Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025
In a thrilling opener to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) showcased a dominant performance against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), securing a seven-wicket victory at Eden Gardens on March 22, 2025.
Match Summary:
- Toss: RCB won and elected to field.
- KKR Innings: 174/8 in 20 overs.
- RCB Innings: 177/3 in 16.2 overs.
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings:
KKR’s innings began on a shaky note with opener Quinton de Kock departing early, caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for just 4 runs. However, a resilient partnership between captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship. Rahane exhibited aggressive intent, scoring a rapid 56 off 31 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes. Narine complemented him with a brisk 44 off 26 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes. Their 103-run stand for the second wicket laid a solid foundation for KKR.
Despite this strong start, KKR’s momentum faltered in the middle overs. Krunal Pandya’s introduction proved pivotal; he claimed three crucial wickets, including those of Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer, finishing with figures of 3/29. Hazlewood’s disciplined bowling also reaped rewards, as he ended with 2/22, effectively stifling KKR’s scoring rate. The middle-order struggled to capitalize on the early platform, and KKR concluded their innings at 174/8.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings:
Chasing 175, RCB’s innings was anchored by a stellar opening partnership between Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. Salt, making his debut for RCB, played an explosive knock, amassing 56 runs off 31 balls, adorned with nine fours and two sixes. Kohli, showcasing his trademark consistency, remained unbeaten on 59 from 36 deliveries, striking four boundaries and three maximums. Their 95-run stand set the tone for the chase.
Following Salt’s dismissal, Rajat Patidar contributed a valuable 34 off 22 balls, ensuring the momentum remained with RCB. Liam Livingstone added a quickfire 15* off 5 balls to seal the victory. RCB achieved the target comfortably, reaching 177/3 in just 16.2 overs, marking a commanding start to their campaign.
Key Performances:
- Krunal Pandya (RCB): With figures of 4-0-29-3, Pandya’s spell was instrumental in curbing KKR’s progress, earning him the Player of the Match accolade.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): The seasoned pacer showcased precision, claiming 2 wickets for 22 runs, including 16 dot balls, underscoring his value to the team.
- Phil Salt (RCB): Salt’s aggressive half-century on debut provided RCB with the impetus needed for a successful chase.
- Virat Kohli (RCB): The stalwart’s unbeaten 59 anchored the innings, guiding RCB to a comfortable win.
Post-Match Reflections:
RCB’s captain lauded the team’s comprehensive performance, highlighting the bowlers’ effectiveness and the batsmen’s execution of the chase. Kohli expressed satisfaction with the team’s start and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the tournament.
KKR’s skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, acknowledged the need to learn from the defeat, pointing out the middle-order collapse as a critical area for improvement. He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on strong starts and executing plans more effectively in upcoming matches.
Scorecard:
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings:
| Batsman | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 44 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 169.23 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 56 | 31 | 6 | 4 | 180.64 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 30 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 157.89 |
| Rinku Singh | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Andre Russell | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Ramandeep Singh | 6* | 5 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Spencer Johnson | 1* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Harshit Rana | DNB | ||||
| Varun Chakaravarthy | DNB |
Extras: Wides 6, No Balls 1, Leg Byes 4, Byes 0
Total: 174/8 in 20 overs
Fall of Wickets:
- 1-4 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 ov)
- 2-107 (Sunil Narine, 10 ov)
- 3-109 (Ajinkya Rahane, 10.3 ov)
- 4-125 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.1 ov)
- 5-145 (Rinku Singh
Here is an FAQ section related to the KKR vs RCB 2025 IPL 1st Match:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who won the 1st match of IPL 2025 between KKR and RCB?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 7 wickets.
2. Where was the match played?
The match was played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
3. Who won the toss, and what was the decision?
RCB won the toss and elected to field first.
4. What was the final score of KKR?
Kolkata Knight Riders scored 174/8 in 20 overs.
5. What was the final score of RCB?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down the target, scoring 177/3 in 16.2 overs.
6. Who was the top scorer for KKR?
Ajinkya Rahane was the top scorer for KKR with 56 runs off 31 balls.
7. Who was the top scorer for RCB?
Virat Kohli led RCB’s batting with 59 runs off 36 balls, remaining unbeaten.
8. Who took the most wickets in the match?
- For RCB: Krunal Pandya took 3 wickets for 29 runs.
- For KKR: Varun Chakaravarthy took 2 wickets for 36 runs.
9. Who was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’?
Krunal Pandya (RCB) won the Player of the Match award for his 3-wicket haul (3/29 in 4 overs).
10. How did RCB chase the target so quickly?
A strong opening partnership between Phil Salt (56 off 31 balls) and Virat Kohli (59 off 36 balls)* helped RCB chase the target comfortably in 16.2 overs.
11. What was the turning point of the match?
RCB’s disciplined bowling, especially Krunal Pandya’s three wickets in the middle overs, restricted KKR to a below-par total.
12. How did KKR’s batting lineup perform?
KKR started well with Rahane and Narine’s 103-run partnership but suffered a middle-order collapse, managing only 174/8.
13. Who were the standout bowlers in the match?
- RCB: Krunal Pandya (3/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/22).
- KKR: Varun Chakaravarthy (2/36).
14. What were the major highlights of the match?
- Ajinkya Rahane’s aggressive 56 off 31 balls.
- Krunal Pandya’s game-changing spell of 3/29.
- Phil Salt’s blistering debut knock of 56 off 31 balls.
- Virat Kohli’s match-winning unbeaten 59.
15. What is RCB’s next match in IPL 2025?
RCB will play their next match on March 26, 2025, against Mumbai Indians at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.