KKR vs RCB Match Preview: The IPL 2025 season opener is set to be a thrilling clash as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The match will be played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 PM IST.
Both teams will be eager to start their campaign with a win. KKR will look to continue their dominance despite a change in leadership, while RCB will aim for their first-ever IPL title. Let’s take a look at the full match preview, Key Players, key battles, weather reports, and predictions.
KKR vs RCB Match Preview- IPL 2025, Match 1
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Preview
The defending champions KKR will aim to begin their campaign with a strong win. After dominating the second half of IPL 2024, they sealed their third IPL title by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. However, KKR has a new captain this season – Ajinkya Rahane.
Despite losing a few key players, KKR has retained its core and will rely on Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, and Varun Chakravarthy to deliver.
KKR Predicted Playing XI
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Preview
RCB is once again chasing its maiden IPL title. They reached the playoffs last season but couldn’t go further. Under their new captain Rajat Patidar, RCB will be eager to turn things around.
The team boasts strong firepower with Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Tim David, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the charge. Their bowling attack, featuring Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi, will also be key.
RCB Predicted Playing XI
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood.
KKR vs RCB Head-to-Head Record in IPL
| Teams | Matches Played | KKR Wins | RCB Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| KKR vs RCB | 32 | 18 | 14 |
KKR has a better record against RCB, but with fresh squads, the contest is expected to be intense.
Key Battles to Watch in KKR vs RCB
1. Sunil Narine vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Narine, KKR’s top scorer last season, can be dangerous at the top. RCB will rely on Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing to dismiss him early.
2. Virat Kohli vs Anrich Nortje
Kohli had a phenomenal IPL 2024, scoring 741 runs. KKR’s pace spearhead Anrich Nortje will look to rattle him with raw speed.
3. Rajat Patidar vs Varun Chakravarthy
Patidar is an explosive player against spin, but KKR’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will aim to break his rhythm early.
Also Read – Dream11 Top 3 Captain Pick For KKR vs RCB 1st Match – IPL 2025
Key Players to Watch in KKR vs RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Sunil Narine – All-rounder, can dominate with both bat and ball.
- Quinton de Kock is an explosive opener who can provide a strong start.
- Venkatesh Iyer – Reliable middle-order batter.
- Andre Russell – The game-changer with his power-hitting.
- Varun Chakravarthy – KKR’s key wicket-taking spinner.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Virat Kohli – RCB’s batting pillar, looking for another strong season.
- Phil Salt – Hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batter.
- Rajat Patidar – Captain, will be crucial in the middle order.
- Tim David is – Big hitter who can finish games.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Experienced pacer, crucial in the powerplay.
KKR vs RCB Pitch Report – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The pitch at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is expected to be a batting-friendly surface with good bounce and pace. The square boundaries are 59m and 66m, while the straight boundary extends to 75m, making it a ground where stroke players can dominate.
The first teams to bat won 38 matches, while the chasing teams won 55 games.
Batters will enjoy the surface early on, but spinners will play a key role in the second innings.
Read more about KKR vs RCB Match Pitch report & Venue Stats
KKR vs RCB Weather Report
The weather will play a significant role in this match. According to Accuweather, the forecast for Eden Gardens in West Bengal predicts overcast conditions with a 90% cloud cover. This means batters may find scoring runs challenging, while pace bowlers will likely benefit from the conditions.
Based on this information, we predict S. Narine will be our team captain and H. Rana will serve as vice-captain. Our team will include the top pace bowlers from both sides, reliable batters like V. Kohli, and key all-rounders A. Russell and R. Shepherd.
Also Check:
Best Fantasy App || GST & TDS Free
| SR NO | APP Name | REFER CODE | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vision11 | MF100 | Install Now |
| 2 | HaaNaa (Fantasy Trade) |
MF100 | Install Now |
Disclaimer:
- Myfinal11 doesn’t guarantee the participant of win rewards/prizes based on any information mentioned in the Fantasy Expert Tips. Information provided is purely based on expert insights and data and is independent of the upcoming player performances.
- MyFinal11 bears no responsibility towards points/rewards/prizes the participant may win while playing Fantasy Cricket or any other such game.
- Content mentioned in the Fantasy Tips is subject to change based on factors like changes in weather, injury, etc.
- The contents of this page are updated until the start of the match.
