IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB, Match 1 – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets.

By Mihir Korde

Updated - 22 Mar 2025, 23:27 IST

7 Min Read

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their IPL 2025 campaign with a dominant seven-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Opting to field first, RCB restricted KKR to 174/8 despite Ajinkya Rahane’s 56 off 31 and Sunil Narine’s 44 off 26. Krunal Pandya was the best bowler, picking up 3/29, while Josh Hazlewood claimed 2/22.

Chasing 175, RCB got off to a brilliant start, thanks to Phil Salt’s 56 off 31 balls and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 off 36. Salt's aggressive intent put pressure on KKR’s bowlers, and Kohli anchored the innings. Rajat Patidar played a solid cameo of 34 off 16, and Liam Livingstone’s quick 15 off 5 finished the chase in just 16.2 overs.

KKR’s bowlers struggled, with only Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora managing a wicket each. RCB’s clinical all-round performance ensured a comfortable victory.


Key Moments from Match 1 of IPL 2025:

1. Virat Kohli-Phil Salt opening stand

Phil Salt and Virat Kohli’s fifties guided the Bengaluru franchise to a comfortable victory. Playing his debut game for RCB, Salt smashed 56 off 31 balls, while Kohli, in his 400th T20 innings, struck 59 off 36 balls. Their partnership registered RCB’s second-highest powerplay score (80/0). Kohli also became the third batter to score 1,000 IPL runs against KKR. Additionally, their 14 boundaries in the powerplay rank third in RCB history.

IndianPremierLeague@IPL
The iconic Virat Kohli goes down the ground 😎 Sit back and enjoy his exquisite stroke play 🎁🍿 @RCBTweets race away to 80/0 after 6 overs. Updates ▶ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2025-01 #TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @imVkohli
10:00 PM · Mar 22, 2025
like3.8Kretweet671
IndianPremierLeague@IPL
#RCB fans, enjoyed your captain's innings? Rajat Patidar sprinkled his elegant touch to the chase with a quick-fire 34(16) 💥 @RCBTweets moving closer to the target 🎯 Updates ▶ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2025-01 #TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @RCBTweets | @rrjjt_01
10:42 PM · Mar 22, 2025
like1.3Kretweet129


2. Krunal Pandya's crucial spell

RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya delivered a match-winning spell. On a batting-friendly surface, the veteran left-arm spinner picked up 3/29 in four overs, dismantling KKR’s middle order. After a shaky first over, Krunal returned strongly following Sunil Narine’s dismissal. He removed a well-set Ajinkya Rahane for 56 before cleaning up Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh. Acquired by RCB for INR 5.75 crores in the 2025 auction, Krunal’s performance justified his price tag as he proved to be a game-changer in his new franchise’s campaign opener.

IndianPremierLeague@IPL
Spirited comeback with the ball ✅ Dominating effort with the bat ✅ @RCBTweets are up and away in #TATAIPL 2025 with a commanding win over #KKR ❤️ Scorecard ▶ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2025-01 #KKRvRCB
10:55 PM · Mar 22, 2025
like1.3Kretweet173
IndianPremierLeague@IPL
𝗪𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴'𝘂𝗻 done 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ⚡ Suyash Sharma gets the big one 😍 #RCB bowlers continue to chip away at the wickets Updates ▶ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2025-01 #TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @RCBTweets
08:56 PM · Mar 22, 2025
like1.3Kretweet95
JioHotstarverified@JioHotstar
GONE! After getting a life, #QuintondeKock is caught behind courtesy a neat catch and #JoshHazlewood has the first wicket of #TATAIPL 2025! Watch LIVE action on #JioHotstar! #IPLonJioStar #KKRvRCB, LIVE NOW
08:05 PM · Mar 22, 2025
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3. Ajinkya Rahane-Sunil Narine stabilize KKR's innings

Ajinkya Rahane made his debut as KKR captain on a good note, particularly with the bat. After Quinton de Kock's early dismissal, Rahane took the responsibility on himself, shifting gears in the fourth over by hammering Rasik Dar Salam for 16 runs. His intent gave KKR momentum, allowing Sunil Narine to dominate after a slow start. Struggling at 9/1 after three overs, the side reached 60/1 in six overs. Rahane brought up his fifty in just 25 balls before falling for 56 off 31 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Narine smashed 44 off 26 as the duo stitched 103 runs.

IndianPremierLeague@IPL
First match as #KKR captain ✅ First fifty of the season ✅ Ajinkya Rahane continues to make merry 👌 Updates ▶ bit.ly/TATAIPL-2025-01 #TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @KKRiders
08:20 PM · Mar 22, 2025
like1Kretweet99

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