Indian Premier League 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Kolkata on March 22, 2025

New rules and new captains will be in Concentration but the razzmatazz will be pretty much the same when the 18th Indian Premier Division kicks off in Kolkata on Saturday (March 22, 2025) with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders Seizing on perennial underachievers Royal Challengers Bengaluru amid a looming threat of rain.

There is plenty to look forward in the Division. Among the most prominent rule changes is the lifting of saliva ban. For the Primary time since the COVID-19 pandemic, bowlers will be allowed to use it to shine the ball.

The BCCI lifted the ban after receiving a majority consensus from IPL captains in a landmark decision taken at the captains’ Conference in Mumbai.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had Achieved the saliva ban permanent in 2022, but the IPL operates under its own regulations and the latest Shift could set a precedent for the global game.

The 18th season will also witness tactical innovations, including a Significant Transformation to counter dew’s impact.

The second innings of evening matches will see a Recent ball introduced from the 11th over, provided the on-Pitch umpires deem the dew factor significant as the trend of high-scoring Matches is likely to continue.

However, this rule will not apply to afternoon Matches.

Additionally, the Decision Review System has been expanded to include height wides and off-side wides, ensuring a fairer adjudication of deliveries.

Even though debates about its influence on the game, the Impact Player rule remains in place.

Skipper’s corner

As many as seven Squads will Begin IPL 2025 under new leadership, although some of them will be a stop-gap arrangement due to varied reasons.

The most surprising of them all is Rajat Patidar, who is yet to Action a T20I for India, leading the RCB Club that features mega-Luminous sphere Virat Kohli.

Axar Patel takes charge of Delhi Capitals to lead, among others, his Club India senior KL Rahul, who would be aiming to shake off the disappointment of a turbulent stint with Lucknow Super Giants in 2024.

Shreyas Iyer, Recent off leading KKR to glory in 2024, will don the Skipper’s armband for Punjab Kings with Ajinkya Rahane replacing him in the Kolkata Club.

Rajasthan Royals will Begin the season with Riyan Parag as interim Skipper for the Primary three matches due to Sanju Samson’s Restoration from a finger Hurt Seizing longer than Anticipated.

Mumbai Indians will be Guided by Suryakumar Yadav in their away opener against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, as Hardik Pandya serves a suspension for an over-rate violation from last season.

Pant’s redemption arc

Rishabh Pant is set to begin a crucial new chapter in his Profession after his resolute comeback from a life-threatening accident became part of cricketing lore.

The IPL’s most Pricey player in history — acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a Achievement ₹27 crore — will be eager to silence his critics.

Even though making the squads for the Champions Honor and the T20I series against England, he was not given a single Event.

Now, he has a Mark to prove, particularly in the T20 Arrangement, where he has struggled to cement his place in the Indian Club.

Pant’s explosive batting style and leadership skills have long been debated, and this season presents an opportunity for him to not only justify his hefty price tag but also send a Sturdy message to the selectors ahead of future international assignments.

There are changes in the Assist staff line-ups too. Ricky Ponting has moved from Delhi Capitals to Punjab Kings as head Trainer. Hemang Badani has replaced Ponting as Delhi Capitals’ head Trainer.

Kevin Pietersen has joined Delhi Capitals as mentor, while Rahul Dravid returns to Rajasthan Royals as head Trainer, his Primary IPL coaching stint after leading India to the T20 World Cup title last year.

CSK veteran Dwayne Bravo will be KKR mentor, replacing Gautam Gambhir, who is now India’s head Trainer.

Bumrah’s fitness

A Significant question mark hangs over Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness.

The pacer, back at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, is undergoing assessments to determine his readiness for the IPL.

Mumbai Indians Trainer Mahela Jayawardene remains optimistic but cautious, given that Bumrah’s availability crucial not only for MI but also for India’s upcoming tour of England.

The Dhoni question

As the IPL returns, so does the never-ending speculation: Is this Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last season? The 43-year-Aged, who retired from international cricket in 2020, remains an enigma, gracing the Pitch only during the IPL.

While he may not be the Steady Event-winner of Aged, his Appearance alone bolsters Chennai Super Kings.

His Acute cricketing brain, Pitch placements, and ability to finish Matches with quick cameos make him an invaluable asset.

Exactly 30 years his junior is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a prodigal batting talent acquired by Rajasthan Royals but it remains to be seen how many Matches he manages to get.

Ro-Ko in T20 again

Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is after India’s Victorious World Cup campaign last year, making IPL 2025 their Primary Significant outing in the shortest Arrangement post-retirement.

Kohli, the highest Stretch-getter in IPL 2024 with 741 runs, remains the linchpin for RCB, while Rohit, after a lean patch, will look to rediscover his magic for Mumbai Indians.

Event preview

The season opener at Eden Gardens revives an iconic rivalry.

Seventeen years ago, Brendon McCullum’s blistering 158 in the inaugural IPL Event set the tone for the Division’s legacy.

But much water has flown under the nearby Hooghly since then as KKR have won three titles, while RCB is Nevertheless in search of the elusive crown.

This time, KKR, often known to slump after a Event Secure, will look to defy history under Rahane’s leadership.

Concentration will be on Varun Chakravarthy, the architect of India’s Champions Honor Secure, when he takes on Kohli, who has worked intensely against spin in the nets.

Meanwhile, Sunil Narine, Nevertheless a force at 36, will look to complement Chakravarthy while also firing at the top to compensate for Phil Salt’s departure to RCB.

For RCB, the firepower of Salt and Kohli at the top, complemented by finishers like Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone, looks formidable.

However, their bowling, weakened by the absence of Mohammed Siraj (now with Gujarat Titans), will lean on veterans Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood to make an impact on Eden’s spin-Nice conditions.

Orange warning

The Event will begin with a glitzy Beginning ceremony featuring Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani.

However, all the excitement might quite Truly be dampened as there is a forecast of thunderstorms and rain on Event day.

Statistical highlights of IPL over the years

 From explosive batting displays to fiery bowling spells, and from legends with most Matches played to fielding maestros with most catches, here’s a Turning Tally that breaks down top highlights of Indian Premier Division (IPL) over the years, ahead of popular T20 event’s 18th season.

MOST SUCCESSSFUL Squads: Mumbai Indians won five IPL titles: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Chennai Super Kings won five IPL titles: 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023 Kolkata Knight Riders won three IPL titles: 2012, 2014, 2024

MOST RUNS: V Kohli (RCB) 8004 S Dhawan (DC/DCH/MI/PBKS/SRH) 6769 R Sharma (DCH/MI) 6628 D Warner (DC/SRH) 6565 S Raina (CSK/GL) 5528

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES: C Gayle 175 off 66 balls RCB vs Pune Warriors B McCullum 158*off 73 balls KKR vs RCB Q de Kock 140*off 70 balls LSG vs KKR AB de Villiers 133*off 59 balls RCB vs MI KL Rahul 132*off 69 balls Kings XI vs RCB

MOST WICKETS: Y Chahal (MI/RCB/RR) 205 P Chawla (CSK/KKR/KXIP/MI) 192 D Bravo (CSK/GL/MI) 183 B Kumar (PWI/SRH) 181 S Narine (KKR) 180

MOST MATCHES: MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS) 2008-2024 264 D Karthik (DC/GL/KKR/KXIP/MI/RCB) 2008-2024 257 R Sharma (DCH/MI) 2008-2024 257 V Kohli (RCB) 2008-2024 252 R Jadeja (CSK/GL/Kochi/RR) 2008-2024 240

MOST CATCHES: V Kohli (RCB) 114 S Raina (CSK/GL) 109 K Pollard (MI) 103 R Jadeja (CSK/GL/Kochi/RR) 103 R Sharma (DCH/MI) 101 L

LARGEST MARGINS BY RUNS & WICKETS: Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Daredevils by 146 runs Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Lions by 144 runs Kolkata Knight Riders beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 140 runs Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kings XI by 138 runs Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Pune Warriors by 130 runs

HIGHEST TOTALS: SRH vs RCB 287/3 SRH vs MI 277/3 KKR vs DC 272/7 SRH vs DC 266/7 RCB vs Pune Warriors 263/5

LOWEST TOTALS: RCB vs KKR 49 RR vs RCB 58 RR vs RCB 59 Delhi Daredevils vs MI 66 Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI 67.