KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025: Kohli-Salt star as RCB thrash defending champs KKR by 7 wickets

KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ended a four-match losing streak against Kolkata Knight Riders with a dominating 7-wicket victory in Kolkata. RCB chased down a 175-run target in 16.2 overs to take home two points and more importantly, took the Net Run Rate to +2.137. Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 59 adding a 95-run opening stand with Phil Salt who scored a blazing 31-ball 56-run knock in the chase. Rajat Patidar played a brilliant cameo of 16-ball 34 as RCB began with a fine win.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders set a 175-run target for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 1 of IPL. Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine smashed a 103-run opening stand. But then the twist came with Krunal Pandya’s 3/29 spell and Josh Hazlewood’s 2/22, restricting KKR to 174/8.

KKR vs RCB Live Score: IPL 2025

Match Details: KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025

• Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
• Date and Time: March 22, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions:

• Pitch Analysis: Historically good for batting, with an average first innings score of 180-190.
• Best Bowling Style: Spin and early swing.
• Weather Forecast: Cloudy with a 25% chance of rain in the evening, and humidity at 61%.

KKR vs RCB Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):

• Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
• Quinton de Kock(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):

• Captain: Rajat Patidar
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt(w), Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Players to Watch Out For:

KKR:

• Sunil Narine: Had an impressive season last year, scoring 488 runs with a strike rate of 180.74.
• Varun Chakravarthy: In excellent form, taking 18 wickets in 17 matches last year.

RCB

• Virat Kohli: One player to watch out for, with the ability to change the game around with his chasing ability.
• Philip Salt: Has experience of playing at Eden Gardens, scoring 350 runs in 7 matches with a strike rate of 185.2 last season.