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KKR vs RCB Highlights: Kohli's Fifty Powers Fearless Bengaluru To Victory In IPL 2025 Opener

Arnav Chopra

Virat Kohli after KKR vs RCB (Source: AP Photos)Virat Kohli after KKR vs RCB (Source: AP Photos)

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In the first match of the IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at their home in Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Batting first, Kolkata posted 174 on the board, while the RCB side finished the game with seven wickets and 22 deliveries to spare courtesy of Virat Kohli's 59*.

Here's how the 1st match of the IPL 2025 between KKR vs RCB panned out in Kolkata:

Rahane, Narine Takes KKR Off To A Flier After De Kock's Early Departure

It was a grand opening for the Indian Premier League 2025, where Kolkata Knight Riders were up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at their home at the Eden. After winning the toss, the RCB side put the KKR team into bat, as they lost Quinton de Kock early in the very first over courtesy of Josh Hazelwood, who was swinging the ball viciously in the power play.

Out walked to the center was skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who joined veteran Sunil Narine at the crease. The duo were fabulous in the power play, going after bowlers one after the other while Hazelwood was still swinging the ball both ways.

Rahane was flicking the ball beautifully off his pads, while Narine was throwing his bat at everything he could find. The runs started to flow at a great pace, as after the end of the first power play, they were 60 with just one wicket down and both players in great touch.

Skipper Rahane went on to score his half-century off 25 deliveries as Kolkata breached the hundred-run mark in just 9.3 overs with RCB finding it difficult to break this partnership.

The duo were going strong by the end of the tenth over, and that's when Sunil Narine gave his wicket away to Rasikh Salam for 44 as by the completion of the tenth over as they were 107 for two, after the duo completed their hundred-run partnership. Narine was fantastic with 44 coming off his bat from 26 deliveries with five fours and three sixes.

Krunal's Sensational Effort Pulls RCB Back As KKR Restricted To 174

However, soon after Narine left, Rahane had no other option but to continue his flow, but unfortunately, couldn't as left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya made his impact with the wicket of the opposition skipper.

Rahane also played another great knock with 56 off 31 deliveries, smashing six fours and six boundaries. And precisely fell three deliveries after Narine, as Kolkata now had to rebuild their innings after a fluent start.

However, the loss of two wickets was too much for them to assemble, as their big buy Venkatesh Iyer was knocked over by Krunal Pandya, getting his second scalp of the night. 

Kolkata, after being 107 for one, were all of a sudden four down for 125 by the end of 12.1 overs with too much left to be done. Ankush Raghuvanshi was with Rinku Singh when the latter became Krunal's third big wicket of the day for just 12 with five down for 145 in 15 overs.

However, the biggest moment of the day came when the big-hitting giant Andre Russell was cleaned up by Suyash Sharma's brilliant delivery for just four with KKR being reduced to six down for 150.

After Russell's departure, Raghuvanshi was also sent packing by Yash Dayal for 30 with Kolkata only being able to manage 174 after the completion of their 20 overs as nothing came from the lower order. Krunal Pandya was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 29 runs in his 4 overs, while Josh Hazlewood was magnificent with a spell of 2 for 22 in his four.

Salt's Fifty, Kohli's Flow Keep RCB Ahead After 10-Over Mark Despite Former's Departure

Chasing 175 for victory, RCB started in a flash with their openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli going berserk in the power play. The duo went ultra-aggressive with their 50 coming off in just 3.4 overs as KKR had no answers to their powerful and fearless approach.

By the end of the power play, they were already 80 with no wicket loss, as Salt completed his half-century in the ninth over off 25 balls.

Salt, after playing a blinder off 56 runs from 31 deliveries with nine fours and two sixes, was the first one to depart in the ninth over on the third delivery as Varun Chakravarthy got his number. 

The right-hander's blazing innings helped RCB breach the hundred-run mark in just 9.4 overs while they were inching closer to the target with every delivery.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli was way too aggressive without giving any chances to the opposition while the KKR bowlers were getting tonked all over the park with no answer whatsoever.

Kohli's Blazing Fifty Helps RCB Ace The Chase With Ease

After reaching the hundred-run mark, Kohli achieved his 50 off 30 deliveries as RCB were cruising after the halfway mark. Devdutt Padikkal replaced Salt but could only manage to earn 10 runs off his bat while they were still ahead in the game.

After Padikkal left, skipper Rajat Patidar made his way to the centre and played a blinder off 34 from 16 deliveries. However, he had to depart right before to win.

Nonetheless, Liam Livingstone's fiery 15* from 5 deliveries took RCB home comfortably with 3.4 overs to spare and seven wickets to spare while Kohli played a great 59*-run knock from 36 deliveries with four fours and three sixes to his name.

The KKR bowlers were never in the game, as RCB ran away with the target after being ultra-aggressive in their approach right from the start.