Rangpur Riders vs Chattogram Royals, 5th Match

As the Bangladesh Premier League 2025-26 heats up, the Rangpur Riders face off against the Chattogram Royals in the 5th match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The Riders have had a mixed start to the season, showing moments of brilliance but struggling with consistency, especially in death overs bowling. Their batting core revolves around experienced campaigners who have shown ability to anchor innings but need to accelerate more efficiently. On the other hand, the Chattogram Royals come into this fixture with a relatively strong track record and better recent form, having won three of their last five matches. They possess a solid bowling lineup that has been effective in restricting opponents on pitches like Sylhet. The head-to-head record between these two franchises leans slightly in favor of Chattogram Royals, who have triumphed in 6 out of their last 10 encounters. However, the Riders have displayed resilience, making this contest evenly poised. Key players such as the Riders’ explosive top-order batsman and Royals’ all-rounder showing form with both bat and ball will be crucial. Strategies will likely focus on exploiting Sylhet’s slow-paced pitch by utilizing spinners effectively. The Royals’ superior bowling depth might give them a strategic advantage, while the Riders will need to counter with aggressive batting upfront and tight fielding.

AI suggested match winner: Rangpur Riders: 47%, Chattogram Royals: 53%

If the Rangpur Riders bat first, a total around 160-165 runs is achievable considering their strong power-hitting lineup and the Sylhet pitch which tends to slow down in the later stages. However, slow pitch conditions could see early wickets if they lose their top order. Conversely, if Chattogram Royals bat first, they are likely to score between 155-160, leveraging their solid middle order to stabilize after a cautious start. Given the pitch's nature, scores in the range of 155-165 will be competitive, with the game likely decided by effective bowling strategies and timely hitting in the death overs.

The Sylhet International Cricket Stadium pitch is historically slow and low, favoring spinners and batsmen who can rotate the strike well. The average first-innings score here in previous BPL matches has been around 158, indicating a balanced contest between bat and ball. Teams chasing have a modest success rate of about 53%, suggesting the pitch offers some help to bowlers under lights or in the second innings. Weather forecasts predict a bright and dry day with temperatures around 28°C, no rain expected, ideal for a full game. The bench of spinners Harry Jadhav and Mustafizur Rahman have claimed the highest wickets on this ground, while Tamim Iqbal holds record for highest individual score among these teams here with a brilliant 93. Both sides might lean heavily on their spin attack and middle-order batsmen accustomed to playing slow pitches.

Matches Played	Rangpur Riders Wins	Chattogram Royals Wins
10	4	6

Team Recent Performance

Team	Last 5 Matches
Rangpur Riders	W, L, W, L, L
Chattogram Royals	W, W, L, W, L

Rangpur Riders:

Soumya Sarkar: Recently, Sarkar has been instrumental with aggressive starts, scoring at a strike rate above 140, providing momentum upfront for the Riders.

Ashiqur Rahman: The young pacer has impressed with consistent wicket-taking ability in the middle overs and economical spells on similar pitches.

Najmul Hossain Shanto: Shanto has anchored innings well under pressure, showing maturity with key fifties in the last BPL games.

Chattogram Royals:

Mahmudullah Riyad: Mahmudullah is in fine batting form, scoring crucial runs at a healthy average and also contributes handy off-spin bowling.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman: The spinner has been exceptional on slow tracks, with an economy under 6 in T20s and multiple wicket hauls recently.

Tamim Iqbal: A consistent performer and the best batsman at Sylhet, Tamim has provided solid starts with fifties in past encounters against Rangpur.