Royal Challengers Bengaluru 177 for 3 (Kohli 59, Salt 56, Patidar 34, Narine 1-27) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 174 for 8 (Rahane 56, Narine 44, Raghuvanshi 30, Krunal 3-29, Hazlewood 2-22) by seven wickets*
The opening match of IPL 2025 saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) make a statement with a clinical seven-wicket win over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Powered by standout performances from new recruits and seasoned veterans, RCB chased down 175 with 22 balls to spare at Eden Gardens.
New Acquisitions Shine for RCB
Josh Hazlewood, returning to the IPL after injury, and Krunal Pandya, acquired in the latest mega auction, were pivotal in dismantling KKR. Hazlewood set the tone early, using his height and the spongy surface to remove Quinton de Kock and keep Narine quiet in the powerplay. Krunal’s clever variations shut down KKR’s momentum in the middle overs, claiming 3 for 29 and dismissing key batters Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh.
KKR’s Mid-Innings Surge Falls Short
After a slow start, Rahane and Narine exploded between overs 4 to 10, adding 98 runs. Rahane capitalized on straight lines from RCB’s bowlers, launching multiple hits over the leg side, while Narine took down Suyash Sharma with aggressive off-side hitting. But once Narine fell to Rasikh Salam, RCB regained control. Suyash bounced back to dismiss Andre Russell, whose struggles against the wrong’un continued, losing his middle stump. From 107 for 1, KKR lost seven wickets for just 67 runs.
Salt and Kohli Seal the Chase
Phil Salt, a key part of KKR’s title win in 2024, returned to haunt his former team. He struck the first ball of the chase for four and never looked back, smashing 56 off 31 deliveries, including a brutal assault on Varun Chakravarthy for 20 runs in one over. Kohli, playing second fiddle initially, shifted gears with characteristic fluency to finish unbeaten on 59 off 36.
By the time Salt departed at 95 for 2, the asking rate had dipped below seven, and the result felt inevitable. RCB’s new captain Rajat Patidar chipped in with a blistering 34 off 16. Kohli ensured a net run-rate boost, slog-sweeping Varun for six late in the innings to finish things in style.
A Statement Win
RCB’s emphatic win over the reigning champions sends a strong message to the rest of the league. With key auction picks delivering on day one and Kohli showing early form, Bengaluru may finally be poised for a title push.
KKR, on the other hand, will need to reassess their plans quickly. While Rahane’s captaincy debut with the bat was encouraging, their bowling lacked the sharpness needed to defend even a competitive total on a dew-laden evening.
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