Raipur gears up for Kohli as RCB bring IPL action home

Raipur: The spotlight will be on Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bengaluru return to their adopted second home in Raipur for two high-voltage clashes in the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium will host RCB's marquee encounters against Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 10 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 13, both scheduled as day-night fixtures.According to the official schedule, the May 10 clash will see Mumbai Indians take on RCB at 7:30 PM in Raipur, followed by another prime-time fixture on May 13 where KKR face the Bengaluru outfit at the same venue.With RCB adopting Raipur as their second home ground, anticipation among Chhattisgarh's cricket fans has reached fever pitch. The prospect of watching Kohli — one of the modern greats and arguably the face of the league — has triggered unprecedented excitement in the region. Local fans, who rarely get to witness top-tier international stars live, are gearing up for a packed stadium atmosphere.The May 10 encounter promises a blockbuster face-off, with Mumbai Indians bringing in stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, power hitter Hardik Pandya and the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav. Their presence ensures that the Raipur crowd will witness some of the most explosive batting talents in T20 cricket. Three days later, KKR arrive with their own set of match-winners, adding further intensity to RCB's Raipur leg.