IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs KKR- Match 01

Even though the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was excellent in the last half of the IPL 2024 to earn the playoffs ticket, they will hope to start on a high in the opening game of the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Eden Gardens against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The three-time runners-up of the competition finished at the fourth position last year, thanks to the group-stage victory against the Chennai Super Kings.

With the management’s decision not to retain Faf du Plessis, their previous captain, many predicted the return of Virat Kohli as the new leader but the franchise went with Rajat Patidar.

IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs KKR- Match 01

Openers: Virat Kohli And Phil Salt (wk)

With Faf Du Plessis’ aggressive batting in the powerplay, Virat Kohli got his time to be set in the middle and display his firepower towards the end.

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England’s wicket-keeper batter, Phil Salt, will have the same responsibility on his shoulders to go for the big shots from the start. Kohli could take the singles and doubles to keep the scorecard moving. Salt has a great record at Eden Gardens, with 350 runs at a strike rate of over 185.

RCB is desperate to win their maiden title in the tournament. Kohli, who won the Orange Cap last year with 741 runs at a strike rate of 150 in the last IPL, hopes to go through the same rhythm in the IPL 2025.

Middle order: Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Paddikal, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Krunal Pandya

RCB has formed a strong middle order this season. Patidar will have the onus to tackle the spinners in the middle overs. In 2024, he cracked 395 runs at a strike rate of 180.

Local boy Devdutt Paddikal is almost expected to get the number four position in the batting department. When he played for the franchise in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid, he crossed the 400-run mark in both editions.

Liam Livingstone replaces Glenn Maxwell in the batting department. In 39 IPL games, the right-handed batter has nailed 939 runs at 160 strike rate. His few overs with the ball will be vital for the franchise.

The toss-up will be between Tim David and Jacob Bethell. With David, they will have the power, but they will need one or two overs of spin from that number six position. Bethell, the left-handed batting all-rounder, is the most suitable choice for the position.

Krunal Pandya will be another spin all-rounder in the side. He can bowl in the powerplay and provide a few runs in the lower middle order.

Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s experience with the new ball will be a crunch moment for the RCB side. They will also get their old pacer, Josh Hazlewood. The Australian pacer can use the surface to make batting harder for the opponent batters.

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Bhuvi can easily bowl three overs in the powerplay and one at the death. Most of the overs in the last five will be on Yash Dayal, who was the game-changer for the franchise in the previous edition of the tournament.

On the other hand, Suyash Sharma will also feature in the RCB’s playing eleven. Having played for KKR in the last season, he will be aware of the conditions at the Eden Gardens.

RCB’s Playing XI vs KKR- Match 01

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