Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet on Friday 23 May 2025 in Match 65 of the Indian Premier League, a fixture hurried north to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow after heavy rain rendered the Chinnaswamy outfield unplayable. RCB arrive with a guaranteed playoff berth and an eye on the top-two, while SRH are without qualification hope after an inconsistent campaign. A neutral venue adds intrigue and removes any home-ground familiarity, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash under the lights. Continue reading for our prediction ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Preview
RCB sit second on the table with eight wins, three losses and one no-result, their most recent run featuring four straight victories before the wash-out against KKR on 17 May. Wins over Chennai, Delhi and a Rajasthan double underline momentum built on an assertive top order and disciplined death bowling.
By contrast SRH have managed four wins, seven defeats and one abandoned game. They won their most recent match by chasing 206 against Lucknow on 19 May, yet overall returns leave them eighth and unable to sneak into the top four. An erratic bowling unit has leaked in the powerplay, and the middle order has too often left Heinrich Klaasen to repair innings.
Ekana Stadium is a surface where stroke-play is rewarded once set, but the new ball grips early and large square boundaries test clearing power. The average first-innings total in IPL matches here is 167, with ten of nineteen contests won by the chasing team, so captains lean toward fielding first unless the pitch looks tired. Forecasts point to clear skies for Friday night and minimal humidity, a welcome change from sodden Bengaluru.
Betting Insights
Markets rate RCB clear favourites. The win line shows RCB at 1.55 at Dafabet while SRH are priced at 2.46. Virat Kohli heads the Top Batter chart at 3.85, Klaasen follows at 6.40, and Rajat Patidar sits 7.00. With Ekana’s first-innings mean only 167, total runs bands around 160-170 have attracted money through mid-week trading.
- Match winner – RCB 1.55, SRH 2.46
- Player of the Match favourites – Kohli 4.90, Abishek 8.20, Klaasen 8.20
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Lineups
RCB probable XI
- Rajat Patidar – captain – top order
- Virat Kohli – top order
- Mayank Agarwal – top order
- Phil Salt – wicket-keeper – opener
- Tim David – finisher
- Liam Livingstone – all-round option
- Krunal Pandya – spin all-rounder
- Romario Shepherd – pace all-rounder
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – swing bowler
- Lungi Ngidi – fast bowler
- Yash Dayal – left-arm pace
SRH probable XI
- Travis Head – opener
- Ishan Kishan – wicket-keeper – opener
- Abhinav Manohar – middle order
- Heinrich Klaasen – middle order
- Abhishek Sharma – spin all-rounder
- Harshal Patel – seam all-rounder
- Pat Cummins – captain – fast bowler
- Mohammad Shami – bowler
- Jaydev Unadkat – left-arm seam
- Rahul Chahar – leg-spinner
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – all-rounder
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Prediction
Conditions in Lucknow even the playing field slightly, yet RCB’s batting depth and form remain decisive. Patidar, Kohli, and Salt have combined for 1,112 runs at a collective strike rate above 150, and Livingstone has chipped in vital over-the-rope blows during slog overs. Pace duo Ngidi and Shepherd possess cutters that suit the abrasive Lucknow surface, and Pandya’s left-arm spin adds control. Cummins’ attack has lacked penetration on sluggish decks, and unless Head delivers fury in the powerplay, SRH could again stall through the middle.
The toss could sway the margin rather than the outcome. Batting first, RCB should target 175. Fielding first, they will aim to restrict SRH to under 160 and reel the target in calmly. Either way, the value play is RCB win and Kohli 50 at boosted odds, with Head top SRH run-scorer as a hedge. Final call: RCB to clinch victory by six wickets or fifteen runs and tighten their grip on second place.
