Match Overview:
The much-anticipated opening match of IPL 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, as the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the renowned Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
KKR embarks on this season under the guidance of Ajinkya Rahane, following the departure of former captain Shreyas Iyer, who led them to an IPL title. The squad’s key members remain unchanged, providing continuity in their title defense after an impressive run in the latter stages of IPL 2024 that culminated in a comfortable final win for their third championship.
RCB, still aspiring to secure their first IPL title, will be captained by Rajat Patidar this season. Although they reached the playoffs last year, their campaign did not progress further. With Virat Kohli once again drawing significant attention, expectations remain high for his run-scoring prowess.
KKR vs RCB Head-to-Head Record
Eden Gardens Pitch Report:
Eden Gardens is famed for its batting-friendly surface, though early in the game, bowlers might encounter some extra bounce. Historically, teams batting second have enjoyed an advantage here due to the pitch’s consistent nature. The potential for dew in the later stages could challenge the bowlers further. Additionally, there is a possibility of match delays as weather forecasts predict thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds on match day, although a complete cancellation appears unlikely.
Predicted Playing XIs:
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma.