The Royal Challengers Bengaluru host the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur for match 57 of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Wednesday, May 13, and it's not just a battle for two points but for a spot in the playoffs, as a win tonight takes the defending champions to 16 points.

KKR, however, are playing a virtual knockout. Currently sitting on 9 points, the Knight Riders must win to keep their slim qualification hopes alive; a defeat tonight would end their campaign. Ahead of the match, all eyes are on the injury and availability updates of the star players Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Matheesha Pathirana. Are they playing today?

Phil Salt - Not Playing

According to the latest reports, the RCB explosive opener Phil Salt remains unavailable for today's clash. Salt is still recovering from a finger injury sustained while fielding earlier in the season against Delhi Capitals.

While he has reportedly rejoined the squad after seeking specialized assessment in England, he has not yet been cleared to return to the playing XI. In his absence, Jacob Bethell is expected to continue his partnership with Virat Kohli at the top.

Krunal Pandya - Playing

RCB fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Krunal Pandya is fit and ready to go. Krunal was the hero of the previous match, hammering a 73 off 46 balls to lead RCB to a last-ball thriller against the Mumbai Indians. During the match, he was seen struggling with severe cramps. After the game, Krunal shared an image of his brutal injury scar on his abdomen on his Instagram.

Apparently, to manage his workload after that heart-stopping performance, Krunal did not participate in Tuesday's practice session, choosing instead to rest and recover. However, he is expected to participate in today's match.

Varun Chakravarthy - Likely To Play

Kolkata Knight Riders are hopeful regarding the fitness of their primary wicket-taker, Varun Chakravarthy. "We've got our fingers crossed that he'll be available for tomorrow, but we're just not exactly sure," said Shane Watson about Varun, as mentioned by Cricbuzz.

The mystery spinner has been nursing a leg injury and was seen using a protective boot earlier in the week. However, given the "do-or-die" nature of this match, Varun is likely to push through the pain and feature in the starting XI.

Matheesha Pathirana - Not Playing

Despite early rumors of a return, Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana is expected to remain on the sidelines tonight. While reports suggest he is nearing full fitness, the team management has decided not to risk him as he continues to recover from a lingering hamstring strain. Commenting on his injury, Watson said, "Pathirana continues to push his case. 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."