Key Points:
- RCB’s Dominant Start: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 7 wickets in the IPL 2025 opener.
- Kohli and Salt Shine: Phil Salt (56 off 31) and Virat Kohli (59* off 36) powered RCB to a comfortable chase of 175 in just 16.2 overs.
- Krunal Pandya’s Bowling Heroics: Krunal Pandya’s spell of 3/29 helped restrict KKR to 174/8 despite Ajinkya Rahane’s half-century.
Kolkata: The much-anticipated IPL 2025 season began with a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens, where Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets. A stellar all-round performance saw RCB chase down the target of 175 with 22 balls to spare, setting the tone for an exciting season ahead.
KKR’s Innings: Rahane and Narine Shine Briefly
After winning the toss, RCB opted to bowl first. KKR had a shaky start as Quinton de Kock fell early for just 4 runs. However, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the innings with a scintillating 103-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahane smashed a quickfire half-century, scoring 56 off just 31 balls, while Narine contributed a brisk 44 off 26 deliveries.
Despite their strong platform at 107/2, KKR faltered in the latter half of their innings. Krunal Pandya turned the game around for RCB with a brilliant spell of 3/29, dismissing key players like Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer. Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with figures of 2/22. KKR’s middle-order failed to capitalize, managing only 174/8 in their allotted overs.
RCB’s Chase: Kohli and Salt Dominate
RCB’s chase got off to an explosive start as openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli took on the KKR bowlers with ease. The duo added a blistering 95-run partnership in just 8.3 overs. Salt was particularly aggressive, smashing nine fours and two sixes in his knock of 56 off just 31 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy.
Virat Kohli anchored the innings with his trademark composure, scoring an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. His half-century marked his 56th in IPL history. Rajat Patidar, leading RCB as captain for the first time, played a quick cameo of 34 off just 16 balls to ensure an emphatic victory. Liam Livingstone added the finishing touches with a rapid-fire 15* off five balls.
Key Performances
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Unbeaten 59* off 36 balls |
| Phil Salt | Aggressive 56 off 31 balls |
| Krunal Pandya | Match-winning spell of 3/29 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Captain’s knock of 56 off 31 balls for KKR |
What’s Next?
RCB’s commanding performance has sent a strong message to other teams early in the tournament. With Virat Kohli in sublime form and Krunal Pandya excelling with the ball, they look poised for a successful campaign. Meanwhile, KKR will need to regroup quickly after their middle-order collapse cost them dearly in this opener.
The IPL season has begun on an electrifying note, and fans can expect more fireworks as teams battle it out for glory!
