RCB vs KKR IPL 2025: RCB Wins Season 1st Match by 7 Wickets

RCB vs KKR IPL 2025 1st Match:

The IPL 2025 season kicked off with a thrilling encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The high-voltage clash witnessed impressive performances, power-packed partnerships, and a masterclass from Virat Kohli, as RCB registered a convincing 7-wicket win, chasing down KKR’s target of 175 with ease.

Table of Contents

Toss and Innings Overview

RCB won the toss and opted to field first, considering the favorable conditions for seamers in the early overs. The decision paid off as RCB bowlers made an immediate impact.

KKR Innings: Rahane and Narine Build, but RCB Strikes Back

Early Blow for KKR

KKR opened their innings with Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine, but they got off to a disastrous start. Josh Hazlewood struck in the very first over, removing de Kock for a duck after just 5 deliveries. KKR’s first wicket fell with only 4 runs on the board.

Fall of Wicket: 1-4 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 ov) c †Sharma b Hazlewood

Rahane and Narine Steady the Innings

After the early blow, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane stepped in and, along with Narine, steadied the innings. The duo stitched together an impressive partnership of 103 runs, taking KKR out of trouble.

Sunil Narine’s Impact:

44 runs off 26 balls
5 boundaries and 3 sixes
Strike rate: 169.23

Narine’s aggressive knock provided much-needed momentum for KKR before he was dismissed by Rasikh Salam in the 10th over.

Fall of Wicket: 2-107 (Sunil Narine, 9.6 ov) c †Sharma b Rasikh Salam

Rahane Holds the Fort, But RCB Bowlers Bounce Back

Rahane played a captain’s knock, holding the innings together, but his departure in the 11th over marked the beginning of KKR’s collapse. He scored a composed 53 off 38 balls, but the middle order failed to capitalize on the strong foundation.

Fall of Wickets:

3-109 (Ajinkya Rahane, 10.3 ov) c Rasikh Salam b Pandya
4-125 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.1 ov)
5-145 (Rinku Singh, 14.6 ov)
6-150 (Andre Russell, 15.4 ov)
7-168 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 18.5 ov)
8-173 (Harshit Rana, 19.5 ov)

KKR eventually finished with a total of 174/8 in 20 overs, which seemed competitive but slightly below par on a good batting surface.

RCB Bowling Highlights

The RCB bowling attack showcased a well-balanced performance, combining discipline, precision, and timely breakthroughs to restrict KKR to 174/8 in 20 overs. Each bowler played a critical role in ensuring KKR couldn’t capitalize on their middle-order partnership.

Josh Hazlewood: The Early Breakthrough

4 overs, 22 runs, 2 wickets, 5.5 economy, 16 dot balls
Dismissed Quinton de Kock in the first over and Harshit Rana in the final over, maintaining excellent control.

Krunal Pandya: The Game Changer in the Middle Overs

4 overs, 29 runs, 3 wickets, 7.25 economy, 8 dot balls
Took key wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh, preventing KKR from accelerating.

Yash Dayal: Consistent Pressure

3 overs, 25 runs, 1 wicket, 8.33 economy, 7 dot balls
Claimed the wicket of Angkrish Raghuvanshi and kept things tight in the middle overs.

Rasikh Salam: Crucial Breakthrough of Narine

3 overs, 35 runs, 1 wicket, 11.66 economy, 9 dot balls
Dismissed the dangerous Sunil Narine, but was slightly expensive.

Suyash Sharma: A Mixed Bag

4 overs, 47 runs, 1 wicket, 11.75 economy, 8 dot balls
Took the crucial wicket of Andre Russell but went for runs.

Liam Livingstone: Economical Spell

2 overs, 14 runs, 0 wickets, 7.00 economy, 2 dot balls
Kept things tight in his brief spell, controlling the run flow.

RCB’s bowlers delivered key breakthroughs and maintained control, restricting KKR to 174/8.

RCB Innings: Kohli and Salt Shine in a Comfortable Chase

Phil Salt’s Explosive Start

Chasing 175, RCB’s openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli took charge and gave their team a solid start. Salt was in devastating form, smashing boundaries all around the park. His quickfire 56 off 31 balls provided the perfect momentum for RCB’s chase.

Phil Salt’s Knock:

56 runs off 31 balls
9 fours and 2 sixes
Strike rate: 180.64

However, Salt’s fireworks came to an end in the 9th over when Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough.

Fall of Wicket: 1-95 (Phil Salt, 8.3 ov) c Johnson b Varun

Kohli Anchors the Chase

After Salt’s departure, Devdutt Padikkal joined Kohli but couldn’t make a significant contribution. He fell in the 12th over while attempting to take Narine on, scoring only 10 off 10 balls.

Fall of Wicket: 2-118 (Devdutt Padikkal, 11.4 ov) c Ramandeep Singh b Narine

Rajat Patidar and Kohli Take Control

Rajat Patidar, who came in at No. 4, played an aggressive cameo, scoring 34 runs off just 16 balls with 5 fours and 1 six, giving RCB the required acceleration. His knock ensured that RCB stayed ahead in the chase.

Fall of Wicket: 3-156 (Rajat Patidar, 15.3 ov) c Singh b Arora

Livingstone Finishes in Style

With only a handful of runs required, Liam Livingstone came in and ended the game in style with a boundary. His 15 runs off 5 balls ensured that RCB chased down the target comfortably in 16.2 overs, finishing at 177/3.

Key Moments of the Match

Hazlewood’s Early Strike: Quinton de Kock’s dismissal put KKR on the back foot right away.
Rahane and Narine’s Partnership: Their 103-run stand brought KKR back into the game.
Salt’s Explosive Start: Phil Salt’s blistering knock gave RCB the early advantage in the chase.
Kohli’s Calm Finishing: Kohli’s unbeaten 59 ensured RCB crossed the line comfortably.

Points Table Impact

With this victory, RCB secured 2 points and a positive Net Run Rate (NRR), positioning themselves at the top of the points table. KKR, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in the league.