Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of IPL 2025. After a triumphant 2024 season, KKR had to part ways with several key players, including Shreyas Iyer and Mitchell Starc. In Iyer’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane was named captain, while the franchise spent INR 23.75 crore to acquire Venkatesh Iyer in the auction and appointed him as vice-captain. Ahead of the KKR vs RCB match, here is Eden Gardens pitch report.
RCB also took bold steps, releasing Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj, among others, as they aimed to rebuild the squad. While there was speculation about Virat Kohli reclaiming the captaincy, the management ultimately handed the leadership role to Rajat Patidar. The team also made strategic signings, including Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to strengthen their squad.
Eden Gardens pitch report
The pitch at Eden Gardens is expected to be highly favorable for batters. Opting to bowl first would be the preferred choice, especially with the possibility of rain affecting play. Even without rain, dew could make chasing easier. A high-scoring match is anticipated, with a target of 230 or more considered competitive. The powerplay phase will be crucial in setting up such a total.
Eden Gardens stats in IPL
| Matches Played | 93 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 38 (40.86%) |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 55 (59.14%) |
| Matches Won Winning Toss | 49 (52.69%) |
| Matches Won Losing Toss | 44 (47.31%) |
| Matches with No Result | 0 (0.00%) |
