The highly anticipated 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (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.
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.
Match Details:
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Match 1, IPL 2025 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date & Time | Saturday, March 22, 2025, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming Details | Sports18/Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (app & website) |
Pitch Report
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.
Head-to-Head Record
| 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 Predicted Playing 11
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Quinton de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma.
Also Check- IPL 2025, Match 1: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Preview
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.
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.
Today’s Match Prediction: Team bowling first to win the match
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
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
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