In match number 65 of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday, May 23, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Originally scheduled at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the game was moved due to rain forecasts.

Stakes for Both Teams

RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, are eyeing a win to secure a place in the top two of the points table and gain a playoff advantage. Meanwhile, SRH, under Pat Cummins, have already bowed out of the playoff race. However, they’ll be looking to wrap up their season with pride by winning their remaining fixtures.

Teams already in the playoffs will be backing SRH in hopes that they derail RCB’s top-two finish push.

Pitch Report – Ekana Cricket Stadium

The surface at Ekana has typically been on the slower side, favoring bowlers—especially pacers. Batters may find the large boundaries tough to clear. However, the last IPL game here saw a total of 400+ runs, proving it can also be a high-scoring venue.

• Toss-winning captain is expected to opt for bowling first due to the anticipated dew factor in the second innings.

Weather Forecast – Lucknow

Conditions will be warm but dry:

• Temperature: Starts at 38°C, dips to 32°C by match end
• Humidity: 33% to 47%
• Rain: No significant threat; clear skies expected

Stadium Stats – Ekana Cricket Stadium (IPL)

• Total matches: 20
• Batting first wins: 8
• Batting second wins: 11
• Avg. first innings score: 170
• Highest total: 236
• Lowest total: 108
• Highest chase: 177

RCB at Ekana

• Matches: 1
• Wins: 1

SRH at Ekana

• Matches: 2
• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1
• Highest score: 206

Head-to-Head Record

• Total matches: 24
• RCB wins: 11
• SRH wins: 12

Likely Playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga, Atharva Taide

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma