The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 kicks off with a thrilling encounter between the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This highly anticipated clash on March 22, 2025, promises to set the tone for the 18th season of the IPL. Both teams boast star players, and with a fierce rivalry between them, this opener is sure to be a spectacle.
KKR vs RCB Match Details
- Date & Time: March 22, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar
It’s time for the season opener! 🚨
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 22, 2025
@KKRiders face off against @RCBTweets !
Will Kolkata dominate or will Bengaluru better their record? 🔥#IPLonJioStar 👉 SEASON OPENER #KKRvRCB | Today, 5:30 PM | LIVE on JioHotstar & Star Sports Network | #TATAIPL #IndianPossibleLeague pic.twitter.com/6axcY9wPIQ
KKR vs RCB Match Preview
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led by the experienced Ajinkya Rahane, are coming off a remarkable 2024 season where they lifted the IPL trophy. They have a significant advantage at Eden Gardens, having won 52 out of 88 matches at their home ground. With a squad full of dynamic players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR looks poised to defend their title.
On the other hand, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have a talented lineup filled with match-winners such as Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, and Josh Hazlewood. RCB has been performing well recently and will be eager to make a bold statement in the IPL 2025 opener under their new leadership.
KKR vs RCB Pitch Report
Eden Gardens is known for its flat wicket, which offers good bounce and carry for the batsmen. The surface, however, tends to slow down as the game progresses, which favors the spinners. The average first-innings score is around 188, and the team batting second has won 55% of the time, giving an edge to chasing teams.
KKR vs RCB Weather Report
The weather in Kolkata is expected to be hot and humid. While there are some chances of rain showers, the IPL opener should proceed as planned unless there is significant rainfall. Fans are in for an exciting match under the lights at Eden Gardens.
KKR vs RCB Last Five Matches
- KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders): W, W, W, W, W (5 consecutive wins)
- RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): L, W, W, W, W (4 wins and 1 loss)
KKR vs RCB Head-to-Head Stats
- Total Matches Played: 34
- RCB Wins: 14
- KKR Wins: 20
- Tie: 0
- No Result: 0
In the last five encounters between KKR and RCB, Kolkata Knight Riders have come out on top three times, with RCB winning twice.
KKR vs RCB Probable Playing XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Ajinkya Rahane (C)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Anrich Nortje
- Vaibhav Arora
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Impact Player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
- Virat Kohli
- Rajat Patidar (C)
- Krunal Pandya
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Liam Livingstone
- Tim David
- Swapnil Singh
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yash Dayal
- Josh Hazlewood
- Suyash Sharma
- Impact Player: Phil Salt
Top Picks for KKR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction
Top Picks – Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Sunil Narine: A dynamic all-rounder who was in spectacular form in IPL 2024, scoring 488 runs in 14 innings at an incredible strike rate of 180.74.
- Varun Chakravarthy: The mystery spinner who has been a consistent performer with the ball, taking 16 wickets in his last nine matches.
Top Picks – Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
- Virat Kohli: The evergreen run machine, who scored 741 runs in 15 matches last season at an average of 61.75.
- Josh Hazlewood: The Australian pacer brings both experience and speed to RCB’s attack, with 35 IPL wickets under his belt.
Suggested Dream11 Playing XIs
Suggested Playing XI 1:
- VC: Quinton de Kock
- C: Rajat Patidar
- Phil Salt
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Virat Kohli
- Andre Russell
- Liam Livingstone
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Harshit Rana
- Josh Hazlewood
- Varun Chakravarthy
Suggested Playing XI 2:
- VC: Andre Russell
- C: Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Quinton de Kock
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Rajat Patidar
- Liam Livingstone
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Sunil Narine
- Josh Hazlewood
- Varun Chakravarthy
Captain and Vice-Captain Picks:
- Captain: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli
- Vice-captain: Quinton de Kock, Andre Russell
- Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock
KKR vs RCB Probable Winners
Kolkata Knight Riders are the favorites heading into this match, given their recent record and solid home performance. KKR has dominated RCB in their last five encounters and will have the advantage of playing at Eden Gardens, a venue where they have been incredibly successful. RCB, though, has a strong squad, and if their star players click, they could certainly challenge KKR for the win. However, KKR’s spin-heavy attack and overall form make them the favorites to secure the win in the IPL 2025 opener.
Final Thoughts
With both teams having star-studded lineups, this match is poised to be a thriller. The IPL 2025 season opener between KKR and RCB at Eden Gardens will be one to watch for cricket fans, full of excitement and potential match-winning performances. Keep an eye on your Dream11 team selections as the game unfolds!
