The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to begin on March 22, with an exciting season opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the historic Eden Gardens.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, will look to continue their dominance, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), fresh off a strong comeback last season, aims to start on a winning note. With both teams under new leadership, the IPL 2025 opener promises to be a thrilling contest.
KKR vs RCB: Head-to-Head Record
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) holds the upper hand in their rivalry, winning 20 out of 34 encounters, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has won 14 times.
In the last IPL season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in both meetings, extending their winning streak to four consecutive games against them. Over the last seven matches, RCB has managed just one win, making this match crucial for them to turn the tide.
New Captains, New Strategies
Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season brings a leadership change for both teams. KKR has entrusted the experienced Ajinkya Rahane with the captaincy, while RCB has made a bold move by appointing young Rajat Patidar as their skipper.
With veterans like Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the squad, RCB will look for strong leadership on the field.
RCB will be eager to break their losing streak against KKR and start the season on a positive note. Meanwhile, KKR will aim to deliver a strong performance under their new captain in front of their home crowd.
Squads
RCB: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Tushara, Yash Dayal.
KKR: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson.