The highly anticipated 18th edition of the IPL 2025 will finally get underway on Saturday, March 22, when the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. For the first time since they played the first game of the IPL Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru(RCB) will start the season. Something special was born that night, 17 years ago. A thirst trap.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the first match of the Indian Premier League 2025. This match will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India on March 22 at 7:30 PM IST.
Not since Brendon McCullum’s 158* for KKR has the IPL opening night promised a storm quite like the one that’s in store for the 2025 season. Quite literally too. There’s an Orange Alert in place for the match-day in Kolkata, which could mean more rain than there’s been in the lead-up, stronger winds, and even a thunderstorm.
But if there’s one thing the city knows how to do, it’s turning chaos into celebration. Rain never stopped a Pujo and it won’t stop thousands from streaming into Eden Gardens, where the IPL opening ceremony returns for the first time since 2015.
KKR vs RCB : Previous Performances and new season changes
KKR will see a season under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane after parting ways with their IPL-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer. However, the core squad remains intact, ensuring stability in their title defence. The team was impressive in the latter half of IPL 2024 and clinched their third title with a comfortable victory in the final.
RCB, still chasing their maiden first IPL title, will be led by Rajat Patidar this season. Despite making the playoffs last year, they couldn’t go on to change their fortunes. With Virat Kohli once again at the centre of the limelight, the eyeballs will be on him to score the runs.
KKR vs RCB : Head to Head
Since the start of the UAE leg of IPL 2021, KKR have dominated this rivalry, winning six of their last seven matches against RCB. But things even out at Eden Gardens, where the last four meetings between these two have produced two wins each.
| Matches Played | 35 |
| Won by Kolkata Knight Riders | 21 |
| Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 |
| Tied | 00 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First-ever Fixture | April 18, 2008 |
| Most-recent Fixture | April 21, 2024 |
KKR vs RCB : Pitch Report
IPL 2024 set a new benchmark for run-scoring and Eden Gardens played a part in that. The conditions there were so conducive to batting that there were six totals of 200 or more, including a successful chase of 262. But putting a dampener on all that fun is a poor weather forecast for the game on Saturday. A steady drizzle on Friday evening brought about an early end to the team’s practice session. The practice began as scheduled at 5pm, but rain set in around 6pm, cutting short the prep.
The pitch at the Eden Gardens is known for being batting-friendly, though bowlers might find some extra bounce early on. Historically, chasing teams have had the upper hand here, as the surface remains consistent throughout the game. The dew factor could make things tricky for the bowlers, especially in the second innings. However, there are chances that rain could play spoilsport. The weather forecast predicts thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds on match day, which might delay the start. However, a complete washout seems unlikely.
A wet ball, which could be one of the central characters of the night, be it from the dew, the forecasted rain or a bit of saliva slipping its way back into cricket. Also expect ample airtime for Eden Gardens’ famously large white covers.
The night temperature is predicted to dip by 4-5 degrees, which could mean heavier dew and the new playing conditions around ball-change in the second innings could be put to test immediately.
And then there’s the pitch, which is expected to be flat, fast and full of runs. Since the IPL returned to the home-away format in 2023, Eden Gardens has been the highest-scoring venue in the league, with a staggering scoring rate of 9.98 runs per over, the most for any ground with at least three games.
KKR vs RCB : Big Picture : KKR vs RCB : A bitter sweet rivalry of IPL
But that said, this is cricket and is far more of a slave to the whims of the sky. Sometimes, all it takes is one stubborn wet patch to derail the night but let’s not speak of such things. The big covers at Eden exist for a reason, and the groundsmen are already busy figuring out how to shield the outfield from rain. And their covers from the heels of dancers.
The opening ceremony is set to begin 45 minutes before the toss but expect real frills and thrills once the cricket starts. There’s always an extra edge when KKR and RCB face off, no matter where in the world. And this is Eden, a ground with a penchant for both magic and meltdowns. It’s where RCB were bowled out for 49, still the lowest total in IPL history.
It’s where Sunil Narine is most frequently seen batting like a man possessed, and where a seething Virat Kohli once lost his cool over a no-ball height call. Add to that Andre Russell’s fireworks, Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery, and the baggage of past drama, you begin to get a sense of how much this fixture carries.
What makes it even more intriguing is that Eden is barely a fortress anymore. Since 2023, KKR have won just 50% of their home games, the exact same as RCB’s record at the Chinnaswamy.
That is part of what makes this match-up compelling: two dangerous but vulnerable sides, brimming with firepower, both eager to launch a new three-year cycle on the right note. KKR boast the stronger spin unit; RCB, the more experienced pace attack. The question isn’t who has the better side; it’s whose strengths will rise to the surface when the music fades and the cricket begins.
A thousand games have come and gone and the fans just can’t get enough. Grounds fill up quicker than an international match (Eden’s been sold out). The trophy’s been taken on tour. Players’ arrivals are being clipped out like movie trailers. Virat Kohli charms 29.1 million souls just by bouncing a ball on his bat. The only thing that has grown as rapidly as the IPL is the people’s appetite for its singular brand of superstars and mayhem.
KKR and RCB have had some thrilling encounters. There was a one-run victory just last year. And they’ve propelled this league, and by extension T20 cricket, forward in various ways. Sunil Narine taught the value of opening batters not valuing their wicket. AB de Villiers pointed out that runs can be scored behind the wicket with the same consistency as those in front of it. Andre Russell has been conducting experiments to see if he can hit a ball into outer space for some time now.
No wonder Andy Flower, RCB’s head coach, called the prospect of playing KKR at Eden “daunting… for Kolkata,” before breaking into a wide grin. And that’s the thing about opening nights. They rarely follow the script. The sky may yet have its say but if it doesn’t for long enough, this could be one of those nights Eden doesn’t forget in a hurry. All we have to do is just sit back and watch. (And hope the rain stays away.)
KKR vs RCB : In the spotlight: Rinku Singh and Phil Salt
India have reached new levels of T20 batting since winning the world title. They almost made 300 once, an innings that ended with Rinku Singh sending the last ball for six. He was overlooked for the World Cup but has played 18 of 20 matches since. The IPL was the tournament that put Rinku on the map. What has he got cooking this season
Phil Salt was KKR’s second-highest run-scorer in 2024 and he made those 435 runs at a strike rate of 182. His proclivity to hit the boundary first and ask questions later was an important point of difference for a side that scored its runs quicker than anybody else. Salt’s gifts are with RCB now.
KKR vs RCB : Vital Stats that matters
- Varun and Narine’s eight overs will likely define the outcome of this game. Their strengths – Varun is a wicket-taker, he had a strike rate of 14.2 last season, and Narine is the banker, he gave away only 6.7 runs an over – line up against an RCB weakness. Five of their top seven, barring Patidar and Jitesh Sharma, have a strike rate below 140 against spin in T20 cricket since 2024. In Liam Livingstone (107) and Tim David’s (106) cases, it’s barely a run a ball.
- Since top-scoring for KKR in IPL 2024, Narine is averaging 9.05 as a batter across 20 innings with a highest score of 38. Will that prompt a change in the batting order? It’s unlikely, but they do have options. Ajinkya Rahane, their new captain, for example, enjoys batting in the powerplay.
- Patidar’s elevation to RCB captaincy is based on the value he brought to the team as a middle-overs (7-16) hitter. He scored over 300 runs in this phase last year, at a strike rate of 180.68. His strike rate against spin was even higher (197.24).
- Although RCB have lost Mohammed Siraj, they’ve brought in the IPL’s highest wicket-taker in the powerplay – Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 71. They also have Josh Hazlewood, who has done well in every phase of play in this tournament (14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.4 in the powerplay, eight at 7.7 in the middle and 13 at 10 in the death).
- This is the second instance of KKR playing RCB in an IPL season opener after having done so in the inaugural edition in 2008
- There have been 12 200+ totals at Eden in just the last two seasons, compared to only 10 such scores until 2022
- Ajinkya Rahane was both the leading run-getter and Player of the Tournament in SMAT 2024-25 in Mumbai’s title-winning run
KKR vs RCB : Team news & likely XIIs for KKR and RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders
Injuries/availability: Anrich Nortje returns after a back injury ruled him out of the SA20 and the Champions Trophy but, as rain washed out both teams’ training sessions on match eve, there was little to note about his match readiness. The bigger question, though, is whether there’s a spot for him in the XI at all. You’d think Spencer Johnson, with his left-arm angle and the variety he offers, might edge ahead especially considering Nortje’s modest IPL record outside of the UAE.
KKR might not mind losing one half of the opening combination that worked so well last time around considering they were able to bring in a former IPL winner in Quinton de Kock to take over. They will want him to improve on his record at Eden Gardens though (65 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 112). Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje will step in for Mitchell Starc, whom the franchise has let go.
Tactics & matchups: Mitchell Starc’s presence last season allowed KKR to backload the overs from Chakravarthy, who bowled just four in the PowerPlay in 2024 as compared to 16 in 2023. With no Starc this time and limited experience in the new-ball department, KKR may be forced to frontload their spinners once again to compensate for the lack of early-impact seam options.
KKR Probable XII: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk.), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Injuries/availability: Jacob Bethell and Josh Hazlewood underwent fitness tests two days out from the match and both appeared to hold their own during practice. Hazlewood bowled a short spell, not quite at full tilt but with a decent rhythm and a full run-up. Head coach Andy Flower also sounded confident about the shape of his bowling attack, one that notably included Hazlewood.
Tactics & matchups: Spin could be the key against an RCB line-up that can be tied down by quality spin. There are two notable exceptions in Rajat Patidar, whose strike rate against spin shoots up nearly 40 points to 197, and Jitesh Sharma, who strikes at around 145 against both pace and spin with equal comfort.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has been far more circumspect despite having a breakout season against spin last year. He strikes at just 103 against Narine and has fallen to him four times. Against Chakravarthy, the number drops further to 102.5, though he’s only been dismissed once.
RCB Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma/Rasikh Dar Salam
KKR vs RCB Fantasy Playing XI : Quinton de Kock, Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana
KKR vs RCB : Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer of the last season with 741 runs to his name from 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 with one ton and five fifties. He will look to start the upcoming season with a big score and give his team a great start and boost his chances in the IPL 2025 Orange Cap race.
Until IPL 2024, Virat Kohli tended to play out Varun Chakravarthy and Narine and look for his runs elsewhere. But last year, he decided to take them down. His strike rate against the two KKR mystery spinners went up from 98.56 to 166.66. Although it was only a small sample size (18 balls in one match), it signalled a change in Kohli’s outlook. He was willing to take more risks. Will that continue this time around too
Probable Best Bowler: Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy can once again be the trump card for the defending champions this season. He is coming off some great performances for India throughout the year and will look to carry the same momentum forward. Notably, in the previous edition, Varun was the second-highest wicket-taker of the season with 21 wickets to his name in 14 innings, a performance that could also boost his chances in the IPL 2025 Purple Cap race.
KKR vs RCB : Match Prediction
Scenario 1
- Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and bowl
- PP Score – 50-60
- RCB – 200-210
- Kolkata Knight Riders win the match
Scenario 2
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bowl
- PP score – 60-70
- KKR- 210-220
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match