Jacob Bethell And...? Full List Of Potential Debutants In KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Opener

KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Opener [Source: @isandeeppatel/x.com]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to kick off with a thrilling match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The much-awaited clash will take place at Eden Gardens on March 22 (Saturday).

This match is special as both teams will feature some new faces; some players are making their IPL debut, while others will be playing for their new teams in the 18th season of the tournament.

KKR and RCB share a long-standing rivalry in the IPL. Interestingly, this is only the second time these teams will face each other in an IPL season opener. The last time it happened was in 2008, during the first-ever IPL match, which KKR won at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Now, let’s take a look at the players who will be playing for the first time for their respective teams.

For Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

• Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper-batter)

Quinton de Kock will be playing for KKR for the first time, but he is no stranger to the IPL. The star batter has already played for five different teams; Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Mumbai Indians. In his IPL career, he has played 107 matches, scoring 3,157 runs, including two centuries and 23 half-centuries.

• Anrich Nortje (Fast bowler)

Anrich Nortje, the South African speedster, has only played for Delhi Capitals in the IPL before joining KKR. He has featured in 6 IPL seasons, taking 60 wickets with an economy rate of 8.96.

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For Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

• Phil Salt (Wicketkeeper-batter)

RCB bought English opener Phil Salt for ₹11.5 crore. He has played for Delhi Capitals and KKR in the past, scoring 653 runs in 12 matches at an average of 34.36.

• Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper-batter)

Jitesh Sharma, 31, made his IPL debut in 2022 with Punjab Kings (PBKS) and has only played for them so far. In 40 IPL matches, he has scored 730 runs at a strike rate of 151.13 and an average of 22.81.

• Liam Livingstone (All-rounder)

Liam Livingstone has previously played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). RCB will be his third IPL team. The explosive right-hander has scored 939 runs in 39 matches with a remarkable strike rate of 162.45.

• Jacob Bethell (All-rounder) – Making his IPL debut

Young English all-rounder Jacob Bethell could make his IPL debut this season with RCB. He has been in great form at the international level.

• Krunal Pandya (All-rounder)

Krunal Pandya has previously played for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI). In 127 IPL matches, he has scored 1,647 runs and taken 76 wickets, with a bowling average of 34.28.

KKR Vs RCB: Probable XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora 

Possible Impact Substitutes: Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell/Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Possible Impact Substitutes: Tim David, Manoj S Bhandage, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chikara, Suyash Sharma/Rasikh Dar Salam

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