IPL 2025 kicked off in grand style on March 22, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 1. This clash, pitting two of the league’s most storied franchises against each other, promised fireworks from the outset—and it delivered. In a match that showcased breathtaking batting, a stunning bowling comeback, and a clinical chase, RCB emerged victorious by 7 wickets, breaking their recent jinx against KKR and setting the tone for their campaign to end a 17-year title drought. Stay updated with IPL Live Cricket Score and match highlights.
Spirited comeback with the ball ✅
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
Dominating effort with the bat ✅@RCBTweets are up and away in #TATAIPL 2025 with a commanding win over #KKR ❤️
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/zs6fXmhYv9
The Build-Up: A Clash of Titans
The IPL 2025 opener was more than just a game; it was a renewal of one of the league’s oldest rivalries. KKR and RCB had faced off in the inaugural IPL match back in 2008, where Brendon McCullum’s blistering 158* had announced the tournament to the world with a 140-run KKR victory. Seventeen years later, the stakes were just as high. KKR, fresh off their third IPL title in 2024 under Shreyas Iyer, entered the season with a new captain in Ajinkya Rahane and a squad bolstered by the likes of Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell. RCB, perennial bridesmaids still chasing their maiden title, arrived with a revamped lineup led by Rajat Patidar and featuring heavy hitters like Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Liam Livingstone.
The Eden Gardens crowd, a sea of purple and gold, buzzed with anticipation. Pre-match predictions leaned slightly toward KKR, given their dominant 20-14 head-to-head record against RCB and their formidable home advantage—teams chasing had won 55 of 93 IPL matches at this venue. However, RCB’s bolstered bowling attack, including Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Krunal Pandya, hinted at a potential upset. The weather, a concern with forecasts of overcast skies and intermittent rain, mercifully held off, ensuring a full 40-over contest.
The Toss and Team News
RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision influenced by the expected moisture on the pitch and Eden Gardens’ chasing-friendly history. KKR handed debuts to Quinton de Kock and Spencer Johnson, while RCB introduced Phil Salt and Tim David to their IPL faithful. Notably, KKR released their IPL 2024 hero Mitchell Starc, opting for Johnson or Anrich Nortje, while RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar nursed a minor injury but was replaced by the promising Yash Dayal.
KKR’s probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora.
RCB’s probable XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Swapnil Singh.
KKR’s Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
KKR’s batting innings was a rollercoaster, epitomized by a stark contrast between the first and second halves. Sent in to bat, they lost Quinton de Kock early for just 4, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Josh Hazlewood in the first over after a dropped chance by Suyash Sharma. At 9/1 after three overs, the defending champions were under pressure, but Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane had other plans.
The duo unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes, stitching together a scintillating 103-run partnership. Narine, the unorthodox genius, smashed 44 off 26 balls, including five fours and two sixes, while Rahane, in his captaincy debut, raced to a 25-ball fifty with a blend of elegance and aggression. By the 10th over, KKR were cruising at 107/1, poised for a total well beyond 200. The Eden Gardens faithful roared as the powerplay ended at 60/1, with Narine’s audacious sweeps and Rahane’s crisp drives setting the tone.
However, RCB’s bowlers staged a remarkable fightback. Rasikh Dar dismissed Narine in the 10th over, caught at deep square leg, triggering a mini-collapse. Krunal Pandya then struck a decisive blow, removing Rahane for 56 off 31, caught by Liam Livingstone at deep square leg. From 107/1, KKR slumped to 109/3 as Venkatesh Iyer joined Angkrish Raghuvanshi at the crease. Pandya’s spell turned the game on its head—he dismissed Venkatesh Iyer (bowled for 8) and Rinku Singh (bowled for 6) in quick succession, finishing with figures of 3/29 in 4 overs. His stump-to-stump accuracy and subtle variations bamboozled KKR’s middle order.
Andre Russell, expected to provide the late flourish, fell for just 4 to Suyash Sharma’s googly, and the tail couldn’t recover. Josh Hazlewood (2 wickets) and Yash Dayal (1 wicket) tightened the screws in the death overs, conceding just 20 runs in the last five overs while picking up four wickets. Harshit Rana’s top-edged pull off Hazlewood in the penultimate ball epitomized KKR’s late collapse—they finished at 174/8, a far cry from the 200-plus total they seemed destined for at the halfway mark.
Key stats from KKR’s innings:
- First 10 overs: 107/1 (10.7 runs per over)
- Last 10 overs: 67/7 (6.7 runs per over)
- Top scorers: Ajinkya Rahane (56), Sunil Narine (44)
- Best bowler: Krunal Pandya (3/29)
RCB’s Chase: Salt and Kohli Steal the Show
Chasing 175, RCB’s openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli came out with intent, silencing the Eden Gardens crowd early. Salt, who had terrorized bowlers for KKR in IPL 2024 with a strike rate of 185 in the powerplay, began his RCB tenure with a crunched four through the covers off Spencer Johnson. Kohli, the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, joined the party with a flicked six off Vaibhav Arora, and the duo raced to 80/0 in the powerplay—RCB’s second-highest ever, behind only their 92 against Gujarat Titans in 2024.
Salt reached his fifty off 23 balls, peppering the boundary with eight fours and a six, while Kohli played the anchor-aggressor role, mixing caution with calculated aggression. Varun Chakaravarthy, KKR’s trump card after taking 21 wickets in IPL 2024, struck in the 8th over, dismissing Salt for 56, caught at deep midwicket. At 95/1, RCB remained firmly in control, needing just 80 more runs off 12 overs.
Devdutt Padikkal joined Kohli but fell to Sunil Narine for 12, attempting to clear the infield. Rajat Patidar, the new captain, injected momentum with a brisk 12 off 8 balls, including two fours, before holing out to Rinku Singh at deep midwicket off Vaibhav Arora. At 118/3, KKR sensed a glimmer of hope, but Liam Livingstone (12* off 6, including a six and a four) and Kohli (57* off 38, with five fours and two sixes) snuffed it out. Livingstone sealed the chase with a slapped four through mid-on in the 17th over, finishing the game with 19 balls to spare.
RCB’s chase highlights:
- Powerplay: 80/0 (13.33 runs per over)
- Target achieved: 175/3 in 16.5 overs
- Top scorers: Virat Kohli (57*), Phil Salt (56)
- Key bowlers: Varun Chakaravarthy (1/43), Sunil Narine (1/27)
The Turning Points
- Krunal Pandya’s Spell: Pandya’s 3/29, including the wickets of Rahane, Iyer, and Singh, flipped KKR’s innings from a potential 220 to a modest 174. His ability to exploit a slowing pitch was pivotal.
- Salt-Kohli Powerplay Blitz: RCB’s 80-run opening stand in six overs effectively killed the contest early, putting KKR’s bowlers on the back foot.
- KKR’s Death Over Collapse: Scoring just 20 runs and losing four wickets in the final five overs handed RCB a chaseable total on a pitch that eased out under lights.
Player of the Match: Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya’s match-defining spell earned him the Player of the Match award. His three wickets in the middle overs not only stemmed KKR’s run flow but also exposed their vulnerability against spin—a rare chink in the champions’ armor.
Post-Match Reactions
Ajinkya Rahane (KKR captain): “We had a great start, but credit to RCB’s bowlers for pulling it back. 174 was defendable, but Salt and Kohli took the game away in the powerplay. We’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
Rajat Patidar (RCB captain): “Winning the toss and bowling first worked for us. Krunal was outstanding, and the way Phil and Virat started set the tone. It’s a great way to begin our campaign.”
Virat Kohli: “The crowd was electric, but we stayed focused. Phil was phenomenal, and it’s always special to start the season with a win here.”
Implications for IPL 2025
For RCB, this victory was a statement. After losing four of their last five encounters with KKR, including a heartbreaking 1-run defeat in 2024, breaking the jinx at Eden Gardens boosts their confidence. The form of Salt and Kohli, combined with Pandya’s bowling nous, suggests RCB might finally have the balance to go the distance.
KKR, meanwhile, will rue their inability to capitalize on a flying start. Rahane’s leadership showed promise, but the middle order’s fragility and Russell’s lack of impact raise questions. Their title defense has begun on a sour note, and they’ll need to address these issues before facing Sunrisers Hyderabad next.
A Blockbuster Opener
TATA IPL 2025 curtain-raiser lived up to its billing, blending nostalgia with high-octane cricket. RCB’s 7-wicket triumph over KKR wasn’t just a win—it was a signal of intent from a team desperate to shed its “nearly men” tag. For KKR, it’s a wake-up call to fine-tune their approach. As the tournament unfolds over the next 65 days, this match will be remembered as the night RCB roared into contention, leaving the Eden Gardens faithful stunned and the IPL Live Cricket Score buzzing with excitement.
