Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have started the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season with an emphatic victory. Facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens, RCB chose to bowl first and restricted KKR to just 175. The target seemed gettable, and following an impressive performance from the top order, RCB strolled towards a comfortable victory.
RCB Player Rating vs KKR
Phil Salt, 9.5/10: What a debut it was for the Englishman. Needing just 175 runs, Salt provided a rapid start. He did it for KKR last season, and now that he’s switched sides, he’s doing it for RCB. By the end of the powerplay, Salt was 49 (23) and RCB was 80/0. The match was virtually over after that. And Salt didn’t last longer either, 56 (31).
Virat Kohli, 10/10: The chase master was at it again. And how well did he pace the innings. Kohli was 29 (13) after the powerplay and they anchored RCB for the win. In the next 10.2 overs, he scored 30 runs in 23 balls. He got them home and that’s what matters.
Devdutt Padikkal, 3/10: A 10 (10) innings doesn’t deserve much to talk about. He got out trying to finish the game early, and that’s good.
Rajat Patidar, 9/10: A fine knock from the newly appointed RCB captain. Needing just 57 runs to win in 8.2 overs. His 34 (16) ended already. The only qualm one can have is that it would have been that he had finished the game with Kohli by his side.
Liam Livingstone, 9/10: What a game for the all-rounder. He delivered 2 overs for just 14 runs in the first innings and then finished the game early, giving RCB a 2.137 net run rate boost as well.
Krunal Pandya, 10/10: One can say that Krunal won RCB the match. Not only did he dismiss Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh, but he also gave away just 29 runs. He broke KKR’s back and was the reason why they were restricted to just 174.
Josh Hazlewood, 10/10: What a spell. It felt like we were watching a Test match. Immaculate line and length, no variations, and reliance on assistance from the surface. Krunal may have broken the back, but it was Hazlewood who struck the first blow. Just 8 runs and a wicket from his powerplay overs (1 and 3) and then 14 runs and a wicket in the death (18 and 20).
Yash Dayal, 7/10: A mixed bag match for the pacer. Two good overs, where he has just 6 runs for 1 wicket. But then he was manhandled by Rahane and Sunil Narine for a 19-run sixth over.
Rasikh Salam Dar & Suyash Sharma, 3/10: A competition between both bowlers for the worst performer of the day for RCB. Both went at almost 12 runs per over and got a wicket each. Both were loose, were hammered and ended their spells by taking a wicket.
