IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Match Preview- Match 01

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin with the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders locking horns with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The KKR vs RCB clash will occur on March 22, 2025, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Last year, the Knight Riders had an excellent season. They finished at the top of the points table with nine wins in 14 clashes and a net run rate of +1.428. The Bengaluru-based franchise also displayed incredible quality to earn playoff tickets.

Kolkata suffered a few injuries in the first half of the IPL 2024 but was unbeaten in the last eight matches, including the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

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RCB had a very topsy-turvy season. They gained just one victory in the first eight clashes of the tournament, including the one-run defeat in the KKR vs.

RCB fixture at the Eden Gardens. But the Faf du Plessis-led side turned the tables and went on to win six back-to-back games to qualify for the top four of the competition.

KKR vs RCB Match Preview- IPL 2025, Match 01

Both Kolkata and Bengaluru have made some changes in the squad, with two new captains appearing for the KKR vs RCB encounter in the new season. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the three-time champions after the purple management signed the opening batter in the accelerated auction process on the second day.

Bengaluru, on the other hand, has shouldered the responsibility on the young middle-order batter, Rajat Patidar. Many speculated that Virat Kohli could be back in leading the franchise.

Still, the decision-makers kept faith in the Madhya Pradesh batter, who also captained the domestic team to the final of the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 and ended with the runners-up tag.

KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Squads

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali

Due to his injury, the express pacer, Umran Malik, won’t take part in the IPL 2025, as the KKR management replaced him with Chetan Sakariya.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.

KKR vs RCB Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders

Quinton de Kock (wk.), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact Subs: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mayank Markande, Anukul Roy, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk.), Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Paddikal, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal.

Impact Sub: Tim David, Nuwan Thushara, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Mohit Rathee.

KKR vs RCB Key Battles

• In 118 T20 deliveries against Sunil Narine during KKR vs RCB, Virat Kohli has grabbed just 127 runs at a strike rate of 107.60, besides getting dismissed four times.
• Rajat Patidar, despite his incredible skill against the spinners, has failed to earn the same advantage against Varun Chakravarthy with run-a-ball 12 runs, including one dismissal.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane seven times in T20s, where the batter has managed just 104 runs in 117 balls at a strike rate of 88.90.