Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 65th match of IPL 2025. Originally, the game was scheduled at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, due to a rain threat, officials have shifted the match to Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It will begin at 7:30 PM on May 23.
RCB Eyes Top-Two Finish
Rajat Patidar leads RCB this season. So far, the team has collected 17 points from 12 matches and sits in second place. Therefore, a win in this match will boost their chances of finishing in the top two. Furthermore, if they win their next game against Lucknow Super Giants, they will reach 21 points and secure that position. RCB has looked strong and well-balanced throughout the season. Hence, they will aim to continue their momentum after the short break.
SRH Wants to End Well
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad is out of the playoff race. However, they still aim to finish the season on a high note. Pat Cummins leads the side. In fact, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen have shown excellent form and will look to maintain it.
Interestingly, SRH has hit the fewest sixes this season. This is surprising because they were expected to play with aggression. Additionally, fans are waiting to see if Travis Head returns to the squad after missing matches due to COVID-19.
Other Teams Back SRH
On the other hand, playoff-qualified teams are hoping for an SRH win. If RCB loses, the race for a top-two spot becomes wide open. Clearly, RCB is one of the top contenders for the title.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Lucknow has changed recently. Earlier, it supported spinners. Now, it favors batters. As a result, teams will prefer to bowl first. Moreover, anything over 190 runs will be a strong total. Both RCB and SRH have deep batting line-ups. Therefore, fans can expect a high-scoring game.
Weather Report
According to AccuWeather, the temperature in Lucknow will be around 38°C at the start of the match. Later, it will cool down to about 32°C. Additionally, humidity will stay between 33% and 47%. Most importantly, the sky will remain clear and there is little to no chance of rain.