The highly anticipated first game of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) is going to feature defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The encounter will take place at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday (March 22).
This is for the first time since the initial season in 2008 that KKR and RCB are going to be playing the opening game of the season. KKR had also won that match with ease owing to Brendon McCullum’s legendary 158-run knock and will expect to win this game as well.
KKR are looking to be just the third team, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to successfully defend the IPL title. Although they have lost the services of several key players from their championship-winning team, they have been able to strengthen their team by recruiting the likes of Quinton de Kock, Ajinkya Rahane, Anrich Nortje and Spencer Johnson.
Virat Kohli & Phil Salt to begin the inning
Phil Salt who played for KKR last season will now play against them in IPL 2025. He is famous for his attacking style who has the capability to score runs at fast pace for his team.
Virat Kohli was frequently left as the match-winner on most of the occasions for RCB. He was the top run-scorer of the team in the last season, with 741 runs at a batting average of more than 60s after being played in 15 innings.
Skipper at No.3 position
Rajat Patidar will lead from the front by turning up at number three for his team. Appearing in 27 matches, the right-hand batsman scored 799 runs at a strike rate of well above 160. Additionally, his capability of dealing with spin as well as pace attack will make his team start the proceedings in the middle overs of the game.
Middle-order
Liam Livingston, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David
Liam Livingston is among the best ball hitters who can provide tremendous value to the middle-order of the side. Having a mind-boggling strike-rate of good around 160, he would prove to be a game-changer once he gets the ball in front of his eyes.
Jitesh Sharma also Liam Livingston can clear the boundaries against good bowlers of the game. Tim David on the other hand, would be a monster by coming down the order.
Tim David will be playing for the Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) following his release by Mumbai Indians prior to the mega auction of IPL 2025. It will be interesting to observe the batter who is arriving from a BBL title victory with Hobart Hurricanes.
All-rounders
Krunal Pandya & Swapnil Singh
Krunal Pandya is the sort of player who adds equilibrium to the side both with the bat and with the ball. He has an economy of way below 7 and also is capable of playing cameos at any point in crunch situations of the.
Swapnil Singh who is the emerging all-rounder of the side will bowl together with Krunal Pandya and co. He also has the ability to make handful of knocks which adds a valuable hand for the side.
Bowlers
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood & Rasikh Salam
The experienced Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar adds a lot of experience to the RCB bowling attack. He has played 176 games and taken 181 wickets at an economy of slightly below 8.
Rasikh Salam is going to learn the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood who will make him a deadly pacer. RCB wants the young cricketer to shine in the coming match.
The Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will support Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the other end, putting pressure on the opposing batsmen. RCB would be counting on him for taking crucial wickets during intervals of the game in normal time.
Impact Player
Devdutt Padikkal (during chasing target) & Yash Dayal (during defending total).
With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood on one side, Yash Dayal gets even more threatening with the speed and diversity of variations he possesses. Further, he is able to deal with the massive pressure and can perform whenever his team requires makes him a value addition in high tension matches.
Devdutt Padikkal has again got the chance to rekindle his career in RCB. His capacity to transform his beginning into huge scores and anchoring the match is a crucial selection for RCB.
