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Double-header Sunday coming up! 4th May, 2025 sees double the IPL action. In the afternoon game, Kolkata Knight Riders take on Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens, in the former's quest to stay alive in the tournament. In the evening game, Punjab Kings face Lucknow Super Giants as Dharamsala makes its debut this season. The first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (1000 GMT) but our build-up will begin well in advance. Do join us early then. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
1 ball left. 4 runs needed.
No ball? The ball has gone over mid-wicket and Dube has reviewed for a waist-high no ball! And sure enough, it is a no ball!
Shades of 2023? Yash Dayal bowling, a left-hander on strike. Will Ravindra Jadeja do a Rinku Singh? Half the runs required. 3-0-29-0 so far. 14 runs to defend.
Milestone alert! 50th six for MS Dhoni against RCB in the IPL! Becomes just the third player after Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma to hit 50 sixes or more against an opposition in the IPL!
Dhoni has been striking at 148 in IPL 2025, which is decent, but that number was 204 in 2023 and 2024 combined. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the 19th over. 3-0-41-0 so far.
In the previous fixture against RCB this season, Dhoni scored an unbeaten 30 (16). Big gamble by the RCB skipper. Suyash Sharma to bowl the 18th over. 3-0-37-0 so far.
Ball changed. That has gone out of the Chinnaswamy and a replacement ball is being sought after!
Dube or Dhoni? The latter. MS Dhoni walks out at number 6, replacing Dewald Brevis, to face the hattrick ball.
Dewald Brevis walks in next at number 5, replacing Ayush Mhatre.
STRATEGIC TIMEOUT. Well, RCB have never defeated CSK twice in an IPL season. Seemed like 2025 was that chance to rewrite the record. But that 16th over might have well spilt water on those chances. Two dropped chances, of both the set batters have pushed Bengaluru to the brink. 43 needed from 4 overs, with the likes of Brevis, Dube and Dhoni to come. Another loss loading at home? The dew is making things tough for the hosts. Lungi Ngidi returns. 3-0-22-1 so far.
Unlike most spinners, Krunal has taken 3 of his 13 wickets this season using short balls and bouncers, showcasing a variation beyond his usual left-arm spin. Yash Dayal is back on. 2-0-18-0 so far.
Jadeja on 49...
In RCB's previous match against DC, Krunal Pandya delivered an all-round performance - he remained unbeaten on 73 with the bat and picked up a wicket while conceding just 28 runs in his 4-over spell. But Patidar has gone back to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 2-0-31-0 so far.
Out of the 65 wickets taken by RCB, 42 (65 percent) have been by their pace unit. Skipper Rajat Patidar is back on the field now. Brings back Lungi Ngidi. 2-0-12-1 so far.
RCB have bowled well across all three phases and got wickets at a constant rate, with 40 percent of those coming in the middle overs (7-15). Meanwhile, RAJAT PATIDAR is off the field. Kohli is the stand-in skipper. Manoj Bhandage is the substitute fielder.
RCB's bowling unit has been exceptional this season; on average, they collectively pick at least 6 wickets in a match. Yash Dayal returns.1-0-12-0 so far.
Rajat Patidar gets his fingers some attention from the physio. That would have stung. Also, this can work as a nice way for RCB as well, if the break disturbs the concentration of the batters. Not much flinching from the Bengaluru skipper, so may not be that serious. Ready to resume.
Strategic Break. With nothing to lose, CSK has got off to an intent-laden start. Yes, they lost a couple of wickets inside the Powerplay, on yet another occasion, but they have somewhat maintained the tempo of this chase nicely. The run rate has hovered around 10s per over and they would like to keep it that way. Ayush Mhatre has got off to his fifty in some style and has batted with confidence, while Jadeja too, has got off the blocks in fine fashion. With dew settling in, it will be interesting to see how RCB bowlers stem the run flow from here. Here's Romario Shepherd into the attack. He replaces Lungi Ngidi.
RCB's Impact Sub, Suyash Sharma is into the attack now. He replaces Krunal Pandya.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru use their Impact Player as Suyash Sharma is swapped in for Devdutt Padikkal. Also, Krunal to continue after the powerplay phase.
Ravindra Jadeja is in at 4.
Here comes Lungi Ngidi into the attack, replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Sam Curran is in at number 3.
Krunal Pandya is back on. He replaces Yash Dayal.
Yash Dayal replaces Krunal Pandya.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to operate from the far end.