RCB Dominate KKR to Clinch a 7-Wicket Victory in IPL 2025 Opener
March 22, 2025 – Kolkata: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 kicked off with a thrilling opener at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, RCB’s bowlers restricted KKR to 176/8 in 20 overs, before their batters, led by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, chased down the target comfortably.
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Toss & Venue
• Toss: RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Timezone: All match timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
MI vs KKR – IPL 2025 Match 12: Full Match Preview & Dream11 Prediction
KKR’s Batting Struggles
Batting first, KKR posted 176/8 in 20 overs, with Ajinkya Rahane (56 off 31) and Sunil Narine (44 off 26) playing crucial knocks. However, RCB’s bowlers, led by Krunal Pandya (3/27) and Josh Hazlewood (2/30), kept KKR from reaching a bigger total.
KKR Batting Performance:
• Quinton de Kock: 4 runs off 5 balls (1 four) – c Jitesh Sharma b Josh Hazlewood
• Sunil Narine: 44 runs off 26 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) – c Jitesh Sharma b Rasikh Salam
• Ajinkya Rahane (C): 56 runs off 31 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) – c Rasikh Salam b Krunal Pandya
• Venkatesh Iyer: 6 runs off 7 balls (1 four) – b Krunal Pandya
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 30 runs off 22 balls (2 fours, 1 six) – c Jitesh Sharma b Yash Dayal
• Rinku Singh: 12 runs off 10 balls (1 four) – b Krunal Pandya
• Andre Russell: 4 runs off 3 balls (1 four) – b Suyash Sharma
• Ramandeep Singh: 6 runs off 9 balls – Not Out
• Harshit Rana: 5 runs off 6 balls (1 four) – c Jitesh Sharma b Josh Hazlewood
• Spencer Johnson: 1 run off 1 ball – Not Out
Extras: 8 (W 6, LB 2)
Total Runs: 176/8 (20 Overs)
RCB’s Dominant Chase
RCB’s batters made the chase look effortless, thanks to Virat Kohli (59 off 36)* and quick-fire knocks from Rajat Patidar (34 off 16) and Liam Livingstone (15 off 5)*. They reached 177/3 in just 16.2 overs, sealing a commanding 7-wicket win.
RCB Batting Performance:
• Virat Kohli: 59* runs off 36 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) – Not Out
• Devdutt Padikkal: 10 runs off 10 balls (1 four) – c Ramandeep Singh b Sunil Narine
• Rajat Patidar: 34 runs off 16 balls (5 fours, 1 six) – c Rinku Singh b Vaibhav Arora
• Liam Livingstone: 15* runs off 5 balls (2 fours, 1 six) – Not Out
Extras: 3 (W 1, LB 2)
Total Runs: 177/3 (16.2 Overs)
KKR’s bowlers struggled, with only Sunil Narine (1/28) and Vaibhav Arora (1/34) picking up wickets. Mitchell Starc (1/35) also failed to make a big impact in his IPL return.
Match Highlights:
✅ Toss: RCB won the toss, elected to bowl first
✅ Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
✅ KKR – 176/8 (20) | Ajinkya Rahane – 56, Sunil Narine – 44
✅ RCB – 177/3 (16.2) | Virat Kohli – 59, Rajat Patidar – 34*
✅ RCB won by 7 wickets (22 balls left)
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RCB’s Dream Start, KKR Left With Questions
With this comprehensive win, RCB has made a strong statement in IPL 2025. Virat Kohli’s composed innings, along with Krunal Pandya’s all-round brilliance, ensured a perfect start for the Bangalore franchise.
On the other hand, KKR’s batting collapse in the middle overs and weak bowling attack cost them the match. They will need to regroup quickly before their next fixture.
The IPL 2025 season has started with a high-energy clash, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead!
