Seventeen years after they kicked off the very first IPL match, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to ignite the prestigious 18th season at the iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday, March 22.
The electrifying opening ceremony set the stage for an unforgettable night. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan fired up the crowd with an inspiring speech before joining Virat Kohli and Rinku Singh in a thrilling dance performance. Power-packed acts from Shreya Ghoshal, Disha Patani, and Karan Aujla added to the spectacle, making it a grand start to the season.
KKR Looks to Defend Title; RCB Aims for First Trophy
Defending champions KKR enter the tournament with Ajinkya Rahane leading them for the first time. The team has backed its core players and aims to maintain the same aggressive approach that brought success in the previous edition.
Meanwhile, RCB, still chasing their elusive first IPL trophy, arrives with a revamped squad. With key additions like Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they hope to change their fortunes this season.
Toss Update: RCB Wins, Opts to Bowl
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and chose to bowl first, trusting their bowling attack to make early inroads. Skipper Rajat Patidar revealed that the team has gone with three pacers and two spinners.
On the other hand, KKR fielded a similar bowling combination. Captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted he would have also preferred to bowl first had he won the toss.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Bethell Left Out
One of the biggest surprises before the match was the exclusion of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Despite being acquired for INR 10.75 crore, he didn’t make the playing XI, as the team opted for young pacer Rasikh Dar Salam.
Another unexpected omission was Jacob Bethell, who didn’t get the nod for the opening game.
🔴 Also Check: [LIVE IPL 2025 Match 1 – KKR vs RCB: Live Score, Commentary & Eden Gardens Weather Updates]
What the Captains Said at the Toss
🗣️ Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):
“We’ve decided to bowl first because the pitch looks hard. It’s an incredible feeling to lead RCB, and I’m excited to learn from some of the greats in our squad. We’ve prepared well over the last 10-15 days, though I’m still figuring out this impact player rule. We’re going with three fast bowlers and two spinners.”
🗣️ Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders):
“It’s a huge honour to lead KKR. Our preparations have been solid, and our core group remains the same. We’re looking forward to setting a strong total and defending it later. My focus is on giving players the freedom to express themselves and perform as a unit. We’re also playing three fast bowlers and two spinners.”
KKR vs RCB: Playing XIs
🔵 Kolkata Knight Riders:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
🔴 Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Virat Kohli, Philip Salt (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
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