IPL Back in Raipur: RCB Host MI After 10 Years
Last IPL here: May 22, 2016. Raipur last hosted 6 IPL games between 2013-2016RCB’s new home: RCB shifted 2 home games to Raipur for IPL 2026. Played 5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Reason: Chinnaswamy faced uncertainty after June 4, 2025 stampede that killed 11. Got conditional clearance in Jan 2026. RCB committed to Raipur as second home venue. Local welcome: RCB squad immersed in Chhattisgarh culture, Godna art, tribal music ahead of game.
After they slipped in a banana-peel clash against Lucknow Super Giants, RCB lost their hold on a top-two spot in the points table. Moreover, Josh Hazlewood has gone at economy rates of 12.25 and 14 in his last two games, and Jacob Bethell has scored only 43 runs in four innings.
Things could have been different for Hazlewood if Jitesh Sharma had held on to Jos Buttler's catch during RCB's game against Gujarat Titans. Ifs and buts aside, he has been targeted and taken down - by Shubman Gill and Buttler at Ahmedabad and Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant in Lucknow.
Form: Lost last 2 games – 9-run DLS loss to LSG, loss to GT. Started 4 wins in 5, now “mid-tournament crisis”Table: 3rd with 12 points from 10 games, but RR/GT level on points could push RCB to 4thIssue: Batting “lost steam” – failed to chase 155 vs GT, couldn’t get 19 in final over vs LSGKey players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar C, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya.
Hardik Pandya: Missed last game with back spasm. Rejoined squad, final call before toss. Suryakumar Yadav: Missed last game for child’s birth. Confirmed available, may captain if Hardik out. Both struggling: Hardik 146 runs + 4 wickets in 8 games. SKY 195 runs @ 19.50Boost: Rohit Sharma 84 off 44 vs LSG signaled return to form.
Type: Black soil, slightly slower. Long boundaries – avg 80m+, longest 84mIPL record: 6 matches, 4 won chasing. Avg 1st inns 146. Highest 164/5Trend: Not high-scoring historically, but games were pre-Impact Player era 2013-2016Unknown factor: Fresh pitch, “green tinge” day before game suggests runs on offer. History: RCB beat DD here in 2016. Kohli scored 50, only survivor from that XI.
Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma returning among the runs gives them a boost as does Naman Dhir's handy contributions. Their failing middle order has been a downer, though.
Jasprit Bumrah's surprising stretch of poor form makes MI's bowling fragile. It has also left their powerplay bowling in a mess. Their economy of 11.61 is the worst of all teams this season and their average of 49.78 is the fourth-worst.
A lot of things need to come together for MI to win. They will have some hope, though, as RCB have suffered back-to-back losses to lower-ranked sides.
Bottom line: IPL returns to Raipur for first time since 2016 as defending champs RCB, desperate to snap 2-match losing streak, host MI who are fighting elimination. Long boundaries + unknown pitch add intrigue. For RCB it’s about regaining batting “firepower” at a new home. For MI, it’s survival with Hardik/SKY fitness key.
