IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB – Match Result & Highlights
Find out who won yesterday’s IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Virat Kohli kicked off the Indian Premier League season in style, scoring a blistering 30-ball half-century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets on Saturday. Kohli remained unbeaten at 59 off 36 balls, anchoring Bengaluru’s dominant chase of 177-3 in just 16.2 overs, ensuring a winning start for new skipper Rajat Patidar in this lucrative two-month-long T20 tournament.
Kohli’s Explosive Start
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Virat Kohli’s first match of the season was nothing short of spectacular, as he led the run chase with confidence. Meanwhile, Kolkata failed to capitalize on captain Ajinkya Rahane’s aggressive 56 off 31 balls at Eden Gardens, eventually settling for 174-8 after Patidar won the toss and opted to field.
Powerplay Domination – Salt Strikes Early
Phil Salt, who was not retained by Kolkata this season, was ruthless against his former franchise during the powerplay. Bengaluru got off to a flying start, racing to 80-0 in the first six overs. Salt attacked Kolkata’s ace spinner, Varun Chakarvarthy (1-43), smashing 21 runs off one over, while Kohli displayed his aggression by launching Australian pacer Spencer Johnson for two consecutive straight sixes.
Chakarvarthy eventually provided Kolkata with a breakthrough when Salt was caught at short third man in the ninth over while attempting another big shot. Kohli continued the momentum, reaching his half-century by driving Harshit Rana over cover for his fourth boundary.
Patidar contributed with a quickfire 34 off just 16 balls, smashing four boundaries in one over off Rana. He eventually holed out to mid-wicket, but Liam Livingstone (15* off 6 balls) sealed the game with a six off Johnson followed by a boundary.
Krunal Pandya Restricts Kolkata
KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane made a strong start to his leadership stint with an attacking half-century. However, spinner Krunal Pandya (3-29) tightened the grip on Kolkata’s innings in the latter half, restricting them from building a massive total. Kolkata looked set for a big score at 107-2 in 10 overs, especially with Sunil Narine’s aggressive 44 off 26 balls.
However, Pandya’s disciplined bowling limited Kolkata to just 67 runs in the last 10 overs. He took crucial wickets, dismissing Rahane, Rinku Singh (12), and Venkatesh Iyer (6). Former Kolkata spinner Suyash Kumar also struck, clean-bowling power-hitter Andre Russell for just four runs.
Kolkata’s Late Collapse
Rahane, who tried to accelerate towards the death overs, fell into the trap, miscuing a shot to deep mid-wicket. Singh and Iyer were both clean-bowled, weakening Kolkata’s batting before the final four overs, leaving them struggling at 145-5 in 15 overs. The collapse continued when Kumar’s perfect googly outfoxed Russell.
Josh Hazlewood (2-22) set the tone early by conceding only nine runs in the first three overs. Rahane and Narine built a strong 103-run partnership, but Pandya’s smart bowling, supported by Hazlewood and Yash Dayal in the final overs, ensured Kolkata could not post a bigger total.
