ipl 2026 The race for the playoffs continues to heat up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) get ready to take Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high pressure competition Raipur. RCB currently top the points table with seven wins from 11 matches and are just one win away from officially sealing a playoff spot. Meanwhile, KKR have rejuvenated their campaign with four consecutive wins and will be keen to continue their late season surge.
Bengaluru are going into the match with confidence after achieving a thrilling two-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in their last game. Krunal Pandya’s Match winning innings and brilliant spell Bhuvneshwar Kumar A thrilling last-ball contest helped RCB overtake MI. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders arrived with their momentum after an impressive eight-wicket win against Delhi Capitals. a century from finn allen and disciplined bowling Sunil Narine And Karthik Tyagi Helped KKR to win against DC.
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium Pitch Report
The surface at Raipur is traditionally known to be a black soil wicket which generally plays at a slow pace. The pitch generally favors spinners and medium pacers, making it a bit difficult to strike in the early stages of the innings.
Another major factor at this site is the large boundary dimensions, with some sections spanning close to 84 metres. Power-hitters often find it difficult to clear the ropes consistently here, increasing the importance of strike rotation and running between the wickets. Historically, teams chasing targets have had success here and have won four out of the six IPL matches played here. There is also a possibility of dew in the evening, the captain winning the toss will prefer to bowl first.
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Raipur weather forecast
Despite rain in the city in the last 24 hours, the weather in Raipur is expected to be favorable for cricket. Conditions have improved significantly ahead of the match and the sky is likely to remain clear in the evening. The temperature is expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius at the start of the game, making for relatively pleasant conditions compared to many other IPL venues this season. Cloud cover is expected to be minimal, while the chance of rain is only 1%, making disruptions very unlikely.
A steady southerly breeze around 15 km/h may provide some assistance to fast bowlers with the new ball, while occasional gusts may affect lofted shots. Humidity levels are expected to remain manageable at around 41%. Dew could still be a factor during the second innings, although it is not expected to be too much. Nevertheless, given the possibility of a slightly slippery ball later in the contest, teams may still prefer to chase under lights.
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