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Virat Kohli To Destroy SRH? 4 Player Battles To Watch Out In RCB vs SRH IPL Match



Virat Kohli for RCB. [Source - IPL/x.com]Virat Kohli for RCB. [Source - IPL/x.com]

On Friday, May 23, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match 65 of IPL 2025. The encounter is set to take place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with the action kicking off at 7:30 PM IST.

Having already secured a spot in the playoffs, RCB will be now eyeing a strong finish to the league stage to cement their place in the top two of the points table. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, with nothing to lose, will look to play party spoilers and bow out of the tournament on a high by upsetting one of the title contenders.

Ahead of such a high-octane clash in Lucknow, here’s a look at some of the must-watch player battles for RCB vs SRH, Match 65 of IPL 2025.

1. Virat Kohli vs Mohammed Shami

Criterion
Data
Innings12
Runs
107
Dismissals
5
Average21.40
Strike-rate138.96
  • Virat Kohli has been a standout performer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season, showcasing his trademark consistency and flair at the top of the order.
  • However, he will face a familiar challenge in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami, who has troubled him in the past.
  • In their 12 IPL meetings, Shami has dismissed Kohli five times, with the RCB star scoring 107 runs at a strike rate of 138.96.

2. Virat Kohli vs Harshal Patel

Criterion
Data
Innings5
Runs
72
Dismissals
2
Average36
Strike-rate171.42
  • Another intriguing battle will be between Virat Kohli and Sunrisers' leading wicket-taker Harshal Patel.
  • The two have faced off five times in the IPL, with Kohli largely dominating the contest.
  • He has scored 72 runs at a brisk strike rate of 171.42 against Harshal, though the pacer has managed to dismiss him twice in this period.

3. Travis Head vs Krunal Pandya

Criterion
Data
Innings2
Runs
10
Dismissals
1
Average10
Strike-rate100
  • Travis Head has posed a significant threat to RCB in the recent past with his aggressive batting at the top.
  • However, this time RCB may have a counter in the form of Krunal Pandya, whose left-arm spin bowling has kept Head in check so far in IPL.
  • In their two IPL encounters, Krunal has not only restricted Head’s scoring but also dismissed him once, offering a promising matchup to watch out for.

4. Ishan Kishan vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Criterion
Data
Innings6
Runs
54
Dismissals
1
Average54
Strike-rate163.63
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be a key figure for RCB as he lines up against his former franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.
  • One of the standout battles to watch will be between him and Ishan Kishan, who will be eager to regain his form and extend his strong record against the veteran pacer.
  • In the past 6 encounters, Kishan has scored 54 runs off Bhuvneshwar at an impressive strike rate of 163.63, falling to him only once.