The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will begin on March 22 with an exciting clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Both teams will aim to start their campaign with a victory, making this a thrilling contest.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
The Eden Gardens pitch is generally batting-friendly, providing good bounce that allows batters to play their shots freely. However, pacers can get some assistance early on due to the pitch’s bounce, and spinners also come into play as the match progresses. The average first-innings score at this venue is around 180 runs. Historically, teams chasing have had better success here, winning 55 out of 93 IPL matches. Hence, the team winning the toss may opt to bowl first.
Head-to-Head Record
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, KKR and RCB have faced each other 34 times. KKR has won 20 matches, while RCB has emerged victorious in 14 encounters. This long-standing rivalry adds extra excitement to the opening match of IPL 2025.
Leadership Changes
Both teams will enter the season with new captains. KKR will be led by experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane, while RCB will be captained by Rajat Patidar. These changes bring fresh energy to both sides, making the contest even more intriguing.
Weather Forecast
Rain might play a crucial role in this match. Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected in Kolkata on March 22, with an 80% chance of rain. If the weather conditions deteriorate, the match could be delayed or even washed out.
Squads
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Manish Pandey, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Rajat Patidar (captain), Krunal Pandya, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Swastik Chikara, Mohit Rathee, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh.
Both teams have a strong combination of experienced international players and promising young talent, making this match a highly anticipated season opener.
