The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off in style with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) taking on the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at the iconic Eden Gardens. RCB’s new captain, Rajat Patidar, won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to make a strong start against a formidable KKR side.
This clash brings back memories of the IPL’s inaugural season in 2008, when RCB and KKR faced off in the tournament opener. Since then, KKR has clinched three IPL titles, while RCB is still chasing its elusive first trophy. Both teams have fresh leadership this season, with Ajinkya Rahane leading KKR and Patidar at the helm for RCB.
A notable moment before the match was Spencer Johnson receiving his maiden KKR cap from franchise icon Sunil Narine. Meanwhile, RCB faced a setback with experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar missing out due to a minor injury. Acquired for a hefty ₹10.75 crore, Bhuvneshwar’s absence was a significant blow for the team.
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At the toss, Patidar expressed his excitement about captaining RCB and admitted his confusion about the new impact player rule. He emphasized the team’s thorough preparations, opting for a balanced attack with three fast bowlers and two spinners. On the other hand, Rahane acknowledged the stability of KKR’s core group and expressed confidence in his side’s ability to set a strong target and defend it effectively.
🚨 JUST IN :- Bhuvneshwar Kumar has minor injury.He will be back soon #RoyalChallengersBengaluru#KKRvsRCB #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/Hx5z0mdgH0
— SHIV PATEL (@shivpatel0007) March 22, 2025
RCB’s playing XI features power hitters like Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, and Liam Livingstone, alongside the experienced Tim David. In the bowling department, Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal lead the pace attack. KKR’s lineup, led by Rahane, includes dynamic players like Quinton de Kock, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine, backed by the promising Spencer Johnson and Varun Chakaravarthy.
With both teams eager to start their campaigns on a winning note, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter. The battle between RCB’s batting firepower and KKR’s balanced bowling attack promises to be a gripping contest.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt(w), Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.
