With the IPL 2025 set to resume on May 17th, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are expecting the majority of their overseas players to arrive in Bengaluru between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Their first match back is a crucial encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KKR’s West Indian stars, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, and team mentor Dwayne Bravo, have been in Dubai since departing India following the IPL’s one-week suspension on May 9th due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. The subsequent ceasefire announcement on May 10th paved the way for the league’s resumption, prompting teams to recall their international players.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, currently in Kabul, will meet the West Indian group in Dubai before they all travel to India. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje is scheduled to join the KKR squad directly in Bengaluru from the Maldives.
All-rounder Moeen Ali (in the UK) and fast bowler Spencer Johnson (in Australia) are currently the furthest away, and the team is awaiting confirmation on their availability, although indications suggest they will return. There is still no confirmation regarding the return of Quinton de Kock. Meanwhile, KKR’s Indian players and support staff are expected to arrive in Bengaluru in phases starting Wednesday.
KKR currently sit sixth on the points table with five wins and one no-result from their 12 matches. To have a realistic chance of qualifying for the playoffs, they need to win both of their remaining league games: the upcoming match against RCB and their final league fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi on May 25th, to reach a total of 15 points.
The IPL’s revised schedule, announced on Monday, includes 13 remaining league matches and four playoff games. The remaining league matches will be played across six venues: Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The locations for the playoffs, which are scheduled for Qualifier 1 on May 29th, the Eliminator on May 30th, Qualifier 2 on June 1st, and the final on June 3rd, have not yet been announced.
