Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Scorecard

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Scorecard

Introduction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 kicked off with a blockbuster clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. RCB delivered a commanding seven-wicket victory, chasing down KKR’s 174/8 in just 16.2 overs, setting the tone for a thrilling season. For Sweetgorgeous.com readers, this match was a vibrant celebration of passion and flair, much like a bold beauty look, uniting fans in a spectacle of sport and culture. This article dives into the scorecard, standout performances, and the electric atmosphere that made this opener unforgettable.

Match Overview

The season opener, played under evening dew at Eden Gardens, favored batsmen, with RCB captain Rajat Patidar opting to bowl first after winning the toss—a decision that paid off. KKR posted 174/8, thanks to half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine, but RCB’s spinners, led by Krunal Pandya, restricted their momentum. RCB’s chase was a masterclass, with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt smashing fifties to seal the win with 22 balls to spare. The match, televised on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, marked a symbolic “full circle” moment, echoing the IPL’s inaugural game in 2008 between these teams.

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: 174/8 (20 Overs)

KKR’s batting started strongly but faltered in the middle overs. Here’s the detailed scorecard:

KKR Batting

• Quinton de Kock (wk): 4 runs (5 balls, 1 four, SR 80.00) – Caught by Jitesh Sharma off Josh Hazlewood.
• Sunil Narine: 44 runs (26 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes, SR 169.23) – Caught by Jitesh Sharma off Rasikh Dar Salam.
• Ajinkya Rahane (c): 56 runs (31 balls, 6 fours, 4 sixes, SR 180.65) – Caught by Rasikh Dar Salam off Krunal Pandya.
• Venkatesh Iyer: 6 runs (7 balls, 1 four, SR 85.71) – Bowled by Krunal Pandya.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 30 runs (22 balls, 2 fours, 1 six, SR 136.36) – Caught by Jitesh Sharma off Yash Dayal.
• Rinku Singh: 12 runs (10 balls, 1 four, SR 120.00) – Bowled by Krunal Pandya.
• Andre Russell: 4 runs (3 balls, 1 four, SR 133.33) – Bowled by Suyash Sharma.
• Ramandeep Singh: 6* runs (9 balls, SR 66.67) – Not out.
• Harshit Rana: 1 run (2 balls, SR 50.00) – Caught by Jitesh Sharma off Josh Hazlewood.
• Spencer Johnson: 0* runs (0 balls, SR 0.00) – Not out.
• Extras: 11 (wides 8, leg-byes 3)
• Total: 174/8 (20 overs, RR 8.70)

Fall of Wickets

• 4/1 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 overs)
• 107/2 (Sunil Narine, 9.6 overs)
• 109/3 (Ajinkya Rahane, 10.3 overs)
• 125/4 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.1 overs)
• 145/5 (Rinku Singh, 14.6 overs)
• 150/6 (Andre Russell, 15.4 overs)
• 168/7 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 18.5 overs)
• 173/8 (Harshit Rana, 19.5 overs)

RCB Bowling

• Krunal Pandya: 4 overs, 3/29 (econ 7.25) – Took Rahane, Iyer, and Rinku, earning Player of the Match.
• Josh Hazlewood: 4 overs, 2/22 (econ 5.50) – Removed de Kock and Rana with tight lines.
• Yash Dayal: 4 overs, 1/34 (econ 8.50) – Dismissed Raghuvanshi.
• Rasikh Dar Salam: 3 overs, 1/27 (econ 9.00) – Took Narine’s key wicket.
• Suyash Sharma: 4 overs, 1/41 (econ 10.25) – Got Russell but was expensive.
• Tim David: 1 over, 0/10 (econ 10.00) – Wicketless, bowled sparingly.

Key Moments

• Narine-Rahane Stand: A 103-run partnership in 55 balls, with Rahane’s 25-ball fifty and Narine’s 44, powered KKR to 107/1 in 9.6 overs.
• Pandya’s Spin Magic: Krunal Pandya’s 3/29, including Rahane (56) and Iyer (6) in quick succession, triggered a collapse from 107/1 to 150/6.
• Russell’s Misfire: Andre Russell’s 4 off 3 disappointed KKR’s passionate crowd, dismissed by Suyash Sharma’s googly.
• Hazlewood’s Discipline: Josh Hazlewood’s 2/22, including de Kock’s early wicket, set RCB’s tone in the powerplay.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings: 177/3 (16.2 Overs)

RCB’s chase was clinical, driven by a blazing opening stand. Here’s the scorecard:

RCB Batting

• Phil Salt: 56 runs (31 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes, SR 180.65) – Caught by Venkatesh Iyer off Sunil Narine.
• Virat Kohli: 59* runs (36 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes, SR 163.89) – Not out, reached 1,000 runs against KKR.
• Rajat Patidar (c): 34 runs (16 balls, 4 fours, 1 six, SR 212.50) – Caught by Andre Russell off Vaibhav Arora.
• Liam Livingstone: 15* runs (5 balls, 2 fours, 1 six, SR 300.00) – Not out, sealed the win with a boundary.
• Jitesh Sharma (wk): 3 runs (5 balls, SR 60.00) – Caught by Rinku Singh off Varun Chakaravarthy.
• Extras: 10 (wides 8, leg-byes 2)
• Total: 177/3 (16.2 overs, RR 10.84)

Fall of Wickets

• 80/1 (Phil Salt, 6.1 overs)
• 134/2 (Jitesh Sharma, 12.4 overs)
• 151/3 (Rajat Patidar, 14.3 overs)

KKR Bowling

• Sunil Narine: 4 overs, 1/27 (econ 6.75) – Took Salt’s wicket, economical but lacked support.
• Varun Chakaravarthy: 4 overs, 1/43 (econ 10.75) – Dismissed Jitesh Sharma.
• Vaibhav Arora: 3 overs, 1/42 (econ 14.00) – Removed Patidar but was expensive.
• Spencer Johnson: 2.2 overs, 0/31 (econ 13.28) – Wicketless, struggled in the death.
• Harshit Rana: 2 overs, 0/26 (econ 13.00) – No wickets, hit hard.
• Andre Russell: 1 over, 0/8 (econ 8.00) – Wicketless, bowled sparingly.

Key Moments

• Salt-Kohli Blitz: A 80-run opening stand in 6.1 overs, with Salt’s 25-ball fifty and Kohli’s steady 59*, broke the chase’s back.
• Kohli’s Milestone: Virat Kohli became the third player to score 1,000 runs against KKR, joining David Warner and Rohit Sharma.
• Livingstone’s Finish: Liam Livingstone’s 15* off 5, including a six and a match-winning four, sealed RCB’s victory in style.
• KKR’s Bowling Woes: KKR’s inexperienced pace trio (Rana, Johnson, Arora) leaked 105 runs in 8.2 overs, unable to defend 174.

Impact Players and Substitutions

• KKR Impact Sub: Vaibhav Arora replaced Angkrish Raghuvanshi in KKR’s innings (19.6 overs), taking Patidar’s wicket.
• RCB Impact Sub: None used, as RCB’s main XI dominated the chase.
• Notable Absence: KKR missed Shreyas Iyer, their 2024 captain, with Ajinkya Rahane leading the side.

Why This Match Matters

For Sweetgorgeous.com readers, the IPL is a dazzling blend of sport and glamour, much like a bold makeup palette. RCB’s commanding win, fueled by Kohli’s star power and Salt’s explosive debut, mirrors the confidence of a radiant beauty routine. The electric Eden Gardens crowd, amplified by a star-studded opening ceremony featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Shreya Ghoshal, added Bollywood flair, resonating with lifestyle enthusiasts. RCB’s victory snapped KKR’s four-match winning streak against them, marking a fresh start for the 2025 season.

Player of the Match

Krunal Pandya was named Player of the Match for his stellar 3/29, dismissing Rahane, Iyer, and Rinku Singh. His clever variations and focus under pressure, as he noted in his post-match chat, were pivotal in RCB’s comeback.

Conclusion

The KKR vs. RCB opener on March 22, 2025, was a high-energy start to IPL 2025, with RCB’s clinical chase stealing the show. Kohli and Salt’s fifties, backed by Pandya’s bowling, outshone KKR’s spirited effort, setting the stage for a thrilling season. For beauty and lifestyle fans, the IPL’s vibrant energy offers inspiration to embrace bold moments, whether in fandom or personal style. Businesses in the lifestyle space can tap into the IPL’s massive audience through branded content.