By IPL Fan KKR vs RCB – IPL 2025 Kicks Off with a Bang at Eden Gardens! 🏏🔥
Hey IPL fanatics! The wait is finally over—IPL 2025 has begun, and what a way to start the season! The opening match on March 22, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata had all the drama, passion, and fireworks we crave. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and let’s just say, the Eden crowd got their money’s worth! Here’s how the first match of IPL 2025 unfolded—grab your jerseys, because this one was a thriller! 💪
The 18th season of the Indian Premier League kicked off with a star-studded opening ceremony at Eden Gardens, featuring Bollywood actress Disha Patani, singer Shreya Ghoshal, and Punjabi sensation Karan Aujla. The energy was electric as fans poured into the stadium, waving KKR and RCB flags, ready to cheer their hearts out. With KKR as the defending champs after their 2024 title win and RCB hungry for their first-ever IPL trophy, the stage was set for an epic clash.
KKR, led by new captain Ajinkya Rahane, opted to bat first after winning the toss. The home crowd was buzzing, hoping for a big start from their champs. KKR got off to a shaky start with Quinton de Kock falling early for just 4, but Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the ship with a fiery 103-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahane, on his captaincy debut, smashed a quickfire 56 off 31 balls, showing high intent with some gorgeous shots over the leg side. Narine chipped in with a 26-ball 44, but just when KKR looked set for a 200+ total, RCB’s bowlers struck back.
Krunal Pandya was the star for RCB, turning the game with a brilliant spell of 3/29, dismissing Rahane, Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer in quick succession. Josh Hazlewood also played a key role, using the spongy bounce at Eden to finish with 4-0-22-1, while Suyash Sharma redeemed a tough night by getting the big wicket of Andre Russell. KKR ended at 174/8, a total Rahane later admitted was 20-30 runs short of what they aimed for on a good batting pitch.
Chasing 175, RCB came out all guns blazing. Openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt set the tone with a blistering 95-run partnership in just 8.3 overs! Salt, who KKR fans know all too well from his title-winning stint with them last season, reminded them what they let go of—smashing 56 off 31 balls, including a 20-run over off Varun Chakravarthy. Kohli, in vintage form, played the anchor role with a turbo-charged 59 off 36, sealing his 56th IPL fifty with a sublime drive. The Eden crowd even saw a fan run onto the pitch to touch Kohli’s feet—talk about fan love!
RCB captain Rajat Patidar kept the momentum going with a quick 16-ball 34, and Liam Livingstone finished things off in style with 15* off 5 balls, including two fours and a six. RCB chased down 175 in just 16.2 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 22 balls to spare—a statement victory to kick off their campaign!
- Rahane’s Captain’s Knock: Ajinkya Rahane’s 56 off 31 was a treat to watch, especially his leg-side pickups. KKR fans will hope this is a sign of things to come!
- Krunal’s Game-Changer: Krunal Pandya’s 3/29, including the wickets of Rahane and Narine in quick succession, turned the tide for RCB.
- Salt-Kohli Show: The 95-run opening stand between Phil Salt and Virat Kohli broke KKR’s spirit early in the chase. Salt’s 23-ball 49 in the powerplay set a new benchmark for RCB!
- Kohli’s Milestone: Virat Kohli’s 59 off 36 included his fastest-ever start in a T20 innings (25 runs off his first 10 balls where ball-by-ball data is available). The King is back!
The Eden Gardens crowd was a sea of purple and red, with KKR and RCB fans bringing their A-game. While KKR supporters were disappointed, they gave a warm ovation to Salt for his past heroics at Eden. RCB fans, on the other hand, were over the moon—chants of “Kohli! Kohli!” echoed through the stadium as their star man led them to victory. On social media, fans couldn’t stop talking about RCB’s emphatic start, with many calling this the boost they needed in their quest for that elusive IPL title.
KKR will look to bounce back quickly—they’ve got the talent and depth to defend their title, but they’ll need to address their middle-overs batting collapse. For RCB, this win sets the tone for their campaign. With Kohli in form, Salt firing, and a balanced bowling attack, they look like serious contenders. Can they finally break their IPL jinx this year? We’re rooting for more fireworks from both teams!
What a way to kick off IPL 2025! If you missed the action, don’t worry—head over to our Live Score tab for real-time updates on every match. Check out our Fantasy section for tips on building your dream team (Kohli and Salt are must-haves after this game!), and don’t forget to visit our Upcoming Matches tab to plan your IPL watch parties. Share your thoughts on the KKR vs RCB clash in the comments below—did RCB’s win surprise you, or did you expect this from Kohli and co.? Let’s keep the IPL fever alive together! 🏏💥
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