The IPL 2025 kicks off, and in the first match, the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be locking horns with one of the most followed franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This match will see some of the biggest stars of IPL like Virat Kohli, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. Now fans and Dream11 fantasy players are gearing up for an epic clash based on their rivalry over the years. Let’s dive into our in-depth analysis and strategic insights to craft your winning Dream11 fantasy team.
Match Details
- Match: KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025 Match 1
- 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: The pitch at Eden Gardens is historically good for batting. The average first innings score here in 2024 was 190, with a mix of spin and pace contributing to wicket-taking. Given the pitch’s batting-friendly reputation, teams may prefer chasing. Spinners might find assistance as the ball gets old.
- Average 1st Innings Score: 180-190
- Best Bowling Style: Spin and early swing
Weather Forecast: The weather is expected to be cloudy with a 25% chance of rain in the evening. Humidity is at 61%, which might aid swing bowling.
Kolkata Knight Riders team preview and probable XI
KKR will have Ajinkya Rahane as the captain. Now, KKR will aim to defend their title with a balanced squad that excels in both batting and bowling.
Probable Playing XI: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy. Impact palayer: Angkrish Raghuvanshi/ Manish Pandey.
Players to Watch out for
- Sunil Narine: Had an impressive season last year. Scored 488 runs with 180.74 strike rate in 15 matches.
- Varun Chakravarthy: The spinner is in excellent form right now. Last year, he took 18 wickets in 17 matches he has played.
- Quinton de Kock: A consistent performer with the bat. Has experience of playing 107 matches.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru team preview and probable XI
RCB, under the leadership of Rajat Patidar this year. Again, RCB have an amazing batting lineup with an explosive hitter and versatile bowling options as well. They have a blend of experience with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood and young stars like Yash Dayal.
Probable Playing XI: Philip Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma. Impact player: Devdutt Padikkal.
Players to Watchout for
- Virat Kohli: One player to watchout for. He was the top run-scorer of the team from last season. He can change the game around with his chasing ability.
- Philip Salt: He has experience of playing at Eden Gardens last year. In the 2024 season, he scored 350 runs in 7 matches with a strike rate of 185.2.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Skilled in early swing and death bowling. He’s one experienced bowler who’s known for giving breakthroughs.
Dream11 Fantasy prediction for KKR vs RCB Match 1
- Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Philip Salt
- Batsmen: Virat Kohli (C), Rinku Singh, Rajat Patidar
- All-rounders: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell (VC), Liam Livingstone
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshit Rana
Key matchups and tactical insights
- KKR’s Spin Duo vs RCB’s Middle Order: Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy aim to exploit RCB’s susceptibility to spin where their middle order with Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli will be important to take the pressure.
- RCB’s Top Order Against KKR’s Pacers: Early wickets from RCB’s top order could be crucial in setting the tone.
