Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated the reigning champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets on Saturday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata to kick off the 18th Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat Kohli and Phil Salt led a consistent and composed chase, while RCB’s bowlers displayed disciplined performances throughout the game.
After winning the toss, RCB captain for the season, Rajat Patidar decided to field first. Even though the home team got off to a fast start, his decision worked, as RCB held KKR to 174/8 in their 20 overs. In the second half of the innings, RCB’s bowlers showed tenacity, which made sure that KKR’s momentum was stopped.
With an Undefeated Half-Century, Kohli leads RCB’s chase
RCB started their innings aggressively and with purpose, chasing a target of 175. By scoring 80 runs in the powerplay overs, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli’s opening partnership established a strong base. Before Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed Salt, who joined RCB this season, he played a brisk knock of 56 off 31 deliveries.
Virat Kohli led the chase with an undefeated 59 off 36 balls, maintaining his steady form from prior seasons. In order to ensure that the target was reached comfortably, his innings was marked by measured approach and calculated stroke play. Rajat Patidar, the captain, helped Kohli by scoring 34 runs in the chase. RCB demonstrated their dominance in the game by reaching the target with 22 balls remaining and seven wickets in hand.
A Promising Start For KKR
Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front as KKR’s innings got off to a promising start earlier in the evening. Rahane gave his team early momentum with a quick 50 off 25 balls. Sunil Narine, who contributed 44 runs off 26 deliveries, provided him with strong support.
But in the middle overs, the bowlers of the RCB made a spectacular comeback. With figures of 3/29 in his four overs, Krunal Pandya was the most impressive player, effectively limiting KKR’s rate of scoring. Josh Hazlewood, who finished with figures of 2/22, was also instrumental in limiting KKR’s total.
Despite having a strong start, KKR was unable to build on it and finished their innings with a score of 174/8, which was insufficient against the batting lineup of RCB.
The decisive win will give RCB the confidence they need to win their first IPL championship this year. Their outstanding batting, bowling, and fielding performances set the tone for their upcoming campaign.
This loss serves as an early reminder of the areas that need improvement for KKR. As they attempt to successfully defend their title, captain Ajinkya Rahane and the team management will be concerned about their bowling performance and inability to maintain momentum, even though their top-order batting showed promise.
As IPL 2025 progresses, fans can expect more competitive encounters as teams seek to establish themselves early in the tournament. This opening match has set the stage for what promises to be another exciting season of high-quality cricket.
