Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started their IPL 2025 campaign with a major seven wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Opposing the first field, RCB limited KKR to 174/8, despite 56 runs for Ajinkya Rahane and 44 off 26 of Sunil Narin. Krunal Pandya was the best bowler, lifting 3/29, while Josh Hazelwood claimed 2/22.
Chasing 175, RCB left for a spectacular start, 31 out of 56 balls of Phil Salat and 36 runs out of 36 of Virat Kohli. Salt's aggressive intent pressed KKR bowlers, and Kohli anchored the innings. Rajat Patidar played a solid cameo of 34 for 16 runs, and Liam Livingstone's Quick 15 off 5 chased in just 16.2 overs.
KKR bowlers fought, in which only Sunil Narin, Varun Chakravarti, and Vaibhav Arora managing one wicket. RCB's clinical all-round performance ensured a comfortable win.
Major moments from IPL 2025 matches 1:
1. Virat Kohli-Fel Salt Stand
The half -centuries of Phil Salat and Virat Kohli directed the Bengaluru franchise to a comfortable win. Playing his first game for RCB, Salt scored 56 off 31 balls, while Kohli scored 59 off 36 balls in his 400th T20 innings. His partnership registered RCB's second largest powerplay score (80/0). Kohli also became the third batsman to score 1,000 IPL runs against KKR. Additionally, his 14 borders in Powerplay ranks third in RCB history.
2. Important mantra of Krunal Pandya
RCB all -rounder Krunal Pandya gave a match winning magic. On a batting -friendly surface, experienced left -handed spinner raised 3/29 in four overs, which eliminated the order between KKR. After being unstable first, Krunal returned strongly after Sunil Narin's dismissal. He removed Ajinkya Rahane set for 56 before cleaning Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh. Auctioned by RCB for INR 5.75 crore in the 2025 auction, Krual's performance upheld its value tag as it proved to be a game-changer in his new franchise campaign opener.
3. Ajinkya Rahane-Sunil Narin stabilized KKR's innings
Ajinkya Rahane made his debut on a good note as KKR captain, especially with the bat. After Quinton de Cock's early dismissal, Rahane took responsibility for himself, by hammering Rasik Dar Salaam for 16 runs in the fourth over. His intentions gave KKR's momentum, which dominated Sunil Narin after a slow start. Struggling at 9/1 after three overs, the side reached 60/1 in six overs. Rahane brought his fifty in just 25 balls before falling for 56 runs in 31 balls, which hit six fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Narin scored 26 runs, as the pair scored 103 runs.
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