IPL

KKR vs RCB IPL 2025: Match Report & Key Highlights

The highly anticipated IPL 2025 season kicked off in grand style as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. The match was filled with excitement, brilliant performances, and tactical gameplay that set the tone for the tournament.

Match Summary

  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 177/3 (Kohli 59*, Salt 56, Patidar 34, Narine 1-27)
  • Kolkata Knight Riders: 174/8 (Rahane 56, Narine 44, Raghuvanshi 30, Krunal 3-29, Hazlewood 2-22)
  • Result: RCB won by seven wickets

RCB’s Impactful Start to IPL 2025

RCB made a strong statement in their first game of IPL 2025, with their latest acquisitions playing key roles in their victory. The team’s bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya, restricted KKR to a modest total before Phil Salt and Virat Kohli dominated the chase.

Key Highlights from the Match

Hazlewood’s Early Impact

  • Returning from an injury layoff, Josh Hazlewood troubled KKR’s top order with his height and bounce.
  • He removed Quinton de Kock early and kept Sunil Narine in check, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-22-1.

Rahane and Narine’s Partnership

  • Ajinkya Rahane (56 off 38) and Sunil Narine (44 off 25) provided KKR with a strong middle-overs push, adding 98 runs between overs four to ten.
  • Narine, in particular, went after his former teammate Suyash Sharma, hitting him for 22 runs in a single over.

Krunal Pandya’s Match-Turning Spell

  • With KKR at 107/1 in 9.5 overs, Krunal Pandya’s (3-29) clever variations turned the game.
  • He dismissed Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh in quick succession, dismantling KKR’s middle order.
  • Suyash Sharma also removed Andre Russell with a well-disguised wrong’un.

RCB’s Clinical Chase

  • Former KKR star Phil Salt punished his old team, scoring 56 off 31 balls, attacking Varun Chakravarthy early.
  • Virat Kohli (59 off 36)* anchored the innings while keeping the intent high, ensuring RCB boosted their net run rate.
  • Rajat Patidar (34 off 16) provided the finishing touch, guiding RCB home with 22 balls to spare.

What’s Next?

With this victory, RCB has announced itself as a strong contender in IPL 2025. KKR, despite a solid start, will look to address their middle-order concerns and bounce back stronger in their next game.

Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 updates and in-depth match analysis!

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