The Royal Challengers Bengaluru opened the 2025 TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over defending champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
KKR took first strike after being put in by new RCB skipper Rajat Patidar and posted 174-8 from their 20 overs.
After losing the wicket of Quinton de Kock in the first over for four, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine combined to put on 103 for the second wicket in a partnership that had KKR looking set to post a total well over 200 at the halfway stage of the innings.
That momentum came to a halt, however, as Narine fell for a 26-ball 44 off the last ball of the 10th over.
Narine's knock included five fours and three sixes.
Rahane fell just three balls later for a top score of 56 off 31 balls to leave the score 109-3.
The rest of the batsmen were unable to have the same success as Rahane and Narine with only Angkrish Raghuvanshi providing any meaningful contribution with 30 off 22 balls.
Krunal Pandya was the main reason for the halt in momentum for the Knight Riders with 3-29 from his four overs while Josh Hazlewood took 2-22 from his four overs with his typical consistent line and length bowling up front and at the death.
RCB then needed just 16.2 overs to reach 177-3 and secure a comfortable win.
A swift 95-run opening partnership of 95 in just 8.3 overs from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt set up the easy chase.
Kohli finished 59* off 36 balls including four fours and three sixes while Salt made 56 off 31 balls including nine fours and two sixes.
Patidar also chipped in with a 16-ball 34 including five fours and a six.
Narine took 1-27 from his four overs for KKR.
Summarized Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 174-8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 56, Sunil Narine 44, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 30, Krunal Pandya 3-29, Josh Hazlewood 2-22)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 177-3 in 16.2 overs (Virat Kohli 59*, Phil Salt 56, Rajat Patidar 34).