Virat-Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter/IPL)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their IPL 2025 campaign with a dominant seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Opting to field first, RCB restricted KKR to 174/8 despite Ajinkya Rahane’s 56 off 31 and Sunil Narine’s 44 off 26. Krunal Pandya was the best bowler, picking up 3/29, while Josh Hazlewood claimed 2/22.
Chasing 175, RCB got off to a brilliant start, thanks to Phil Salt’s 56 off 31 balls and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 off 36. Salt’s aggressive intent put pressure on KKR’s bowlers, and Kohli anchored the innings. Rajat Patidar played a solid cameo of 34 off 16, and Liam Livingstone’s quick 15 off 5 finished the chase in just 16.2 overs.
KKR’s bowlers struggled, with only Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora managing a wicket each. RCB’s clinical all-round performance ensured a comfortable victory.
Key Moments from Match 1 of IPL 2025:
1. Virat Kohli-Phil Salt opening stand
Phil Salt and Virat Kohli’s fifties guided the Bengaluru franchise to a comfortable victory. Playing his debut game for RCB, Salt smashed 56 off 31 balls, while Kohli, in his 400th T20 innings, struck 59 off 36 balls. Their partnership registered RCB’s second-highest powerplay score (80/0). Kohli also became the third batter to score 1,000 IPL runs against KKR. Additionally, their 14 boundaries in the powerplay rank third in RCB history.
2. Krunal Pandya’s crucial spell
RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya delivered a match-winning spell. On a batting-friendly surface, the veteran left-arm spinner picked up 3/29 in four overs, dismantling KKR’s middle order. After a shaky first over, Krunal returned strongly following Sunil Narine’s dismissal. He removed a well-set Ajinkya Rahane for 56 before cleaning up Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh. Acquired by RCB for INR 5.75 crores in the 2025 auction, Krunal’s performance justified his price tag as he proved to be a game-changer in his new franchise’s campaign opener.
3. Ajinkya Rahane-Sunil Narine stabilize KKR’s innings
Ajinkya Rahane made his debut as KKR captain on a good note, particularly with the bat. After Quinton de Kock’s early dismissal, Rahane took the responsibility on himself, shifting gears in the fourth over by hammering Rasik Dar Salam for 16 runs. His intent gave KKR momentum, allowing Sunil Narine to dominate after a slow start. Struggling at 9/1 after three overs, the side reached 60/1 in six overs. Rahane brought up his fifty in just 25 balls before falling for 56 off 31 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Narine smashed 44 off 26 as the duo stitched 103 runs.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this news article is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and perspective. Readers are encouraged to evaluate the details thoughtfully and draw their own conclusions.
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