As the Kolkata Knight Riders gear up for a crucial match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 this Saturday, batter Manish Pandey shared his thoughts on this significant encounter. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the continuation of the IPL's 18th season, revealing the schedule for the remaining 17 matches after a week-long suspension due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

During the pre-match press conference, Pandey remarked, “We have nothing to lose at this point. We could have performed better as a team, and we have discussed this. We faced a critical loss earlier, but with two matches remaining, every player is eager to showcase their skills. Playing at a venue like Chinnaswamy, especially with RCB fans present, makes us want to secure a victory against them.”

The rivalry between the Knight Riders and RCB has been intense for many years. One of the most memorable matches occurred in 2017 when Kolkata's bowlers dismantled the Bengaluru batting lineup for just 49 runs, marking the lowest total in IPL history.

In the past decade, KKR has maintained a stronghold over RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, remaining undefeated at this venue since 2015.

As the IPL resumes on May 17, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face off against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.