Introduction
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 kicked off with a riveting encounter between the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and the ever-popular Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 22, 2025.
This match, a nostalgic rematch of the IPL’s inaugural game in 2008, set the stage for an exhilarating season. The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard tells a tale of two contrasting innings: one of recovery and one of dominance.
KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, aimed to start their title defense strongly, while RCB, under Rajat Patidar’s captaincy, sought to make a bold statement. With passionate fans filling the stands, the stage was set for a cricketing spectacle.
Match Overview
Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a commanding performance, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare in the IPL 2025 opener. KKR, batting first after losing the toss, posted 174/8 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine.
However, RCB’s batting firepower, led by Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, proved unstoppable. Their 95-run opening partnership set the tone for a comfortable chase, with RCB finishing at 177/3 in 16.2 overs. Krunal Pandya’s exceptional bowling and RCB’s aggressive batting ensured a dominant victory, setting a strong foundation for their campaign.
Pre-Match Expectations
Before the match, anticipation ran high for both teams. KKR, as defending champions, were favored to leverage their home advantage at Eden Gardens. Their strategy likely centered on their explosive batting lineup, featuring Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Ajinkya Rahane.
However, their bowling, particularly in the death overs, had been a concern in past seasons. Meanwhile, RCB, with a revamped squad under Rajat Patidar, aimed to capitalize on their strong batting, led by Virat Kohli, and a balanced bowling attack featuring Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya. The toss was pivotal, as dew often aids chasing teams at Eden Gardens, and RCB’s decision to bowl first proved strategic.
KKR Innings: A Tale of Recovery and Collapse
KKR’s innings began disastrously, losing two wickets for just 10 runs. Quinton de Kock fell for 1, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya, while Venkatesh Iyer edged Josh Hazlewood to the keeper for 1. At 10/2, KKR faced early pressure.
However, Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine mounted a stunning recovery with a 103-run third-wicket partnership. Rahane’s elegant 56 off 31 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes, complemented Narine’s aggressive 44 off 26, with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Their stand took KKR to 113/2 by the 13th over, raising hopes of a big total.
Unfortunately, KKR’s momentum faltered after Narine’s dismissal by Yash Dayal and Rahane’s exit to Hazlewood. The middle order struggled, with Rinku Singh (1 off 3), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (12 off 10), and Andre Russell (15 off 14) failing to capitalize.
Ramandeep Singh (6* off 7) and the lower order added only 61 runs in the final 7 overs, resulting in 174/8. Krunal Pandya’s 3/29, supported by Hazlewood (2/22) and Dayal (2/35), kept KKR’s total within reach, setting up an exciting chase for RCB.
| KKR Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Quinton de Kock | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Sharma b Pandya |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | c Sharma b Hazlewood |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 56 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 180.65 | c Pandya b Hazlewood |
| Sunil Narine | 44 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 169.23 | c David b Dayal |
| Rinku Singh | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | c Sharma b Pandya |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 | c Kohli b Pandya |
| Andre Russell | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 107.14 | c David b Salam |
| Ramandeep Singh | 6* | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 | not out |
| Spencer Johnson | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Kohli b Dayal |
| Harshit Rana | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c David b Salam |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | not out |
| Extras | 3 | (lb 2, w 1) | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 174/8 | (20 overs) | – | – | – | – |
| RCB Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Krunal Pandya | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Yash Dayal | 4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 |
| Rasikh Dar Salam | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 10.50 |
RCB Innings: A Dominant Chase
RCB’s chase of 175 began explosively, with openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli dominating the powerplay. Salt smashed 56 off 31 balls, including 9 fours and 2 sixes, while Kohli anchored with an unbeaten 59 off 36, featuring 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Their 95-run opening stand in 51 balls set a commanding tone. Although Salt fell to Varun Chakaravarthy and Devdutt Padikkal (10 off 10) was dismissed by Sunil Narine, RCB’s momentum remained intact. Rajat Patidar’s aggressive 34 off 16 balls, with 5 fours and 1 six, and Liam Livingstone’s quick 15* off 5 ensured RCB finished at 177/3 in 16.2 overs.
Sunil Narine was KKR’s most economical bowler, conceding just 27 runs in 4 overs while taking 1 wicket. Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy each claimed a wicket but were expensive, unable to curb RCB’s aggressive batting.
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard highlights RCB’s clinical approach, as they chased the target with ease, showcasing their batting depth and composure under pressure.
| RCB Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Virat Kohli | 59* | 36 | 4 | 3 | 163.89 | not out |
| Phil Salt | 56 | 31 | 9 | 2 | 180.65 | c Johnson b Chakaravarthy |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | c Ramandeep b Narine |
| Rajat Patidar | 34 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 212.50 | c Rinku b Arora |
| Liam Livingstone | 15* | 5 | 2 | 1 | 300.00 | not out |
| Extras | 3 | (lb 2, w 1) | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 177/3 | (16.2 overs) | – | – | – | – |
| KKR Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Vaibhav Arora | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Spencer Johnson | 2.2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 13.30 |
| Harshit Rana | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 10.70 |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.80 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 10.75 |
Player of the Match
Krunal Pandya earned the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling performance. His figures of 3/29 in 4 overs were pivotal in restricting KKR to 174/8. Pandya dismissed key batsmen like Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, breaking crucial partnerships and keeping KKR’s scoring in check.
His disciplined bowling, combined with clever variations, made him the standout performer, as reflected in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard.
Key Moments
Several moments defined this thrilling encounter. First, KKR’s early collapse, losing two wickets for 10 runs, put them on the back foot. Then, the 103-run partnership between Rahane and Narine was a game-changer, reviving KKR’s hopes.
However, RCB’s aggressive powerplay, scoring 80 runs without loss, shifted the momentum decisively. Finally, Rajat Patidar’s quickfire 34 off 16 balls ensured RCB maintained their dominance, sealing the chase with 22 balls to spare.
These moments, captured in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard, highlight the match’s intensity.
Statistical Highlights
The match produced several notable statistics. Virat Kohli became the third player to score 1000 runs against KKR in the IPL, joining David Warner (1093 runs) and Rohit Sharma (1070 runs), with his unbeaten 59.
RCB’s powerplay score of 80/0 was the highest in the IPL 2025 opening matches. Sunil Narine’s economical spell of 4-0-27-1 stood out for KKR, despite their loss. Additionally, Krunal Pandya’s 3/29 marked his career-best IPL figures, underscoring his all-round value.
These stats, reflected in the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard, add depth to the match narrative.
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 opener was a thrilling showcase of T20 cricket, with RCB’s clinical performance overshadowing KKR’s valiant effort. While KKR showed resilience through Rahane and Narine’s partnership, their middle-order collapse proved costly.
RCB, powered by Salt, Kohli, and Pandya, demonstrated their title-contending credentials. The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match scorecard encapsulates a match of high drama and skill, setting the tone for an exciting IPL season. As both teams move forward, KKR will aim to address their batting frailties, while RCB will look to build on this momentum.
FAQs
Q1: Who won the match between KKR and RCB on March 22, 2025?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 7 wickets with 22 balls remaining.
Q2: What were the scores in the KKR vs RCB match?
KKR scored 174/8 in 20 overs, while RCB chased 177/3 in 16.2 overs.
Q3: Who was the Player of the Match in the KKR vs RCB game?
Krunal Pandya was named Player of the Match for his 3/29 bowling figures.
Q4: How did Virat Kohli perform in the match?
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, anchoring RCB’s chase and reaching 1000 runs against KKR in the IPL.
Q5: What was the partnership between Salt and Kohli?
Phil Salt and Virat Kohli shared a 95-run opening partnership off 51 balls.
