Not Virat Kohli! Ex-AUS Player Feels Having Krunal Pandya Helped RCB 'Through The Middle' Against KKR In IPL 2025 Opener

Indian Premier League: Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) seven-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Saturday, March 22, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden picked Krunal Pandya as the player who helped the Royal Challengers ‘through the middle’ at the Eden Gardens.

Krunal Pandya was named the 'Player of the Match' following his stupendous performance against KKR. The batting all-rounder led the RCB bowling attack with his three-wicket haul in the first inning. Pandya's spell helped the Bengaluru-based franchise to restrict KKR to 174/8.

ALSO READ: Ex-IND Cricketer Joins Debate Over MS Dhoni’s Retirement, Says 'Age Is Just A Number' For CSK Wicketkeeper-Batter

Krunal Pandya was a handy asset: Matthew Hayden

While speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, Hayden said that it was a crucial win for Rajat Patidar as the new captain of the franchise. The former cricketer hailed RCB's bowling attack and added that Pandya was a ‘handy asset’. While decoding RCB's victory, Hayden added that Virat Kohli's form great form also helped RCB clinch a win over KKR.

“It was an emphatic and important victory for Rajat Patidar as the new captain. Having Virat Kohli in great form certainly helps. Their bowling lineup looked solid—Krunal Pandya was a handy asset through the middle, and Josh Hazlewood did what he does best. For the first time in a long while, I look at RCB’s setup and think—there’s something special about this unit this year,” Hayden told JioHotstar.

Before the start of the IPL 2025, RCB announced Rajat Patidar announced their new leader. The match against KKR was his first game as the leader of the franchise.

ALSO READ: Rinku Singh Ignores Virat Kohli's Handshake During IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony, Internet Reacts | WATCH

Summarizing RCB's Win Over KKR In IPL 2025 Opener

Patidar won the toss and decided to bowl against KKR.

KKR were sluggish at the start of the game. Only Ajinkya Rahane (56 runs from 31 balls, 6 fours, and 4 sixes) and Sunil Narine (44 runs from 26 balls, 5 fours, and 3 sixes) powered KKR to 174/8 in the first inning.

Pandya and Josh Hazlewood led the RCB bowling attack and successfully stopped KKKR to a low total.

During the run chase, it was Virat Kohli's unbeaten 59-run knock and Philip Salt's 56 runs powered RCB to a clinical win on March 22.

The KKR bowling attack failed to take wickets while defending and had to concede a defeat infront of their home fans.