In a crucial IPL 2026 match, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru face the Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur, with key injury updates on players Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Matheesha Pathirana.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to host the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur for match 56 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Wednesday, May 13. This match is not just about securing two points; it is pivotal for playoff aspirations. A victory for RCB would elevate them to 16 points, while KKR, currently sitting at 9 points, faces a must-win situation to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive. A loss would effectively end their campaign.
As the teams prepare for this do-or-die clash, all eyes are on the injury status and availability of key players, including Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Phil Salt – Not Playing
Unfortunately for RCB, explosive opener Phil Salt will not be participating in today’s match. He is still recovering from a finger injury sustained earlier in the season while fielding against the Delhi Capitals. Although Salt has rejoined the squad after receiving specialized treatment in England, he has not yet been cleared to return to the playing XI. In his absence, Jacob Bethell is expected to continue opening alongside Virat Kohli.
Krunal Pandya – Playing
In a positive development for RCB fans, Krunal Pandya is fit and ready to play. He was instrumental in RCB’s last match, scoring 73 runs off 46 balls in a thrilling finish against the Mumbai Indians. Despite experiencing severe cramps during that game and sharing a photo of a significant injury scar on his abdomen on Instagram, Krunal opted to rest and recover instead of participating in Tuesday’s practice session. However, he is expected to take the field tonight.
Varun Chakravarthy – Likely To Play
The Kolkata Knight Riders are optimistic about the fitness of their leading wicket-taker, Varun Chakravarthy. Shane Watson, KKR’s coach, expressed cautious hope regarding Varun’s availability, stating, “We’ve got our fingers crossed that he’ll be available for tomorrow, but we’re just not exactly sure.” The mystery spinner has been dealing with a leg injury and was seen in a protective boot earlier in the week. Given the high stakes of this match, it is likely that Varun will push through the discomfort to feature in the starting XI.
Matheesha Pathirana – Not Playing
Despite earlier speculation about a potential return, Sri Lankan pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana is expected to remain sidelined for this match. While he is reportedly nearing full fitness, team management has decided against risking him as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain. Watson commented on Pathirana’s situation, saying, “He’s fit and ready to go. Just with the way our team’s been set up, it’s been obviously hard for him to get in the actual 11-12 to play.”
As the match approaches, both teams will finalize their playing XI, with RCB looking to secure their playoff spot and KKR fighting for survival in the tournament.
According to The Sunday Guardian, the anticipated lineups for both teams are as follows:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer/Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar/Jacob Duffy.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy/Navdeep Saini.