Kolkata, Mar 22 (UNI) - The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 kicked off in style at Eden Gardens on Saturday, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). KKR put up a competitive score of 174 for 8 in their 20 overs, setting the stage for an exciting chase by RCB.
Batting first after losing the toss, KKR got off to a promising start, with captain Ajinkya Rahane leading the charge alongside Quinton de Kock. However, the excitement was short-lived as De Kock was dismissed for just 4 runs by RCB's Josh Hazlewood in the very first over, caught behind by Jitesh Sharma. Earlier in the over, De Kock had hit the first boundary of the tournament, only to later be reprieved when RCB's Suyash Sharma dropped a catch at mid-wicket.
Rahane, taking the reins for the first time as KKR captain, anchored the innings with a brisk 56 off 31 balls, including six fours and four sixes. He particularly stood out during a dominant partnership with Sunil Narine, who made 44 off 26 balls, allowing KKR to establish a formidable 100-run partnership. Rahane’s aggressive style was highlighted by a massive 69-metre six off Yash Dayal, and he produced some exquisite stroke play throughout his innings.
As KKR appeared to take control, their middle order struggled to maintain the momentum. With players like Venkatesh Iyer (6) and Andre Russell (4) falling cheaply, KKR soon faced a batting collapse. Rinku Singh managed only 12 runs, leaving Angkrish Raghuvanshi to provide some late resistance with a quick 30 off 22 balls. Ultimately, KKR concluded their innings at 174 runs, a score that left plenty of room for RCB to chase.
RCB's bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Krunal Pandya emerging as the standout, taking 3 wickets for 29 runs. Hazlewood also made crucial breakthroughs with figures of 2 for 22, while Yash Dayal and Rasikh Salam chipped in with one wicket each, ensuring they kept the KKR batting lineup under control.
In what became a historic moment for RCB, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma equalled the record for the most catches in a single inning for the franchise, managing an impressive four catches during KKR’s innings. This feat ties him with Anuj Rawat, who previously set the record in IPL 2024. Jitesh Sharma, secured the catch that dismissed De Kock, enhancing his performance further despite being struck on the helmet by a delivery from Krunal Pandya during gameplay.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar's decision to bowl first in this high-stakes match appeared questionable early on, with KKR racing to a 103-run partnership. Krunal Pandya’s exceptional bowling changed the dynamics of the match; his three wickets helped to dismantle KKR's momentum, leading to the team’s declining score rate, especially after their explosive start. After ten overs, KKR were on track for a much higher total, but they only managed to score a total of 174 runs.
As the match shifted towards RCB's chase, fans braced for an intense encounter. With players eager to leave their mark early in the tournament, the evening continued to build a thrilling atmosphere at Eden Gardens.
In the IPL 2025 opening ceremony prior to the match, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan graced the event, alongside artists including Shreya Ghoshal and Karan Aujla, creating a festival-like ambience to kick off the season. The ceremony concluded with the BCCI office-bearers cutting a cake to celebrate the beginning of the 18th edition of the IPL, accompanied by the national anthem echoing throughout the stadium.
As the night unfolds, fans await an intriguing chase under the lights of Eden Gardens, hopeful that RCB can capitalize on their bowling display and put their batting prowess to the test against KKR's competitive total.
