RCB beats KKR by 7 wickets in IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens

RCB Stuns KKR in IPL 2025 Opener at Eden Gardens. RCB beats KKR by 7 wickets in IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens. Read the full match review, key performances, and highlights of this thrilling encounter.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata through a gripping game. KAthon Knight Riders fans showed high enthusiasm but Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 7 wickets while aggressively using both batting and bowling strategies. Here’s a detailed post-match review of how RCB outclassed KKR in the season opener.

Match Summary of How RCB beats KKR by 7 wickets in IPL 2025

• Date: March 22, 2025
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Toss: RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first.
• Result: RCB won by 7 wickets.
• Scorecard: KKR – 174/8 in 20 overs | RCB – 177/3 in 16.2 overs

KKR’s Innings: A Mixed Bag

KKR started their innings with high hopes, but their batting lineup struggled to fire consistently. Here’s a breakdown of their performance:

Top Performers for KKR:

1. Ajinkya Rahane: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane showed outstanding leadership by hitting 56 runs from 31 balls while using six fours and four sixes.
2. Sunil Narine: The explosive opener Sunil Narine clinched a total of 44 runs from his 26 balls played while hitting three sixes alongside five fours.
3. Angkrish Raghuvanshi: The young talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored a useful 30 runs from his 22 balls while hitting two boundaries and six singles.

Disappointments for KKR:

• Quinton de Kock: The star wicketkeeper-batsman failed to make an impact, scoring just 4 runs off 5 balls before being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood.
• Middle Order Collapse: Apart from Rahane, Narine, and Raghuvanshi, the rest of the KKR batsmen struggled, leading to a below-par total of 174/8 in 20 overs.

RCB’s Bowling Heroics:

• Krunal Pandya: The all-rounder was the star of the show, taking 3 wickets for 29 runs in his 4 overs.
• Josh Hazlewood: The pace spearhead provided an early breakthrough, dismissing Quinton de Kock and finishing with 2 wickets for 22 runs.
• Yash Dayal and Rasikh Salam: Both bowlers chipped in with 1 wicket each, keeping the pressure on KKR throughout the innings.

RCB’s Chase: A Commanding Performance

Chasing a target of 175, RCB’s batsmen put on a clinical display, reaching the target in just 16.2 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Here’s how they did it:

Top Performers for RCB:

1. Virat Kohli: The former RCB captain was in sublime form, scoring an unbeaten 59 runs off 36 balls, including four fours and three sixes.
2. Phil Salt: The explosive opener set the tone with a quickfire 56 runs off 31 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes.
3. Rajat Patidar: The RCB captain played a crucial knock of 34 runs off 16 balls, smashing five fours and one six.
4. Liam Livingstone: The English all-rounder finished the match in style, scoring an unbeaten 15 runs off just 5 balls.

KKR’s Bowling Struggles:

• Varun Chakravarthy: The mystery spinner took the only wicket for KKR, dismissing Phil Salt.
• Rest of the Bowlers: KKR’s bowlers failed to contain RCB’s batsmen, with Suyash Sharma conceding 47 runs in his 4 overs.

Key Moments of the Match

1. Early Blow for KKR: Josh Hazlewood’s dismissal of Quinton de Kock in the powerplay set the tone for RCB’s dominance.
2. Rahane’s Fireworks: Ajinkya Rahane’s half-century kept KKR in the game, but the middle-order collapse hurt their chances.
3. Kohli-Salt Partnership: The 112-run opening stand between Virat Kohli and Phil Salt laid the foundation for RCB’s comfortable chase.
4. Krunal Pandya’s Spell: His 3-wicket haul broke KKR’s momentum and restricted them to a below-par total.

To see the complete match scorecard read KKR vs RCB 1st Match Scorecard.

Player of the Match

Krunal Pandya was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-winning spell of 3/29 in 4 overs, which played a pivotal role in RCB’s victory.

What’s Next?

• RCB: With this win, RCB has 2 points and will look to carry the momentum into their next match.
• KKR: Despite the loss, KKR will aim to bounce back stronger in their upcoming games.

Also read: Standing Points Table.

Conclusion

The complete triumph of RCB against KKR in the opening match of IPL 2025 demonstrated how their team excelled at batting and bowling. The match result turned against KKR due to their erratic batting combined with their below-average bowling performance. Both clubs will continue to refine their approaches throughout the tournament to bring exciting matchups between them.