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Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Betting Preview, Odds & Predictions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Kolkata Knight Riders in a critical IPL group match in Raipur. RCB, fresh off a last-ball win, tops the table, while KKR needs at least three more wins to secure a playoff spot after an impressive recent run. The match is expected to be affected by challenging pitch conditions and extreme heat. Expert predictions back RCB to win, highlighting Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Finn Allen as key picks for top bowler and run-scorer, while Varun Chakravarthy is tipped for multiple wickets for KKR.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back on top of the table after beating Mumbai Indians.
- Kolkata Knight Riders have won their last four matches on the bounce to stay in the playoff hunt.
- Explore betting opportunities in handicaps, batters to Score Over/Under Runs, bowlers to Take Over/Under Wickets markets and Match Sixes.
Expired
Finn Allen is back in the runs in the IPL (Getty Images).
This Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders prediction preview looks ahead to the IPL group match played in India. The Royal Challengers are pushing hard to end the group stages on top and are showing the form needed to achieve that.
The Knight Riders need to win three of their remaining four games to hit the playoffs, and possibly four wins will be needed. They pulled off two dominating wins in their last two matches and look to have the form needed to scrape into the top four at the end of the group stages.
Match Details
| Match | |
|---|---|
| Competition | Indian Premier League |
| Date | 13 May 2026 |
| Time | 16:00 SAST |
| Venue | Raipur, India |
Recent Form
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | WWLLW |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | LWWWW |
The Knight Riders are riding the crest of a wave of four wins on the back of a poor start to the season. The Royal Challengers have recovered from their back-to-back defeats by beating Mumbai Indians to go back to the top of the table on net run rate.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season | Winner | Margin of victory | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Match Abandoned | No result | IPL |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7 wickets | IPL |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1 run | IPL |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 7 wickets | IPL |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 21 runs | IPL |
The Knight Riders hold a 20-15 win dominance over the Royal Challengers across their IPL history, including boasting the highest score (222) while restricting the Royal Challengers to the lowest innings score (49) in their clashes.
Team News
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The Royal Challengers are back on top of the table after a thrilling last-ball win over the Mumbai Indians on a tricky pitch. With Kohli out for a first-ball duck the team has been boosted by the middle-order offering excellent support to chase down Mumbai’s target.
Possible XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar.
Kolkata Knight Riders: The three-time former IPL champions have pulled out all the stops to get back into the frame for the playoffs with a string of wins. Their team is now well balanced and enjoying form across bat and ball and are in a good position to take on all-comers.
Possible XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Key Stats
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Devdutt Padikkal hit 55, 34*, 40 & 34 in 5 knocks.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli is 10th on the runs list (379 runs, ave 42.1).
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 4/23 against Mumbai Indians.
- Kolkata Knight Riders’ Finn Allen hit 10 sixes in his 47-ball 100* vs Delhi Capitals.
- Kolkata Knight Riders’ Cameron Green has scored 79, 27, 34 & 33* in 4 knocks.
- Kolkata Knight Riders’ Varun Chakravarthy has taken 10 wickets in his last 5 matches.
Match Analysis
The last match at Raipur saw the Royal Challengers restrict the Mumbai Indians to a score of 166/7 off their 20 overs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar starring with the ball yet again. The Challengers scraped home for a two-wicket win off the last ball of the match, hitting nine sixes to the six struck by the Mumbai batters.
It was the first time this season that an IPL match had been staged at the ground and it served up a tough strip for the batters, staying slow and low throughout the 40 overs. Batters will need to take their time getting the pace and bounce of the wicket before being too ambitious with their strokeplay, which will make it essential for the batters to make the most of the powerplay.
There is likely to again be some life in the track for the new-ball bowlers and the soft nature of the track will play to the advantage of spin bowlers through the middle overs.
It’s set to be a very hot and sunny day with temperatures hitting over 40°C, and the enormous boundaries will tire batters and fielders in the heat. A winning score is likely to be in touching distance of 190.
Betting Markets to Watch
Result
With home ground advantage and the confidence from getting back to winning ways I’m backing the Royal Challengers to bring a halt to the Knight Riders’ winning streak.
Best Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bowler
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is backed to be the best Royal Challengers bowler as he is top of the IPL wickets list with 21 wickets at an economy rate of 7.5. He has taken 3/5, 3/28 and 4/23 in his last four matches.
Score Over/Under Runs
Finn Allen is back in the side after almost a month on the bench and has knocked up scores of 29 and 100* and looks a good bet to keep the runs flowing.
Take Over/Under Wickets
Varun Chakravarthy has figures of 2/34, 3/14, 2/33 & 3/36 in his last four matches and is a good bet to take two or more wickets in this match.
Latest Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Win | 1.62 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders Win | 2.15 |
| Match to go to a Super Over | 29.00 |
Verdict
The Royal Challengers are backed to win, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar a great pick to be their best bowler.
Varun Chakravarthy is worth backing to take more than one wicket, while Finn Allen is a good call to score 30 or more runs.
Varun Chakravarthy is worth backing to take more than one wicket, while Finn Allen is a good call to score 30 or more runs.
Royal Challengers Win
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