The Wait Is Over – IPL 2025 Starts with a Bang!. Cricket fans, rejoice! The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 explodes into action today, March 22, 2025, with a blockbuster clash between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the ever-hopeful Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. KKR, fresh off their 2024 title win, face an RCB side eager to kickstart their campaign for that elusive first trophy under new captain Rajat Patidar. With the toss just hours away (7:00 PM IST), let’s dive into the probable players who’ll take the field in this epic season opener!
Match Details
🏏 Match: KKR vs RCB, IPL 2025 Match 1
📅 Date: March 22, 2025
🏟️ Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM IST)
📺 Watch Live: JioHotstar
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Kolkata Knight Riders: The Champs Ready to Roar Again
Led by new captain Ajinkya Rahane, KKR boasts a mix of seasoned stars and explosive talents. After losing Shreyas Iyer, they’ve reloaded with firepower to defend their crown. Here’s who’s likely to play today:
Key Players
- Ajinkya Rahane (C): The calm and composed skipper opens the batting.
- Venkatesh Iyer: A pricey ₹23.75 crore buy—expect big runs and handy overs.
- Andre Russell: The dreadlocked destroyer—sixes and wickets guaranteed!
- Sunil Narine: Spin maestro and power-hitter rolled into one.
- Quinton de Kock: New wicketkeeper replacing Phil Salt, ready to fire up top.
Likely KKR Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajinkya Rahane (C) | Batsman |
| 2 | Quinton de Kock (WK) | Batsman |
| 3 | Venkatesh Iyer | All-Rounder |
| 4 | Nitish Rana | Batsman |
| 5 | Rinku Singh | Batsman |
| 6 | Andre Russell | All-Rounder |
| 7 | Sunil Narine | All-Rounder |
| 8 | Ramandeep Singh | All-Rounder |
| 9 | Harshit Rana | Bowler |
| 10 | Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler |
| 11 | Spencer Johnson | Bowler |
Impact Sub: Vaibhav Arora or Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Quick Stat: KKR chased 262 at Eden Gardens in 2024—batting paradise awaits!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: New Era, New Hopes
With Rajat Patidar at the helm and Virat Kohli still the heartbeat, RCB’s revamped squad looks potent. Can they finally break the title drought? Here’s their probable XI:
Key Players
- Rajat Patidar (C): The new captain aiming to lead by example.
- Virat Kohli: Playing his 400th T20—expect fireworks!
- Phil Salt: Snagged from KKR, a powerplay beast.
- Glenn Maxwell: The ‘Big Show’—unpredictable and game-changing.
- Josh Hazlewood: Pace ace to exploit Eden’s bounce.
Likely RCB Playing XI
| Position | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Salt | Batsman |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | Batsman |
| 3 | Rajat Patidar (C) | Batsman |
| 4 | Devdutt Padikkal | Batsman |
| 5 | Glenn Maxwell | All-Rounder |
| 6 | Jitesh Sharma (WK) | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Liam Livingstone | All-Rounder |
| 8 | Krunal Pandya | All-Rounder |
| 9 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Bowler |
| 10 | Josh Hazlewood | Bowler |
| 11 | Yash Dayal | Bowler |
Impact Sub: Swapnil Singh or Tim David
Quick Stat: Kohli’s 741 runs in 2024 came at a strike rate of 154.70—vintage form!
Head-to-Head and Pitch Preview
KKR vs RCB: Who’s Got the Edge?
- Head-to-Head: KKR leads 20-14 in 34 IPL clashes.
- Eden Gardens Pitch: A batting haven—think 180+ totals. Spinners like Narine and Chakravarthy might get turn later.
- Weather: Clear skies after Friday’s rain scare—game on!
Players to Watch
Stars Who Could Steal the Show
- Virat Kohli (RCB): A milestone match—will he start with a century?
- Andre Russell (KKR): Six-hitting machine—Eden’s short boundaries beware!
- Venkatesh Iyer (KKR): Under pressure to justify his price tag.
- Phil Salt (RCB): Powerplay runs could set RCB’s tone.
