Rangpur Riders face Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday, 29 December, in the 2025-26 Bangladesh Premier League.
Rangpur finished top of the table in BPL 2024 with nine wins from 12 matches before losing the second qualifier to Fortune Barishal. They look well covered this time. Litton Das scored 368 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37 with a strike rate above 143, and Dawid Malan and Kyle Mayers add stability and aggression. Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy and Iftikhar Ahmed strengthen the middle order. Mustafizur Rahman took 13 wickets last season, Nayeem Hasan bowls off-spin and young quick Nahid Rana adds pace.
Chattogram started with a 65-run win over Noakhali Express after posting 174 for 6, with opener Mirza Baig making a well-paced 80. Mohammad Naim, the leading run-scorer last season with 511 at an average of 42.58, heads a solid batting group that includes Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Masood Gurbaz. Shoriful Islam took 17 wickets in BPL 2024, and captain Mahedi Hasan and Tanvir Islam form the spin pairing.
Our preview expects batting first to be favoured, with a total above 175 hard to chase and wickets in hand vital in the second innings.
