Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar during a practice session ahead of the IPL match against Mumbai Indians. | Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

For the first time in two seasons, there seems to be some wear and tear in the otherwise well-oiled Royal Challengers Bengaluru machinery.

The defending champion looked set to comfortably finish in the top two and seal its place in Qualifier 1 after six wins in its first eight games. But back-to-back losses have pulled the side right into the multi-team melee for Playoff qualification.

The Rajat Patidar-led side will have to get to grips with unfamiliar territory at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur and outclass a recuperating Mumbai Indians side on Sunday to arrest the slide.

The IPL bandwagon shifts to the Chhattisgarh capital for the first time since 2016. The ground hosted six games across three seasons as a secondary home venue for the erstwhile Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals). The small sample space indicates that the venue hasn’t been high-scoring, with 160 proving to be a winning total. But, in this era of blazing PowerPlay starts and persistent hitting through the middle overs, it remains to be seen if it will offer a fair contest between bat and ball. The green tinge on the surface on matchday minus one also indicates that there will be a lot more runs on offer.

Virat Kohli, who scored a steady half-century on the day, is the sole remaining survivor from the RCB side that won at this venue ten seasons ago. MI opener Quinton de Kock, too, had recorded a fifty in that encounter for DD.

Kohli’s successful opening partnership with Phil Salt was fractured due to a finger injury sustained by the latter. In his absence, fellow Englishman Jacob Bethell has managed just 43 runs across four innings. The think tank might be tempted to open with free-scoring Devdutt Padikkal and bring in Venkatesh Iyer to open up a slot for Jacob Duffy, who impressed with the ball in hand when he deputised for Josh Hazlewood in the early part of the season.

Rohit Sharma’s return from a hamstring injury proved to be a timely boost for MI to salvage a floundering season. The former captain’s 44-ball 84 and a 143-run opening stand with Ryan Rickelton helped his side make short work of Lucknow Super Giants’ 229-run target in its previous match.

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The form of marquee stars Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav will be of concern for the five-time champion. Skipper Hardik has picked up only four wickets this season at an average of 61.50. He also has only 146 runs to show in eight innings with the bat, too. Suryakumar has tallied just 195 runs at 19.50.

After missing the previous encounter due to a back spasm, Hardik is yet to be declared fit for the upcoming game. The final call will be taken before the toss, the team management said. Suryakumar, who had flown back home for the birth of his child, will join the team on the day of the match.

A short but intense burst of rain hit the stadium on the eve of the encounter, causing a slight delay to the practice sessions. A returning drizzle forced the teams to shut shop earlier than planned. Conditions are expected to be much better come matchday. MI, especially, will hope that the rain stays away. Anything less than two points will mean the side will miss out on the Playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.

Published on May 09, 2026