Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 57 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The toss was delayed by 1.5 hours due to rain and a wet outfield, but there is no reduction in overs. A win for RCB would elevate them to the top of the points table and closer to a top-two finish.
After winning the toss, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar mentioned the changes in the team lineup with Venkatesh Iyer coming in for Romario Shepherd and Jacob Duffy replacing Suyash Sharma. Patidar expressed confidence in the pitch behaving similarly to the previous match and emphasized the team’s aim to maintain pressure while chasing.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane revealed that wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is sidelined due to a niggle, and left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey will make his IPL debut. Rahane highlighted the importance of simplicity, respect for opponents, and winning crucial moments in the game to secure victories.
The playing XIs for both teams were also announced, with Kolkata Knight Riders fielding Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane, and others, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru included players like Virat Kohli and Jacob Duffy. Impact substitutes for both sides were also listed for the match.
