🏏IPL 2025 - Match 1: RCB vs KKR, 22 March 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2025 - Match 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 22 March 2025 at 7:30 PM IST🏏

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the first match of the cricket extravaganza called IPL.

KKR vs RCB kick off IPL spectacle for the first time since 2008

Two teams who have dished out many classics face off with several subplots to look out for - as long as rain stays away.

You heard it right.

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an "orange alert" for both Friday and Saturday, warning of possible thunderstorms, gusty winds, lightning, hail, and moderate rainfall across several districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata.

For the first time since they played the first game of the IPL Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will start the season. Something special was born that night, 17 years ago. A thirst trap.

A thousand games have come and gone and the fans just can't get enough. Grounds fill up quicker than an international match (Eden's been sold out). The trophy's been taken on tour. Players' arrivals are being clipped out like movie trailers. Virat Kohli charms 29.1 million souls just by bouncing a ball on his bat. The only thing that has grown as rapidly as the IPL is the people's appetite for its singular brand of superstars and mayhem.

KKR and RCB have had some thrilling encounters. There was a one-run victory just last year. And they've propelled this league, and by extension T20 cricket, forward in various ways. Sunil Narine taught the value of opening batters not valuing their wicket. AB de Villiers pointed out that runs can be scored behind the wicket with the same consistency as those in front of it. Andre Russell has been conducting experiments to see if he can hit a ball into outer space for some time now.

[Logo and tag credit to Wildestdreasm]

Next three fixtures

KKR go on a trip to Guwahati and Mumbai to face Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians before returning home to host Sunrisers Hyderabad.

RCB have a five-day gap before their second game against Chennai Super Kings. Then they go up against Gujarat Titans. That's a lot of high-quality spin for their batters to deal with to begin the season. But once they're through, they'll find themselves at the Wankhede and there's always runs to be had there.

New loyalties

Phil Salt was KKR's second-highest run-scorer in 2024 and he made those 435 runs at a strike rate of 182. His proclivity to hit the boundary first and ask questions later was an important point of difference for a side that scored its runs quicker than anybody else. Salt's gifts are with RCB now.

Big question

Have RCB made the right choice in elevating Rajat Patidar to the captaincy? They are yet to win an IPL title and the pressure of that now falls squarely on the shoulders of a man who is a fringe player for India and who only came into the franchise in 2021. The people who know him best, though, suggest he will be more than up for the challenge.

In the spotlight: Rinku Singh and Virat Kohli

India have reached new levels of T20 batting since winning the world title. They almost made 300 once, an innings that ended with Rinku Singh sending the last ball for six. He was overlooked for the World Cup but has played 18 of 20 matches since. The IPL was the tournament that put Rinku on the map. What has he got cooking this season?

Until IPL 2024, Virat Kohli tended to play out Varun Chakravarthy and Narine and look for his runs elsewhere. But last year, he decided to take them down. His strike rate against the two KKR mystery spinners went up from 98.56 to 166.66. Although it was only a small sample size (18 balls in one match), it signalled a change in Kohli's outlook. He was willing to take more risks. Will that continue this time around too?

Key stats

• Varun and Narine's eight overs will likely define the outcome of this game. Their strengths - Varun is a wicket-taker, he had a strike rate of 14.2 last season, and Narine is the banker, he gave away only 6.7 runs an over - line up against an RCB weakness. Five of their top seven, barring Patidar and Jitesh Sharma, have a strike rate below 140 against spin in T20 cricket since 2024. In Liam Livingstone (107) and Tim David's (106) cases, it's barely a run a ball.
• Since top-scoring for KKR in IPL 2024, Narine is averaging 9.05 as a batter across 20 innings with a highest score of 38. Will that prompt a change in the batting order? It's unlikely, but they do have options. Ajinkya Rahane, their new captain, for example, enjoys batting in the powerplay.
• Patidar's elevation to RCB captaincy is based on the value he brought to the team as a middle-overs (7-16) hitter. He scored over 300 runs in this phase last year, at a strike rate of 180.68. His strike rate against spin was even higher (197.24).
• Although RCB have lost Mohammed Siraj, they've brought in the IPL's highest wicket-taker in the powerplay - Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 71. They also have Josh Hazlewood, who has done well in every phase of play in this tournament (14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.4 in the powerplay, eight at 7.7 in the middle and 13 at 10 in the death).

Pitch & conditions

IPL 2024 set a new benchmark for run-scoring and Eden Gardens played a part in that. The conditions there were so conducive to batting that there were six totals of 200 or more, including a successful chase of 262. But putting a dampener on all that fun is a poor weather forecast for the game on Saturday. A steady drizzle on Friday evening brought about an early end to the team's practice session. The practice began as scheduled at 5pm, but rain set in around 6pm, cutting short the prep.

IPL 2025, KKR vs RCB Kolkata Weather Forecast Eden Gardens Stadium Pitch Report:

Moderate but persistent rain on Friday forced players to wrap up their training sessions early and move indoors, ahead of the Kolkata Knight Riders versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2025 season opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a re-match of the inaugural IPL clash from way back in 2008, both KKR and RCB could suffer a damp opening if rain decides to hamper play at the venue on Saturday evening.

KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 – Eden Gardens weather report:

According to Accuweather.com, the showery weather can extend from Friday evening to Saturday morning. “Cloudy in the morning with a couple of showers, then intervals of clouds and sunshine in the afternoon,” read the forecast with the proposed precipitation chances reducing to 25 per cent by evening.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds (speed 40-60 kmph) over parts of Kolkata till March 22 due to an anti-cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal.

Not since Brendon McCullum's 158* has the IPL opening night promised a storm quite like the one that's in store for the 2025 season.

Quite literally too. There's an Orange Alert in place for the match-day in Kolkata, which could mean more rain than there's been in the lead-up, stronger winds, and even a thunderstorm. But if there's one thing the city knows how to do, it's turning chaos into celebration. Rain never stopped a Pujo and it won't stop thousands from streaming into Eden Gardens, where the IPL opening ceremony returns for the first time since 2015.

But that said, this is cricket and is far more of a slave to the whims of the sky. Sometimes, all it takes is one stubborn wet patch to derail the night but let's not speak of such things. The big covers at Eden exist for a reason, and the groundsmen are already busy figuring out how to shield the outfield from rain. And their covers from the heels of dancers.

The opening ceremony is set to begin 45 minutes before the toss but expect real frills and thrills once the cricket starts. There's always an extra edge when KKR and RCB face off, no matter where in the world. And this is Eden, a ground with a penchant for both magic and meltdowns. It's where RCB were bowled out for 49, still the lowest total in IPL history. It's where Sunil Narine is most frequently seen batting like a man possessed, and where a seething Virat Kohli once lost his cool over a no-ball height call. Add to that Andre Russell's fireworks, Varun Chakaravarthy's mystery, and the baggage of past drama, you begin to get a sense of how much this fixture carries.

What makes it even more intriguing is that Eden is barely a fortress anymore. Since 2023, KKR have won just 50% of their home games, the exact same as RCB's record at the Chinnaswamy. That is part of what makes this match-up compelling: two dangerous but vulnerable sides, brimming with firepower, both eager to launch a new three-year cycle on the right note. KKR boast the stronger spin unit; RCB, the more experienced pace attack. The question isn't who has the better side; it's whose strengths will rise to the surface when the music fades and the cricket begins.

No wonder Andy Flower, RCB's head coach, called the prospect of playing KKR at Eden "daunting... for Kolkata," before breaking into a wide grin.

And that's the thing about opening nights. They rarely follow the script. The sky may yet have its say but if it doesn't for long enough, this could be one of those nights Eden doesn't forget in a hurry.

When: KKR v RCB, Match 1, on March 22, 2025 at 7:30 pm IST

Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

What to expect: A wet ball, which could be one of the central characters of the night, be it from the dew, the forecasted rain or a bit of saliva slipping its way back into cricket. Also expect ample airtime for Eden Gardens' famously large white covers.

The night temperature is predicted to dip by 4-5 degrees, which could mean heavier dew and the new playing conditions around ball-change in the second innings could be put to test immediately.

And then there's the pitch, which is expected to be flat, fast and full of runs. Since the IPL returned to the home-away format in 2023, Eden Gardens has been the highest-scoring venue in the league, with a staggering scoring rate of 9.98 runs per over, the most for any ground with at least three games.

Team Watch

Kolkata Knight Riders

Injuries/availability: Anrich Nortje returns after a back injury ruled him out of the SA20 and the Champions Trophy but, as rain washed out both teams' training sessions on match eve, there was little to note about his match readiness. The bigger question, though, is whether there's a spot for him in the XI at all. You'd think Spencer Johnson, with his left-arm angle and the variety he offers, might edge ahead especially considering Nortje's modest IPL record outside of the UAE.

Tactics & matchups: Mitchell Starc's presence last season allowed KKR to backload the overs from Chakaravarthy, who bowled just four in the PowerPlay in 2024 as compared to 16 in 2023. With no Starc this time and limited experience in the new-ball department, KKR may be forced to frontload their spinners once again to compensate for the lack of early-impact seam options.

Probable XII: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Injuries/availability: Jacob Bethell and Josh Hazlewood underwent fitness tests two days out from the match and both appeared to hold their own during practice. Hazlewood bowled a short spell, not quite at full tilt but with a decent rhythm and a full run-up. Head coach Andy Flower also sounded confident about the shape of his bowling attack, one that notably included Hazlewood.

Tactics & matchups: Spin could be the key against an RCB line-up that can be tied down by quality spin. There are two notable exceptions in Rajat Patidar, whose strike rate against spin shoots up nearly 40 points to 197, and Jitesh Sharma, who strikes at around 145 against both pace and spin with equal comfort. Kohli, on the other hand, has been far more circumspect despite having a breakout season against spin last year. He strikes at just 103 against Narine and has fallen to him four times. Against Chakaravarthy, the number drops further to 102.5, though he's only been dismissed once.

Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma/Rasikh Dar Salam