The first IPL following the mega auction comes with high expectations of fresh alliances and shifting loyalties. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be delighted that their new signings made a significant impact in their dominant opening match of IPL 2025 against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Josh Hazlewood capitalized on the spongy bounce to stifle KKR’s powerplay and death overs, returning figures of 4-0-22-1. Krunal Pandya halted Ajinkya Rahane’s aggressive fifty with a spell of 4-0-29-3, while Suyash Sharma redeemed an otherwise quiet outing by dismissing the dangerous Andre Russell. Phil Salt put the chase beyond doubt with 56 off 31—matching Rahane’s score—before RCB mainstay Virat Kohli sealed the win with a composed 59 off 36, ensuring victory with 22 balls to spare in their pursuit of 175.
KKR, typically known for defying convention, took a cautious approach in their captaincy selection after the auction. As a batter, Ajinkya Rahane will need to prove himself consistently, but he started on a strong note, partnering with Sunil Narine to hammer 98 runs between overs four and ten. However, beyond that explosive seven-over phase, KKR found themselves thoroughly outplayed for the rest of the night.
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Hazlewood’s Steep Bounce Puts KKR on the Back Foot
It was only two overs upfront, but in T20s, that accounts for 10% of the innings. Returning to RCB after missing the last IPL, Josh Hazlewood, fresh from a long injury layoff, bowled as if he had never been away—hitting a hard length with good pace and generating extra bounce.
He had Quinton de Kock dropped before dismissing him two balls later in the first over, then kept Sunil Narine guessing with his sharp movement through the third over.
Rahane Leads the Charge, Narine Joins the Party
While RCB offered Rahane some early reprieves, he silenced doubts about his batting with an aggressive intent, even as Narine struggled to adapt to the pitch’s uneven bounce. With RCB persistently feeding him straight deliveries, Rahane capitalized, scoring his first 30 runs exclusively on the leg side. Once Narine found his rhythm, his slow start was quickly forgotten.
A defining moment came when Narine took on his former teammate Suyash Sharma, who usually thrives when batters treat him as a leg-spinner. This time, Narine targeted the off side, smashing 22 runs in the ninth over to shift the momentum.
Krunal Orchestrates RCB’s Comeback
At 107 for 1 in 9.5 overs, KKR seemed in control until Sunil Narine mistimed a shot against Rasikh Salam, undone by the extra bounce. With limited options, RCB turned to Krunal Pandya, knowing spin could stifle both Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer. Krunal’s clever variations in pace proved decisive as he claimed a wicket in each of his last three overs—Rahane found deep midwicket, while Venkatesh and Rinku Singh were bowled by quicker deliveries.
Rinku’s dismissal brought in Andre Russell, prompting RCB to deploy leg spin. Russell’s struggles against the wrong’un continued as he misread one from Suyash Sharma, losing his middle stump. Since 2018, he has averaged just 13.41 and struck at 123.24 against the wrong’un—his wicket alone was worth around 40 runs.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi struggled to accelerate as the ball gripped the surface, while Hazlewood and Yash Dayal expertly exploited the middle of the pitch, conceding just 23 runs in the final four overs to restrict KKR’s total.
Salt Haunts Former Team as RCB Cruise to Victory
Phil Salt, a key figure in KKR’s title-winning campaign last year with an average of 58.33 and a blistering strike rate of 185.18 in Kolkata, wasted no time reminding his former team of their mistake in letting him go. He set the tone from the very first ball, crashing it wide of mid-off for four, and maintained his aggressive intent throughout the powerplay, complemented by a fired-up Virat Kohli.
Desperate for control, KKR introduced Varun Chakravarthy as early as the fourth over, but Salt took him apart for 20 runs. The ball had stopped gripping by then, likely due to the dew, further favoring RCB’s chase. By the time Varun dismissed Salt, RCB had already raced to 95 in 8.3 overs, with the required rate dipping below seven—an equation Kohli was never going to let slip.
What will please RCB even more is Kohli’s relentless intent, seeking not just a win but a big net-run-rate boost. He slog-swept Varun for six in his final over, refusing to merely play him out. New captain Rajat Patidar provided the finishing touch with a quickfire 34 off 16, as RCB stormed to victory with ease.
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FAQs
How did RCB’s new acquisitions perform in their IPL 2025 opener?
How did RCB’s new acquisitions perform in their IPL 2025 opener?
What was the turning point in KKR’s innings?
KKR were cruising at 107/1 in 9.5 overs before Sunil Narine’s dismissal triggered a collapse. Krunal Pandya’s spin and Suyash Sharma’s wrong’un to Andre Russell derailed their momentum.
How did Phil Salt perform against his former team?
Salt punished KKR for releasing him, smashing 56 off 31 balls, including 20 runs off Varun Chakravarthy, to give RCB a flying start in the chase.
How did Virat Kohli ensure RCB’s dominant win?
Kohli remained aggressive throughout, finishing with 59 off 36 and even slog-sweeping Varun Chakravarthy for six when a cautious approach would have sufficed.
Why did KKR struggle despite a strong start?
Apart from a seven-over blitz by Rahane and Narine, KKR were outplayed in all departments, with RCB’s bowlers tightening the screws in the final overs and their batters chasing 175 with ease.
