Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens today, March 22, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. KKR, the defending champions, will be led by their newly appointed captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was acquired for ₹1.5 crore during the auction. The team is aiming to become the third franchise in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Despite losing Shreyas Iyer to Punjab Kings, KKR retains key players such as Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer, which strengthens their chances for another successful season.
On the other hand, RCB has undergone significant changes ahead of IPL 2025. Rajat Patidar has been named as their new captain. The team has retained star players like Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal while adding fresh talents such as Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Krunal Pandya to bolster their squad. With these additions, RCB is looking to make a strong start to the season.
Match Details
- Teams: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Date: March 22, 2025
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Probable Playing XI:
- Shubman Gill
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Nitish Rana (c)
- Sunil Narine
- Rinku Singh (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer
- Lockie Ferguson
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Umesh Yadav
- Tim Southee
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Probable Playing XI:
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt
- Rajat Patidar (c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Krunal Pandya
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Tim David
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Rasikh Dar/Manoj Bhandage
Match Analysis
This match not only marks the beginning of IPL 2025 but also features some of the biggest names in cricket, including Virat Kohli and Andre Russell, who are expected to make significant impacts on their respective teams’ performances.
KKR will rely on their strong bowling attack led by Lockie Ferguson and Sunil Narine, while RCB’s batting lineup looks formidable with Kohli and Livingstone at the helm.
Pitch Report at Eden Gardens
The pitch at Eden Gardens is known for being highly favorable to batters due to its flat surface and true bounce, making it ideal for stroke play. However, compared to pitches in Bengaluru or Hyderabad this year, Eden Gardens may not be as conducive for batting. Historically, the average first-innings score at this venue in IPL matches is around 163 runs. Bowlers who can exploit variations may also find some assistance as the match progresses.
Recent Match Performance
In their most recent match at Eden Gardens during IPL 2024, KKR defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in a rain-affected game that was reduced to 16 overs per side. Batting first, KKR scored 157/7 with Venkatesh Iyer contributing a solid 42 runs and Nitish Rana adding 33 runs. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler in that match, taking two wickets for just 17 runs and playing a crucial role in KKR’s victory.
Historical Records at Eden Gardens
KKR has an impressive record at Eden Gardens, having won 52 out of the 88 matches they have played at this venue. The highest team score at Eden Gardens was achieved by Punjab Kings in April 2024 when they posted a mammoth total of 262/4 against KKR. Jonny Bairstow (108*) and Shashank Singh (68*) were the stars of that innings, leading Punjab Kings to a historic victory.
On the flip side, RCB holds the record for the lowest team total at Eden Gardens in IPL history. In April 2017, they were bowled out for just 49 runs in a disastrous performance against KKR. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, and Colin de Grandhomme each claimed three wickets in that match to dismantle RCB’s batting lineup.
