Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on March 22 in the first match of IPL 2025. Fans can enjoy the inaugural match of the cash-rich tournament after an elaborate opening ceremony. As the carnival of the world’s largest celebrated cricket league has reached its 18th edition, the rivalry between the fans and the teams has increased to a whole new level. The toughness of the game has made cricket fans astonishing over and over again.
Overall, 74 matches will be held across 13 venues in 65 days, including 12 double-headers. Last year’s runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad, will host Rajasthan Royals in its tournament-opener match on the 23rd of March.
KKR Strengths and Weaknesses
With Chandrakant Pandit as their head coach, team KKR looks quite prominent and promising to respond well again this season. They haven’t announced their captain yet. But this team looks good on paper. They have some of the best Indian faces, including Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, and Ramandeep Singh.
At the same time, their International pick is as solid as before. KKR’s all-rounders, including Sunil Narine and Andre Russel, the two West Indian’s firepower, give KKR a solid-looking team. After the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians, KKR is the only team that has been consistent over the years. With three wins, including last year’s championship, they will aim for the 4th star to plug in their jersey.
KKR Players Form
Notably, their current players are in form, and they look quite fit for this season as well. However, KKR will miss their previous captain, Shreyas Iyer, who was picked by the Punjab Kings for a very high price. Still,l they have some options that are familiar with the situations of the team. They have the correct balance of Indian and overseas players, which provides them with the correct balance.
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RCB Strengths and Weaknesses
After announcing Rajat Patidar as the captain of the team, RCB will look for a solid start in the 18th edition of the game. They have one of the most prominent members of the team and the best leader of the game, Virat Kohli, with them. The only thing that they would look to focus on is to be consistent with their effort.
The RCB management has done well in the bidding to choose some of the power hitters in their squad. But, releasing Mohammad Shami will cost up to which extent will tell us later in the tournament. However, they have managed to make a decent-looking bowling lineup after picking Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who has done well in domestic cricket this season for the Uttar Pradesh team in the Ranji Trophy. They have some power players, including Phil Salt and Liam Livingston, who can take the team forward in the league.
RCB management will look forward to winning their first-ever title for the fans who have been their consistent supporter over the years.
RCB vs KKR, IPL: head-to-head
As RCB is all set to take on KKR in the first match of IPL 2025, let’s take a look at their head-to-head stats in IPL history.
Both the teams have faced each other 34 times in IPL. Out of these 34 games, Kolkata has shown their dominance by winning 20 games, whereas RCBhase came out victorious on 14 occasions.
Statistic | RCB | KKR |
Matches Played | 34 | 34 |
Won | 14 | 20 |
Lost | 20 | 14 |
No Result | 0 | 0 |
Highest Score | 221 | 222 |
Lowest Score | 49 | 84 |
As RCB is all set to take on KKR in the first match of IPL 2025, let’s take a final look at their chances against each other.
RCB made their lowest total of 49 against KKR in 2017 at the same venue where they are going to play their first game of this season, Eden Gardens. Although KKR has more victories in their bucket still, RCB is a team that can shift momentum at any given time. Both the teams look balanced and hence will allow the spectators to expect a spellbound match in the opening season of this year’s IPL edition.
Either KKR’s “Karbo, Larbo, jeetbo” will rise or RCB’s “Ee Sala Cup Namde” will turn into “Ee Sala Cup Namdu”. Well, whatever will be the results, the game of cricket will never disappoint fans at this level.
Rcb vs Kkr First match of IPL 2025?
The trust that both the teams have earned over the years has earned them loyal armies, which they proudly call their 12th man. The game will again produce some great stars of the game. The arch-rivals will put their best foot forward on the opening day of this tournament to gain the upper hand further in the tournament. The much-awaited season will begin with the excitement and thrill that every fan looks for. If RCB has released Siraj, then KKR also doesn’t have their mentor, Gautam Gambhir, in their management. This will be challenging for both teams to cope with, but the thrill will not stop at any cost in the blockbuster encounter. The opening ceremony will reveal the power and potential of both teams in the tournament.