Opinion/ Ajinkya Rahane vs Venkatesh Iyer Dilemma Likely To Dent KKR's IPL 2025 Campaign? Big Challenge For Defending Champions Ahead

IPL 2025: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are all set to start their campaign against Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar's Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The opening game of the eighteenth season of the Indian Premier League will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru is a game that matches the hype of a Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians game. Although KKR have three IPL trophies and RCB have none, both these franchises are heavily backed by their fans.

One thing that unites Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru heading into IPL 2025 is the change in leadership. Ajinkya Rahane will lead Kolkata Knight Riders for the first time, and Rajat Patidar will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the first time, too. Although RCB's batting order looks pretty much settled, Kolkata Knight Riders have a big challenge at their disposal. Unfortunately, this problem revolves around their captain and vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer.

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Kolkata Knight Riders Look To Solve Iyer vs Rahane Conundrum

The defending champions have a lot to ponder before the start of IPL 2025. They need to choose their opening batsmen to start with. If Sunil Narine is to open for Kolkata Knight Riders, then the management will have to choose one between Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. However, their biggest problem lies with the number three spot. Venkatesh Iyer was fabulous for KKR in 2024 at the number three spot, but this time around, he is bound to face stiff competition from his skipper, the highly experienced and reliable Ajinkya Rahane.

Rahane, who is predominantly an opener, will have to give up his preferred position because KKR have been playing this slam-bang kind of cricket, and Quinton de Kock, if picked, will surely open the innings with Narine. The problem here is that if Rahane bats lower down the order, he might not be able to perform to the best of his capabilities or deliver. Let's not forget that Iyer scored a total of 370 runs at a strike rate of 158.79 in IPL 2024. The Iyer vs Rahane dilemma is something that the Kolkata Knight Riders will have to solve as soon as possible.

Their middle and lower middle order looks completely settled, but it is the top order that needs to be planned in order to exploit the conditions at Eden Gardens.

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KKR vs RCB: Head-To-Head In All IPL Matches

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru has always been a high-octane affair. KKR and RCB have locked horns in 34 IPL matches. Kolkata Knight Riders have won 20 matches, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won only 14 of them. Bengaluru's highest score against KKR is 221, and Kolkata's highest score against RCB is 222. KKR vs RCB in the IPL 2025 opener is going to be a nail-biting affair.

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