Rain Disrupts RCB vs KKR IPL Clash in Bengaluru; Spotlight on Virat Kohli After Test Retirement

Bengaluru, 17th May 2025: Heavy rain has thrown the much-anticipated IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) into uncertainty at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with the toss delayed and groundstaff working tirelessly to make play possible. The downpour, forecasted to hit Bengaluru throughout the evening, has already cost valuable time, and officials are eyeing a tight window to squeeze in at least a five-overs-a-side contest before the cut-off time. If the rain persists and the match is washed out, both teams will share points, a result that would end KKR’s playoff hopes this season.

The resumption of the IPL after a week-long break due to military tensions between India and Pakistan had fans eager for action, but the weather has instead dominated proceedings. As the teams wait in the dressing rooms, all eyes remain firmly on Virat Kohli, who is playing his first game since announcing his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. Kohli’s decision stunned the cricketing world, ending a legendary red-ball career that saw him amass over 9,000 runs and 30 centuries for India.

RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat addressed the attention on Kohli, saying, “Virat Kohli’s just business as usual. There’s enough of the public and nation’s attention on him, he doesn’t want any more of that. He just wants to get on with business, he is usually ambitious about what we can achieve with RCB. That’s his focus.” Bobat added, “He should be incredibly proud of what he’s done as a Test player for India. To play 120 plus test matches and to score nearly 10,000 runs is no mean feat.”