RCB Playing XI vs KKR IPL 2025: The 18th season of IPL 2025 starts on 22 March. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders will play the first match. RCB is one of the most popular franchises in IPL, but the team has not won a single title.
Last season, the team reached the playoffs by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the previous league stage match. But then, the team was eliminated after losing against Rajasthan Royals in the eliminator.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Playing XI vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2025
Openers – Virat Kohli & Phil Salt
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt are expected to open the batting for RCB in their first match of IPL2025. Virat Kohli won the Orange Cap in IPL 2024, scoring 741 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 154.70. Meanwhile, the aggressive English wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Salt was purchased for ₹11.50 crore and made a significant impact last season, scoring 435 runs at a strike rate of 182.01 while playing for KKR.
Strength – A solid combination with power-hitting ability.
Middle Order – Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar & Liam Livingstone
Rajat Patidar was one of RCB’s key players last season, scoring 395 runs at a striking rate of 177.13. His consistency earned him a place in the squad again. Devdutt Padikkal, on the other hand, had a difficult season, scoring only 38 runs in 7 matches. Despite his struggles, RCB has shown faith in his potential. Meanwhile, Liam Livingstone remains a dangerous all-rounder known for his powerful hitting and useful bowling, making him a valuable asset to any team.
Strength – Experience and explosive batting in the middle order.
Also Check: RCB SWOT Analysis IPL 2025: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats
Finishers – Jitesh Sharma & Tim David
Jitesh Sharma, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, scored 187 runs at a strike rate of 131.69 in IPL 2024, providing stability in the lower middle order. Tim David, a proven finisher, scored 241 runs at an average of 30.13 for Mumbai Indians last season, excelling in pressure situations.
Strength – Firepower in the death overs.
Bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood & Yash Dayal
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, an experienced pacer, picked up 11 wickets in 16 matches last season at an economy of 9.35. Josh Hazlewood, RCB’s key strike bowler, is back in action after missing IPL 2024, adding strength to the attack. Yash Dayal, a promising left-arm pacer, had an impressive season with 15 wickets in 14 matches for RCB.
Strength – A mix of experience and young talent in pace bowling.
Spinners – Krunal Pandya & Liam Livingstone
Krunal Pandya is a reliable all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball, adding balance to the team. Liam Livingstone, known for his explosive batting, also offers versatility in bowling. He can bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, making him a valuable option in different conditions.
Strength – Versatile spin attack for different conditions.
RCB’s Probable Playing XI vs KKR – IPL 2025 Match 1
| No. | Player Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Phil Salt | Wicketkeeper-Opener |
| 3 | Devdutt Padikkal | Batter (No. 3) |
| 4 | Rajat Patidar | Batter (No. 4) |
| 5 | Liam Livingstone | All-rounder (Spin) |
| 6 | Jitesh Sharma | Wicketkeeper-Finisher |
| 7 | Tim David | Finisher |
| 8 | Krunal Pandya | All-rounder (Spin) |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler (Pace) |
| 10 | Josh Hazlewood | Bowler (Pace) |
| 11 | Yash Dayal | Bowler (Pace) |
Impact Players – Swapnil Singh & Rasikh Dar
Final Thoughts – Can RCB Start IPL 2025 with a Win?
RCB’s Playing XI looks balanced, with substantial batting depth, experienced finishers, and a good bowling lineup (but still have issues in bowling). Their biggest challenge will be handling KKR’s spin attack, especially at the Eden Gardens. However, with Kohli and Salt opening, Livingstone & Tim Devid in the middle order, and Hazlewood leading the pace attack, RCB has a strong chance to win their first match of IPL 2025 if they chase the score.
Do you think RCB can defeat KKR in IPL 2025 Match 1?
visit our RCB vs KKR IPL Dream11 Prediction article To get predicted playing XIs, pitch reports, and Dream11 fantasy teams for this match
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