KKR vs RCB Preview: Rajat Patidar's Biggest Test Awaits Him In IPL 2025 Opener As Bengaluru Lock Horns With Their Nemesis

The IPL title has eluded Virat Kohli for a long time. In the blockbuster IPL 2025 opener, Kolkata Knight Riders will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens on March 22.

KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Match 1 Preview

KKR were the team to beat last season as they romped their way to the IPL final. The summit clash emerged to be a one-sided affair as the Kolkata-based outfit saw out Sunrisers Hyderabad with ease to lift their 3rd IPL title. Winning captain Shreyas Iyer departed and Ajinkya Rahane has been given the charge to lead the defending champions in IPL 2025.

Also Read: IPL 2025, KKR vs RCB: Know Full Squads, Predicted XIs And List Of Impact Players

Except for Iyer, the core part of KKR has almost remained the same and the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy will have to take charge on a surface which is expected to produce a lot of runs. Narine has brought a revolution with his explosive batting skills and he is expected to open the batting with Quinton de Kock.

For RCB, they would hope the 18th edition brings some luck for jersey no. 18, the one and only Virat Kohli. He has been the torchbearer of the franchise since its inception and will have to set the ground running from the very first match. Former KKR batter Phil Salt is likely to be his opening partner and having played with the defending champions, the English international will be able to offer his insights.

Yash Dayal was retained by RCB while they will also have the service of Josh Hazlewood, Lungi Ngidi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Suyash Sharma who also had significant experience playing for the three-time IPL champions.

Also Read: KKR Vs RCB, IPL 2025: Venue, Date, Time, Squads, Live Streaming And All You Need To Know

KKR vs RCB H2H Records

Matches: 34

KKR: 20

RCB: 14

KKR vs RCB, Previous Two Meetings

KKR won both matches last season. The 3-time champions recorded a seven-wicket victory at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 10 while they inflicted a narrow 1-run loss on RCB at the Eden Gardens on April 21.

KKR Predicted XI

Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

RCB Predicted XI

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (captain), Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Liam Livingston, Tim David, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.