Royal Challengers Bengaluru Dominate Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 Opener

Eden Gardens, Kolkata - March 22, 2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season kicked off in grand fashion with a thrilling encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. RCB put on a commanding display to clinch a 7-wicket victory, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season.


Match Summary

Toss: RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (RCB) - 59 off 36 balls*


First Innings: Kolkata Knight Riders Struggle to Build Momentum

KKR, after being put to bat first, had a disastrous start as opener Quinton de Kock (4 off 5 balls) fell on the very first delivery of the match, caught behind off Josh Hazlewood. This early setback put immediate pressure on the batting unit.

However, Sunil Narine (44 off 26 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) counterattacked brilliantly, playing his trademark aggressive strokes. Along with Ajinkya Rahane (36 off 22 balls, 5 fours, 1 six), Narine steadied the innings and took KKR to a comfortable position at 107/2 in 9.6 overs.

Just as KKR seemed to be setting up for a big total, RCB struck back. Rahane fell in the 10th over, caught by Rasikh Salam off Krunal Pandya, which triggered a mini-collapse. Venkatesh Iyer (6 off 7 balls) failed to make an impact, and wickets started tumbling at regular intervals.

Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30 off 22 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) showed promise, but he too couldn’t convert his start into a big knock. The middle and lower order failed to accelerate, and KKR finished at 174/8 in their 20 overs.

KKR’s Batting Scorecard

RCB’s Bowling Performance


Second Innings: RCB’s Clinical Chase

Chasing 175, RCB got off to a flying start with opener Philip Salt (56 off 31 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) taking the attack to the KKR bowlers. Salt dominated the powerplay, taking RCB to 95/1 in just 8.3 overs before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy.

Captain Virat Kohli played a match-winning knock, scoring an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. He held one end firmly while the other batters played attacking cricket.

Devdutt Padikkal (34 off 16 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Rajat Patidar (34 off 15 balls, 1 four, 5 sixes) ensured the chase remained on track. The finishing touch was provided by Liam Livingstone (15 off 5 balls, 2 sixes), who sealed the win in style with a massive six in the 17th over.

RCB chased the target comfortably in just 16.2 overs, winning the match by 7 wickets.

RCB’s Batting Scorecard

KKR’s Bowling Performance


Key Takeaways from the Match

  • RCB’s Batting Dominance: Kohli, Salt, and Padikkal made the chase look easy.
  • KKR’s Struggles with the Ball: Their bowlers failed to apply pressure.
  • RCB’s All-Round Performance: A strong bowling effort followed by a dominant batting display.

With this emphatic win, RCB has made a strong statement in IPL 2025, while KKR will need to reassess their strategies for the upcoming matches.

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