The cricket festival of India, Indian Premier League (IPL) is marking their 18th season today, March 22, 2025, and the first match will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (KKR vs RCB). This is the first time both teams are playing against each other in the inaugural IPL season match 2008.
KKR vs RCB first match of IPL 2008
One must remember that in 2008, the first match itself set the tone for the IPL for years to come. On April 18, 2008, Indian cricket witnessed a new era with the start of IPL with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB’s captain, Rahul Dravid, won the first-ever IPL toss and asked KKR to bat first. Fans eagerly awaited the start of this historic event.
McCullum’s unbelievable knock
KKR captain Sourav Ganguly and Brendon McCullum opened the batting. McCullum, a New Zealand player without standout international statistics back then, soon launched a remarkable innings. In no time, McCullum’s life changed forever as he smashed 158* off 73 balls, hitting 10 fours and 13 sixes, leading KKR to a huge total of 222/3 in 20 overs.
Starting cautiously with six dot balls, McCullum switched gears, hitting Zaheer Khan for 18 runs in the second over. He gradually warmed up, reaching his fifty in 32 balls. The real fireworks started after his half-century as he reached 100 in the next 21 balls, leaving a permanent spot in IPL history with his explosive batting. This is still the biggest score made by any KKR batter in the IPL since the beginning.
Brendon McCullum’s 158 – The Knock That Launched the IPL
— "Cricket ++" feat. Raj (@cricplusplus) March 16, 2025
With IPL 2025 around the corner, it’s time to look back at the most defining innings in IPL history. And nothing comes close to Brendon McCullum’s iconic unbeaten 158* off 73 balls in the very first IPL match in 2008.… pic.twitter.com/9QzqvCIdHc
RCB collapsed early
RCB struggled under the pressure and were all out for 82, giving KKR a resounding 140-run win. McCullum’s 158* remained the highest individual IPL score until Chris Gayle’s 175* in 2013. He was also KKR’s only centurion for nearly 15 years until Venkatesh Iyer scored 104 against Mumbai Indians in 2023.
Success of IPL
Brendon McCullum changed the dynamics of T20 cricket. He showed the world how it is played. This innings set a solid foundation for the league, attracting viewers and eventually making it the biggest cricket league in the world. It is now the second most valuable league in the world after the NFL.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
"My franchise": MS Dhoni says CSK "will drag him to play IPL even if he's on wheelchair"
Top Stories
