Powerplay (Overs 1-6)
KKR: 60/1 (10 rpo, 8x4, 4x6)  ll  RCB: 80/0 (13.33 rpo, 10x4, 4x6)

Middle Overs (Overs 7-15)
KKR: 85/4 (9.44 rpo, 8x4, 3x6)  ll  RCB: 77/2 (8.55 rpo, 8x4, 2x6)

Death Overs (Overs 16-20)
KKR: 29/3 (5.80 rpo, 2x6, 1x6) ll  RCB: 20/1 in 1.2 overs (15 rpo, 3x4, 1x6)

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a commanding seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, finishing the chase with a whopping 22 balls to spare. In what was billed as a highly anticipated opener, RCB outclassed the home side in all departments, signaling the beginning of a new era under captain Rajat Patidar.

After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, RCB had an early scare when Suyash Sharma dropped a sitter in the opening over, giving Quinton de Kock a life. However, Josh Hazlewood dismissed him a few balls later, ensuring the drop didn’t cost them. KKR bounced back with a brilliant 103-run stand between new skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine. Rahane looked elegant in his 56 off 31, while Narine bludgeoned 44 off 26. But once Narine fell to Rasikh Dar Salam, the innings lost momentum. Krunal Pandya took charge with the ball, picking 3 for 29, and KKR stumbled to 174/8.

In response, RCB’s chase was nothing short of explosive. Phil Salt, facing his former team, went ballistic in the powerplay, scoring 56 off 31 balls, while Virat Kohli, playing his 400th T20 match, remained unbeaten on 59 from 36 deliveries. The pair’s 80-run opening stand in six overs completely deflated the KKR attack. Despite losing Salt and Padikkal, Patidar smashed a 16-ball 34, and Livingstone wrapped things up with a rapid 15* off 5 balls.

RCB's intent was clear — fearless batting, tight bowling, and capitalizing on big moments. For KKR, this was a wake-up call, especially with the ball, as they failed to defend a competitive total. As the tournament begins to unfold, RCB already look like a well-oiled unit ready to go the distance.

Ajinkya Rahane | Kolkata Knight Riders Captain:
"I thought we were in a strong position until around the 13th over, but then we lost two to three wickets in quick succession, and the momentum completely shifted. It’s just the first game of the season, so we’ll assess things quickly and move forward.Yes, while I was batting with Venkatesh, we felt 210–220 was very much on the cards. But credit to RCB — they bowled exceptionally well in the latter half of our innings.There was a bit of dew, yes, but more than that, I think they batted brilliantly in the powerplay. As I mentioned earlier, a total of 170–180 on this surface was below par. We were targeting 200-plus, and not getting early breakthroughs with the ball really hurt us tonight.That said, we’re not going to dwell too much on this result. It’s a long season. We’ll regroup, improve as a unit, and come back stronger in the upcoming matches." 
 

Rajat Patidar | Royal Challengers  Bengaluru Captain:
"There was definitely pressure, but it turned out to be a good day for me — and if we keep playing like this, I hope there are many more to come.The plan was very clear. I wanted the wicket of Andre Russell at any cost. Even if Suyash went for a few runs, I backed him as our strike bowler — and he delivered. That moment was crucial.Both Krunal and Suyash deserve massive credit. KKR were flying around the 13th over, but the way they pulled things back was simply brilliant. Their composure turned the game in our favour.It’s also a great feeling to lead someone like Virat Kohli — he’s incredibly supportive and having that kind of experience in the camp helps a lot. I’m learning every day with this group of leaders around me. Yeah, that was actually a premeditated shot — I was aiming to go over cover, but the ball nipped back a bit, and it ended up flying over backward point instead. Luckily, it worked out!" 

Krunal Pandya | Player of the Match:
"Honestly, nothing much — I just realised that with so much crowd noise, it’s important to narrow your focus. When I came back to bowl my second over, I zoned in and just focused on delivering good balls. I’m happy I could step up and contribute for the team.In T20s, if batters want to go big, they’ll have to do it against my best deliveries. That’s the mindset. These days, batters have so many options and skills — as a bowler, you’ve got to keep evolving with the game. Everyone talks about changes of pace — usually about pacers — but for spinners too, variation in speed is a powerful weapon. I’ve got a wide yorker and even a bouncer in my toolkit, and Jitesh Sharma is well aware of that. He’s always ready, which gives me the confidence to execute those variations when needed. Joining RCB has been incredible. The energy around this franchise is unreal. Even when I played domestic cricket in Bengaluru, I could hear RCB chants from the stands. It’s been only ten days with the squad, but it already feels like something special."