Cricket Highlights, March 22: IPL 2025 (1st Match) – KKR vs RCB

KKR vs RCB (1st Match) – Highlights

The Indian Premier League 2025 got off to an electrifying start at Eden Gardens as RCB secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over KKR in the tournament’s opening match. The night belonged to Krunal Pandya, whose all-round brilliance with both bat and ball ensured RCB’s comprehensive win with 22 balls to spare.

After being put in to bat, Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings saw a shaky start with Quinton de Kock falling for just 4 runs in the first over to Josh Hazlewood. However, Sunil Narine and captain Ajinkya Rahane turned the momentum in KKR’s favor with a rapid 103-run stand. Rahane played with sublime timing, smashing 56 off 31 balls, while Narine provided fireworks with a blistering 44 off 26 deliveries, including three sixes.

The promising start quickly unraveled after Narine’s dismissal at the end of the 10th over. Rahane fell soon after, mistiming a shot against Krunal Pandya. The RCB all-rounder then struck again, removing Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh in quick succession, triggering a collapse. Andre Russell, known for his big hitting, lasted only three balls before getting cleaned up by young leg-spinner Suyash Sharma.

With wickets tumbling, KKR’s lower order struggled to accelerate. Angkrish Raghuvanshi contributed 30 off 22 but couldn’t push the score beyond RCB’s reach. Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh tried to add a few runs at the death, but Hazlewood returned to claim another scalp, restricting KKR to 174/8 in their 20 overs. Krunal Pandya was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with 3/29, while Hazlewood chipped in with 2/22 in his four overs.

Chasing 175, RCB’s openers, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, wasted no time in taking on KKR’s bowlers. Salt was in devastating form, tearing apart the powerplay with his aggressive stroke play. He hammered nine boundaries and two sixes in his whirlwind 56 off 31 balls before falling to Varun Chakravarthy in the ninth over.

Kohli, on the other hand, anchored the innings in vintage style. Rotating the strike efficiently and playing calculated shots, he ensured there were no hiccups in the chase. He found a reliable partner in Devdutt Padikkal, who chipped in with a steady 10 before mistiming a shot off Sunil Narine. With the required run rate well under control, RCB’s captain Rajat Patidar walked in and played a fiery cameo of 34 off just 16 balls, smashing five boundaries and a six.

By the time Patidar departed, RCB needed just 13 runs to win. Liam Livingstone then finished the game in style, slamming 15 off just five balls, including a six that sealed the victory in the 17th over. Kohli remained unbeaten on 59 off 36 balls, playing a flawless knock that guided RCB to 177/3.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Scoreboard

Kolkata Knight Riders – 174/8

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 177/3 (16.2/20)

Result – RCB won by 7 wickets (with 22 balls remaining)

Player of the Match – Krunal Pandya

KKR vs RCB Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.

Disclaimer: These match highlights reflect the author’s insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the points discussed and form their own conclusions.

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