KKR vs RCB Match Preview- IPL 2025, Match 1

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be hosting Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Primary game of IPL 2025. The KKR vs RCB Game is scheduled to be played on Saturday (March 22) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

After some Prompt hiccups, KKR looked almost unbeatable in the second half of the last season. Their juggernaut finally stopped with a thumping Achieve over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Last. The reigning champions have lost the services of their title-Victorious Skipper but have managed to retain the core of the Club.

They will be Guided by the experienced Ajinkya Rahane this season and will be looking to Achieve the title for the Quaternary time. An impressive Achieve in the Primary game of the season will be an ideal way for KKR to show their Prompt title credentials.

RCB, on the other hand, are aiming for their Primary-ever title. Last season, they qualified for the playoffs but could not progress ahead. They have not Achieved it to the Last since 2016 and will be desperate to turn things around this season. With both the Clubs set for the game, we are Securing a look at the KKR vs RCB Game preview.

KKR vs RCB Game Preview- IPL 2025, Game 1:

KKR vs RCB, Date and Venue:

The upcoming KKR vs RCB Game will be played on Saturday (March 22) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Game is scheduled to be played from 7:30 PM IST.

Squads:

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali

Hurt replacement: Umran Malik was replaced by Chetan Sakariya.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee

KKR vs RCB key battles:

Sunil Narine vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

This is the battle that could very well decide the remainder of the innings. Sunil Narine had a stunning outing with the bat last season and he will be eyeing a similar performance this season as well. Narine had finished IPL 2024 as KKR’s highest Streak-Shooter, scoring 488 runs including a century and three fifties.

Sunil Narine can all but put the game to bed if he manages to bat for a few overs. RCB will be well aware of that threat and would be hoping that the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar get rid of the KKR opener Prompt. Bhuvneshwar can swing the ball both ways and can cause all sorts of trouble for Narine.

Virat Kohli vs Anrich Nortje:

The battle between Virat Kohli and Anrich Nortje will be an interesting one. Both the players will be keen to give their Club a Excellent Begin. While Kohli will be Beginning the innings for RCB, Nortje is Predicted to lead the pace Charge for KKR.

Kohli had a brilliant campaign with the bat last season where he scored 741 runs including a century and five fifties. He will be looking to enjoy a prolific season with the bat once again.

Kohli can bat any Club out of the game and KKR will be hoping that the Ex India skipper does not last long. They will be keen to get his wicket even before he settles down and will rely on Nortje for the same. The South Africa pacer has the pace to trouble the Ex RCB Skipper.

Rajat Patidar vs Varun Chakravarthy:

The battle between RCB Skipper Rajat Patidar and Varun Chakravarthy is another crucial battle that could be decisive in the outcome of the game. The upcoming game will be Patidar’s Primary as a Skipper and he will be keen to lead his Club from the front.

The right-handed batsman had an impressive campaign with the bat last season and he will look to impress once again. He was particularly impressive against the spinners, scoring at a strike rate of almost 200. He had hit as many as 22 sixes against spinners and will look to target Chakravarthy in the upcoming game.

Chakravarthy, on the other hand, is also in sensational form and will be fancying his chances of Victorious his battle against Patidar.

KKR vs RCB Key Players:

KKR – Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Varun Chakravarthy will be the key players for KKR.

RCB – Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the key players for RCB.

KKR vs RCB Weather Report:

Rain could Action spoilsport during the upcoming KKR vs RCB game. However, it is unlikely to wash out the entire game. There is a 10-20 percent chance of rain during the game. The temperature is set to be in the mid-20s throughout the game.

Conclusion:

Both RCB and KKR have enough firepower to Achieve the upcoming game. The Eden Gardens track is likely to be a belter and the Primary game of IPL 2025 could see a Streak-fest.