 at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, RCB sit at the top of the points table with 14 points and a win would virtually seal their playoff spot, whereas KKR hold 7th with 11 points and a four-match winning streak.
Although KKR are riding momentum after Finn Allen’s stunning century against DC, Kohli’s back-to-back ducks add an intriguing subplot to this IPL classic at a venue hosting its first IPL game since 2016.
RCB Playing 11 Today
Because RCB squeezed past MI in a last-ball thriller at this very venue, they are unlikely to make changes. Accordingly, Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell continue opening, although Kohli enters this game on back-to-back ducks for the first time since 2022.
Furthermore, captain Rajat Patidar has managed just one fifty-plus score in his last six innings, although his season strike rate remains above 212. Additionally, Tim David provides death-overs firepower, while Jitesh Sharma keeps wickets. Moreover, Krunal Pandya delivered a match-winning 73 off 40 balls against MI and also reached 100 IPL wickets this season.
On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 20+ wickets this season for the fourth time in his IPL career, holding 12 powerplay wickets (second only to Rabada). Besides that, Josh Hazlewood controls the death overs, while Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam add variety. However, Hazlewood has leaked 14.7 runs per over in powerplays during RCB’s losses, compared to just 5.8 in their wins.
RCB Predicted XI: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam.
KKR Playing 11 Today
Since KKR demolished DC by 8 wickets in their last game, they carry genuine momentum. Consequently, Finn Allen (SR 205.88, century vs DC) opens alongside captain Ajinkya Rahane, although Rahane’s poor form remains a major concern.
Besides that, Cameron Green has shown signs of settling at No. 3, while Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell handle the death overs. Additionally, Manish Pandey has returned to the squad, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi keeps wickets. Furthermore, Sunil Narine adds spin all-round balance with an economy of 6.51 this season.
In terms of bowling, Varun Chakravarthy‘s fitness is a question mark, and if unfit, Prashant Solanki or Daksh Kamra could replace him. Moreover, Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi share the new-ball duties, while Anukul Roy provides left-arm spin depth. However, KKR must win every remaining match to keep their playoff hopes alive.
KKR Predicted XI: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
RCB Impact Sub: Devdutt Padikkal
Since Kohli is on back-to-back ducks, Devdutt Padikkal becomes the ideal batting impact sub to add a left-handed option. Specifically, his ability to rotate strike and play spin suits this Raipur surface, and therefore gives Patidar a safety net if the top order fails again.
KKR Impact Sub: Ramandeep Singh / Varun Chakravarthy
Similarly, if Varun is fit, he walks in as the impact player to add mystery spin. Otherwise, Ramandeep Singh offers all-round value with aggressive batting and medium pace. Because this surface grips for spinners, Varun’s inclusion could be the difference-maker against RCB’s right-hand-heavy lineup.
Key Players to Watch in Match 57
Firstly, the battle between Virat Kohli and Sunil Narine will be fascinating, since Kohli averages just 105.42 SR against Narine while being dismissed 4 times in 17 innings. Similarly, Finn Allen (SR 205.88) versus Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay promises a fast-and-furious opener that could set the tone for the entire match.
| Player Name | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | Opener | 1,021 runs vs KKR all-time; on back-to-back ducks; hungry for runs |
| Krunal Pandya | RCB | All-rounder | 73 off 40 vs MI; 100 IPL wickets; match-winner with bat and ball |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | Pacer | 20+ wickets; 12 PP wkts (2nd highest); 4th time crossing 20 in IPL career |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Pace Spearhead | Death-overs specialist; eco 5.8 in PP during RCB wins |
| Finn Allen | KKR | Opener | 100 off 47 balls vs DC; SR 205.88; explosive left-hander |
| Sunil Narine | KKR | All-rounder | 27 wickets vs RCB all-time; eco 6.51 this season; KKR’s talisman |
| Rinku Singh | KKR | Finisher | KKR’s best death-overs batter; clutch performer under pressure |
Head-to-Head Record: RCB vs KKR
Across 36 IPL meetings, KKR hold a 20-15 lead over RCB, with one match ending without a result. Notably, this rivalry began with the very first ball in IPL history when Brendon McCullum smashed 158 at Chinnaswamy in 2008, and it has produced some of the most extreme results in the tournament.
| Category | RCB | KKR |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 36 | 36 |
| Wins | 15 | 20 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Score | 221 | 222/6 (2024) |
| Lowest Score | 49 (2017) | 84 |
| Most Runs | Virat Kohli (1,021) | Gautam Gambhir (647) |
| Most Wickets | Yuzvendra Chahal (19) | Sunil Narine (27) |
Additionally, RCB’s 49 all out at Eden Gardens in 2017 remains the lowest total in IPL history at that time, while the 2024 Eden Gardens thriller (443 combined runs, KKR won by 1 run) is the highest-scoring contest in this fixture. However, RCB broke KKR’s four-match winning streak with a convincing 7-wicket win in the IPL 2025 opener.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium is hosting IPL cricket for the first time since 2016, and the RCB vs MI game last week produced a gripping last-over thriller. Furthermore, the average first-innings score here is around 172, and the surface swung early for seamers before gripping for spinners in the middle overs.
Secondly, the Raipur weather forecast shows extreme heat with a high of 40°C and humidity around 31 percent. Consequently, there is no chance of rain, and the dew factor will make gripping the ball difficult from the 13th-14th over onwards, giving the chasing side a clear advantage.
Besides that, the large boundaries at this venue make clearing the ropes difficult, which demands good shot placement rather than brute force. As a result, the captain winning the toss will almost certainly bowl first to chase under the dew.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter as favourites despite Kohli’s lean patch, especially since their bowling attack with Bhuvneshwar (20+ wkts) and Hazlewood suits this surface perfectly. Specifically, Krunal Pandya’s all-round form (73 with bat, 100 IPL wickets) gives RCB a match-winner who can rescue them from any situation.
On the other hand, KKR‘s four-match winning streak and Allen’s century form make them dangerous opponents. However, Rahane’s poor form, Varun’s fitness doubt, and the must-win pressure could work against them on a surface that rewards disciplined bowling over aggression.
As for the toss, the captain winning the flip will bowl first to exploit the dew. Ultimately, RCB are predicted to win this contest and therefore virtually seal their playoff qualification, although a hungry Kohli on back-to-back ducks is the most dangerous version of Kohli, and KKR’s bowlers should prepare accordingly.
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Final Word
To sum up, the RCB vs KKR Match 57 brings the IPL’s oldest rivalry to Raipur for a Wednesday night blockbuster. If Kohli breaks his duck drought, then KKR face the full force of the defending champions at their adopted home.
Otherwise, Allen’s explosive batting and Narine’s spin could hand KKR their fifth straight win. Either way, this fixture has produced IPL’s first-ever century, its lowest-ever team total, and a 1-run thriller. Expecting anything less than drama tonight would be foolish.
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