RCB vs SRH Pitch Report: How will the surface at Ekana Stadium play for today's match?

With a playoff spot already secured, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will aim to lock in a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 league stage—a feat they haven’t achieved since 2016—when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday. Sitting second on the table with 17 points from 12 matches, RCB need two more wins to guarantee a place in Qualifier 1, which would give them a valuable second shot at reaching the final.

Originally slated as a home game for RCB, the match was shifted due to monsoon conditions. Prior to the league’s interruption caused by the border conflict, RCB had hit their stride with four straight wins. However, their return to action ended in a washout, and the team will now look to recapture momentum after a 20-day break.

Virat Kohli has been in stellar form, racking up seven fifties in 11 innings. Skipper Rajat Patidar, along with Tim David and Romario Shepherd, has provided key support with the bat. While Patidar experienced a dip before the break, his recent net performances indicate he may be back in touch. On the bowling front, RCB have been sharp, with Suyash Sharma and Yash Dayal leading the charge, although pacer Josh Hazlewood remains sidelined.

RCB vs SRH: Pitch Report

The surface at Ekana Stadium promises to be a good one for batting, especially under lights. There’s a slight sheen on the pitch, suggesting early skid with the new ball, aiding strokeplay. Ground dimensions vary — 60m and 69m square, with a 75m straight boundary. Chasing has been the preferred strategy here, with teams enjoying more success batting second. Only one 200+ total has been recorded at this venue this season, which resulted in a win. With consistent bounce and minimal wear expected, this pitch is likely to favour batters throughout the 40 overs of play.

RCB vs SRH squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.