Rajasthan Royals Seek Revival Against RCB at Chinnaswamy: Dravid Returns to Bengaluru
The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season has witnessed a peculiar trend of former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) players returning to their former home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and playing pivotal roles in their team’s victories against RCB. Players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Yuzvendra Chahal have already haunted their former franchise. Now, it’s the turn of the inaugural RCB captain, Rahul Dravid, to return to Bengaluru, albeit as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Rajasthan Royals are in dire straits, having secured only two wins from their first eight matches and currently languishing on a four-game losing streak. Dravid acknowledges the gravity of the situation. In a pre-match press conference, he humorously remarked, “Do we have an RCB player from last time? Play him in the XI straightaway!” This was followed by a chuckle, seemingly overlooking the fact that both Wanindu Hasaranga and Shimron Hetmyer were once part of the RCB squad. Hasaranga, notably, was RCB’s leading wicket-taker during their 2022 playoff campaign.
Beyond the jest, Dravid emphasized that RR’s focus is solely on performance and not on sentimentality. “No, not at all. I don’t think about it like that, to be very honest,” he stated. “We know we have to play well to stay alive in this tournament. We’ve lost a couple of close games, but we’ve played some good cricket as well.” The close losses, particularly against Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, where RR fell short by narrow margins despite needing only nine runs in the final over with wickets in hand, have been particularly agonizing.
Dravid also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Chinnaswamy pitch this season. RCB’s home performances have been subpar, posting modest totals of 169, 163, and 95 (in a rain-affected match) and losing all three encounters. “I think every surface will be different,” Dravid observed. “The last one was under covers for a long time, so hard to judge. But the one for this game looks like a good cricket wicket. I think it should be a high-scoring game.”
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Dravid stated, “Every game from here on, in the position we find ourselves in, we can’t afford to make many mistakes. We’ve got to start climbing that table quickly — no options, no chances of slipping up anymore.”
The broader trend of teams struggling to win at home in IPL 2025 was also discussed. Only Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians boast a winning home record this season. Dravid attributed this partly to the significant reshuffling of squads following the mega auction. “It’s the first year of a big auction cycle. Even home players are playing at their new home grounds for the first time,” he explained. “Phil Salt was with KKR, now he’s at RCB. Nitish Rana is new to Jaipur. So, it takes time to build that familiarity. Maybe as the cycle progresses, home advantage will return.”
As Rajasthan Royals prepare to face Royal Challengers Bangalore, Dravid’s return to Bengaluru adds another layer to the narrative. For Rajasthan, the time for a turnaround is now, and who better to lead this charge than the man who once captained the Bengaluru franchise?
Official match statistics and key player performances will be crucial in determining the outcome of this encounter. The tactical battle between the two sides, especially considering the Chinnaswamy pitch factor, will be intriguing to watch. Will Rajasthan Royals finally break their losing streak, or will RCB continue their dominance over their former players?
