Watch: Ajinkya Rahane almost missed team bus before IPL 2025 opener, claims video

According to a video that has gone viral on social media, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane almost missed the team bus ahead of the team's opening game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, March 22.

The video claimed that Rahane was rushing towards the team bus which seemed to be leaving for the stadium for KKR's practice session without him. In the video, Rahane can be seen running with a bat in his hands, hoping to enter the team bus before it departs. However, the authenticity of the video is yet to be confirmed.

Kolkata has been experiencing light to moderate rainfall in the last few days. Light rain fell in the city on Wednesday and Thursday, although both teams managed to conclude their practice sessions.

Watch the video below:

Pick-up Shot@96ShreyasIyer

KKR team bus leaving without their captain Rahane 😭😭

04:42 PM · Mar 21, 2025

2.8K211

The Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers are set to face each other for only the second time in the first match of an IPL season. Their previous encounter in the curtain raiser was in the inaugural season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Brendon McCullum stole the show in that historic encounter as his 158 not out helped the Knights win by 140 runs.

The Knights are the defending champions this season. Rahane has replaced Shreyas Iyer at the helm after being roped in by the franchise during the mega-auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony Date, Time, Venue, Performers Details, and All You Need To Know

Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers are also starting a new era, with Rajat Patidar taking charge, succeeding Faf du Plessis. The Madhya Pradesh batter has done well for the franchise with the bat and now, he would want to guide the team to success with his captaincy acumen.

The stage is set for an intense clash and the demand for tickets is quite commendable. However, the weather forecast isn't too promising.  The Indian Met Department (IMD) has issued an "orange alert" for the area. "Light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are expected" until Saturday, the report said. Fans will hope that the weather holds up and the players can get the chance to showcase their skills at the picturesque venue.