9.30pm Toss time Patidar joins Iyer for the coin flip. The RCB skipper has lost both tosses at home so far. He will hope for better luck today. Punjab Kings win the toss and bowl. Cites the shortened game and rain and says he wants to have an idea of how the wicket will play. Stoinis replaces Maxwell! Harpreet Brar also in for PBKS. Patidar says RCB need to be smart in adapting to the situation and conditions. He says the surface looks pretty hard and they will want to put a good total on the board to keep PBKS under pressure. “I am a bit confused about the Impact Player, so same team,” he says.
Sai Gowtham: “Kohli vs Punjab in a rain shortened game in Chinnaswamy stadium. We’ve seen this before!”
9.28pm Thanks Himanshu. Finally, we are set for action!
Kalyanaraman: “I assume a 14-over-a-side match is immensely preferable to a 5-over shootout !!” I would think so too!
9.23pm Here’s what we’ve been waiting to hear for nearly two hours now: Toss at 9.30pm, and match starts at 9.45pm. Get your dinner dome, and gear up for what, I’m sure, is going to be a shootout at the Chinnaswamy. It will be a 14-overs game tonight. The powerplay will be of four overs. Five minutes short of the toss, here comes Abhimanyu to get things going. Let him know how much the team batting first will score?
Krishna: “Don’t tell me that they will take 30 mins after the toss to start…” — It shouldn’t under any circumstance tonight
A few RCB players are kicking the football about on the edge of one of the boundaries. So that’s a sign that the outfield has dried. Josh Hazlewood, though, is having a jog. The roller is out doing its job on the pitch, and as all things indicate, we’re hardly any distance away from the toss.
8.58pm And, and… the covers are coming off. The super sopper has started rolling around the ground, where the DJ and the PA are keeping the crowd going. Eight minutes after the covers started coming off, now even the main square has been rid of it. There are a few patches around the pitch, but with the drainage of this ground, you would trust them to be in good shape soon. Inspection at 9.10pm. Quiz question of the day: what did the crowd yell louder for – the covers coming off, or for Kohli jogging out on the field? Most would bet on only one of the two options.
8.55pm The umpires, with umbrella folded, walk out towards the pitch. Shashank, meanwhile, reports that the curators are lining up besides the boundary. Here’s more from: “The ground staff has queued up outside the boundary, waiting for the umpires to inspect. The drizzle has stopped for now. Let’s see if it comes back. The Chinnaswamy belts out a roar that can be heard many miles away.”
Amit: “Great job jinxing Warner.” — No idea how I could do that despite focusing on the non-rain in Bangalore!!
8.45pm Hello again, everyone. Did someone say Kohli of 2016?? T20 or Tests, Kohli was the boss all through. Those were the days… Meanwhile, you can always follow some T20 action in some part of the world. Today, it’s the PSL, where Karachi Kings are playing Quetta Gladiators. David Warner is off to a flyer there…
Himanshu’s turn again to keep you updated on the Chinnaswamy drizzle.
Vidyut: “Now i got reminded of 2016 Kohli again…… Wow that man was a different breed what a joy watching him bat” Indeed!
8.35pm It has been five minutes since the update was promised on broadcast. We have nothing yet, and there is no movement on the ground either. The visuals aren’t looking great. It’s still pouring at the venue.
Tanny: “Would have loved to see a link to the scorecard on Uzair Mir’s comment on the Kohli masterclass” Here you go.
Uzair Mir : “Bengaluru vs Punjab, Rain, Shortened game. Reminds me of that Kohli masterclass from 2016. Let’s hope we can see another one like that today.” That celebration lives rent free in my head!
Shashank has this to say: “The intensity of the drizzle has reduced, down to a thin drizzle again. But rules are rules – cricket’s tryst with rigidity….what do you even say”
We should have an update at 8.30pm, which is three minutes from now. Which is also when we start to lose overs.
8.25pm So, just a quick reminder about the happenings so far: it had been raining from a few hours prior to the scheduled toss, although it’s just been a drizzle. It stopped briefly before the drizzle returned, and we are still waiting. A reminder that 10.41pm local is the cut-off time for the toss, while 10.56pm is that for the start of play.
Raghav: “With the rain likely to aid spinners, I’m looking forward to the match up between Kohli and Chahal tonight!” So is Cheteshwar Pujara!
Sai: “Can someone tell me how the RCB management pulled of to bring rain as guest to end the losing streak at home?” – Modern problems require modern solutions?
Venkatakrishna : “In Las Vegas trip but eagerly waiting for the match to start..! RCB (we) need these two points ” Go hit the casinos, you’ll likely have better luck there.
Ankit Sharma: “17 years ago, I still remember sneaking away from my AIEEE engineering exam prep to catch IPL matches behind my parents’ backs. What a ride it’s been – IPL, you’ve aged like fine wine.” Always a fan of avoiding studies to watch sports!
As we wait, let’s catch you up on the latest news from the IPL: Dasun Shanaka has joined Gujarat Titans as Glenn Phillips’ injury replacement. And CSK have snapped up Dewald Brevis as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh.
Ddn: “Don’t you worry. There’ll be a repeat of this game with both the teams on Sunday “
Dr. Suraj: “Lets play football if it rains. I really want to see VK as striker” Yeah, rain, snow, nothing stops that sport, does it?! And well, I do remember a Kohli interview where he said something about being able to play like Cristiano Ronaldo. So I guess, he wants to see himself playing up front too!
Jaikar: “Watching Viv Richards hammering England for a 56 ball century which happened around this time 4 decades back”. Interesting that this has come up in conversation today, as it was the record for the fastest Test ton until Brendon McCullum broke it in his final game!
Rakesh: “@Jeff.. Bharat Sudaresan’s The Miracle Maker is a good one. Still gives goosebumps while reading.”
Vaibs: “I stay in Indiranagar which is less than 5 km from Chinnaswamy stadium and I dont see a single drop of rain here. This is Bengaluru weather for you!!”
8.05 Thanks, Himanshu. Truffle fries always do the trick! Also, @Ajit Settlers of Catan is addictive!
Satish: “I am watching Gavaskar 1979 heroics against England on YouTube“. Great, now I have something to watch if this wait continues for too long!
8pm Ummm, Shashank says “the rain has gotten heavier“. There’s hardly a sign of the game starting, and hence the wait and the hope stretches further. With that bit of (bad) news, I hand back to Abhimanyu, who has just had a plate full of snacks.
Jeff: “Any more cricket book recommendations whilst we wait?” — Over the last month or so, I have read Dickie Bird’s Not Out, and Gideon Haigh’s The Green and Golden Age
Jim: “Watching the Saudi Arabia GP practice while waiting for the Bengaluru rain to stop. Fingers crossed!”
Ajit: “From Chicago, playing Catan online!”
7.50pm Unfortunately, it is still drizzling at the Chinnaswamy. So the wait continues. In the meanwhile, let us know what is keeping you occupied in the meanwhile. I’m being kept busy these days by Suresh Menon’s book Bishan on the great left-arm spinner.
Aditya: “On this day, 17 years back, me and my then girlfriend had sneaked out for a weekend getaway. I remember watching some bits of McCullum’s blitz in the bar. Fast forward to today, and we’re happily married with two beautiful kids” — Finally something to give McCullum’s epic from that day some competition
Ramesh Iyengar: “God, please make the rain stop – an ardent fan following Cricinfo between two continents, 30,000 feet in the air..” — Using the WiFly??
7.24pm Here’s Shashank reporting from the dry press box: “The covers are firmly in place because the thin drizzle is back. The Chinnaswamy seems like a giant party waiting to take off.”
We’ve just heard on the broadcast that 10.41pm local is the cut-off time for the toss, while 10.56pm is that for the start of play.
Raj Patel: “If only Brendon faced 73 balls in this year’s IPL instead of the 2008 season, would we have seen the first double hundred in IPL? Who else says yes?” — Great point to which we just don’t say yes, but roar it aloud
Sunny Murthy: “I was there was 17 years ago watching the inaugural match of IPL when Brendon smashed 158… boy, that was some hitting… the best league in the world was born that day…”
Hello, everyone. What this delay has done is given me enough time to go back to this day 17 years ago. The opening night of the inaugural IPL took us into the future, and today, in 2025, IPL cricket is a separate world by itself. A few lakhs of INR have turned into a few crores, lives have changed, careers have taken unexpected turns, and what not.
With that, I’m going to take a breather. Himanshu is here to keep you company. Meanwhile, you can keep yourselves entertained with this quiz.
7.12pm I don’t know if this means anything, but one of the umpires has just walked out to the middle. Drizzle has stopped Shashank tells me from the ground. Huge cheer as the fourth umpire walks out. He is currently going around the covers on the main square and having a word with some more officials.
7.10pm So, over the last week, the bat size checks have been a hot topic. Here’s a quick explainer for any doubts you may have. Also, it’s still drizzling.
6.59pm It is official: the toss has been delayed.
Sheetal: “Please stop rain, I have planned a surprise for my boy friend Amar, Wanna propose him in stadium..” He’d better not be reading this app!
Andrew: “I think RCB should give Bethell an opportunity here at home, Livingstone has not exactly gotten off the blocks and RCB can do with another left hander in that middle order and a useful left arm spinner.” He’s an exciting talent for sure!
Abhishek: “Comon rain, come anothwr day.. I took half day leave for the match ! to skip meetings !”
Suvan: “I have to finish my studies for tomorrows exam, thanks for the rain I have more time!”
6.50pm So, what are the matchups to look out for? Who are the players to watch? And how are these sides likely to line up? Dive into Shashank’s preview for all your answers.
Harish: “Looks like God don’t want me to spend money. Last time I visited here, match was fully washed out and got refund.” Just leaving this here so the rest of the fans know who to blame if there’s a similar outcome today!
Walt: “1am here in NZ. Currently listening to rain hammer my roof. Disappointed it sounds like there may not be any cricket action! ” Well, there is a PSL game to look forward to as well!
6.45pm It’s a homecoming for another former RCB player, who has been in the spotlight for PBKS for all the wrong reasons. Glenn Maxwell has not found any kind of form, and he and his team will be desperate for him to start getting some runs. He’s bowling better than he is batting at the moment. Can he change that against his former team? Check out Shashank Kishore’s piece on the Australian maverick’s return to the Chinnaswamy.
Mustafa Moudi : “Today we have completed 17 years of IPL, when KKR and RCB played the Inaugural Match and Mccullum gave us the demo of how big the tournament is going to be. Interestingly, RCB is again in action today and Kohli is part of it again. Also, Ricky Ponting who played for KKR is the Head Coach of PBKS !!”
6.40pm This match is a homecoming of sorts for Yuzvendra Chahal, who spent many a year toiling away in the batting paradise that has been the Chinnaswamy (until this year anyway!). Mohammed Siraj made a stunning return to his former home ground earlier in the year. Can Chahal, who has hurt RCB in the past when he was with Rajasthan Royals, do so? He has had a patchy start to the season, but in PBKS’ last game, he was back in his element in typical style.
6.37pm Shashank Kishore reports from the ground that there is steady rain now, and we are likely to see a delayed start. “Entirely under covers. The main square and side squares,” he says.
6.35pmBoth these teams are in the top four, with IPL 2025 approaching the halfway stage. They are among four teams locked on eight points, although fifth-placed LSG have played a game more than the other three, and Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer will both look to secure two points. RCB come into this game after coasting to victory against Rajasthan Royals, while Punjab Kings will be flying high on confidence after their thrilling defence of their 111 total against KKR.
6.30pm Good evening folks. It’s a cool evening in Bengaluru today, but more importantly, a wet one! Yes, we start off with some worrisome news – it’s raining in the Garden City. But the good news is that it’s a light drizzle, so hopefully we will get a full game! Coming to which, it’s the third home game for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but they haven’t quite felt at home at the Chinnaswamy this year. Can they turn it around against a mercurial Punjab Kings tonight? Find out with ESPNcricinfo’s live coverage of Match #34. I’m Abhimanyu, and I’ll be your eyes and ears along with Himanshu Agrawal.
And we have some early comments already! samir d: “Rain starts ➡️ Players panic ➡️ DLS confuses ➡️ Owners pray ➡️ Fans cry. Repeat every year.” Well, the crowd has started coming in already even as the rain comes down. Fingers crossed they get their money’s worth!
5.35pm We wanted to wish you a happy welcome but unfortunately the first bit of news coming out of the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru is that there is some rain around. The Royal Challengers have been a great watch in IPL 2025, going to places where they’ve historically struggled and beating the odds. Perhaps they’ll be able to beat the odds when it comes to bad weather too. Stay turned for further updates.