Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener of the Indian Premier League 2025 on Saturday, March 22, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It is the first time KKR and RCB will face each other in the first game of a season since 2008.
KKR are the defending champions and won their third trophy last year after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. RCB are still looking to get their hands on their first trophy and will be led by Rajat Patidar this season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Details
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 1 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date & Time | Saturday, March 22, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar (App and Website) |
| Broadcasting | Sports18/Star Sports Network |
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Predicted Playing XI
Top Order: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c)
1️⃣ Phil Salt – Opener
2️⃣ Virat Kohli – Opener
3️⃣ Rajat Patidar (C) – 1st Down
Middle Order: Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh
Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma will form the middle order, with Tim David as the finisher. Krunal Pandya and Swapnil Singh are all-rounders who can contribute if the top order falters.
4️⃣ Liam Livingstone – No. 4
5️⃣ Jitesh Sharma (wk) – No. 5
6️⃣ Tim David – No. 6
7️⃣ Krunal Pandya – No. 7
8️⃣ Swapnil Singh – No. 8
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal
The bowling attack consists of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, and Yash Dayal.
9️⃣ Bhuvneshwar Kumar – No. 9 (Bowler)
🔟 Lungi Ngidi – No. 10 (Bowler)
1️⃣1️⃣ Yash Dayal – No. 11 (Bowler)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Predicted Playing XI
Top Order: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer
The top order consists of Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine as explosive openers, followed by Venkatesh Iyer. De Kock is expected to provide fiery starts alongside Narine, who is also a valuable all-rounder.
1️⃣ Quinton de Kock (wk) – Opener
2️⃣ Sunil Narine – Opener / All-rounder
3️⃣ Venkatesh Iyer – No. 3
Middle Order: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell
The middle order includes Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell. Rahane will lead the team, while Rinku Singh’s aggressive batting and Pandey’s redemption will be crucial. The likes of Ramandeep Singh and Anukul Roy can also be tried in the middle order in place of Pandey. Russell will be expected to play a key role with both bat and ball.
4️⃣ Ajinkya Rahane (c) – No. 4
5️⃣ Rinku Singh – No. 5
6️⃣ Manish Pandey / Ramandeep Singh / Anukul Roy – No. 6 (Flexible Option)
7️⃣ Andre Russell – No. 7 / All-rounder
Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
The bowling attack features Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Vaibhav Arora, with Nortje leading the pace attack. Mayank Markande is a potential impact player, adding spin options.
8️⃣ Anrich Nortje – Fast Bowler
9️⃣ Varun Chakravarthy – Spinner
🔟 Harshit Rana – Fast Bowler
1️⃣1️⃣ Vaibhav Arora – Fast Bowler
Key Players to Watch in RCB vs KKR Match
Varun Chakaravarthy (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Varun Chakaravarthy had a great Champions Trophy, taking nine wickets in three games.
- He also had a strong IPL season last year, claiming 21 wickets in 15 matches with an impressive economy and strike rate.
Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Rahane was announced as KKR’s skipper for the season, becoming the first Indian to lead three IPL franchises.
- The experienced batter has amassed 4642 runs in 185 IPL matches, showcasing a solid average of 30.14.
Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- Kohli dominates RCB vs KKR clashes, holding the record for most runs with 962 at an average of 37.
- He will be looking forward to add more runs this year.
Phil Salt (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- Salt was a key player for KKR last season, smashing 435 runs at a blistering strike rate of 182.
- Now with RCB, he will aim to replicate that explosive form.
Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Narine had a stellar all-round season last year, scoring 488 runs with a phenomenal strike rate and grabbing 17 wickets.
- His contributions will be vital for KKR’s success.
Team News and Injury Updates
🚨Chetan Sakariya has replaced Umran Malik in KKR’s squad. Umran has been ruled out due to an injury.
FAQs about RCB vs KKR Predicted Playing XI: Indian Premier League 2025
1. What is the predicted playing XI for RCB vs KKR?
Here is the predicted playing XI for both teams –
RCB – Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal
KKR – Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora
2. Which players are expected to open the batting for RCB and KKR?
Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine are expected to open the innings for KKR. For RCB, the duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli might do the job.
3. Who are the key bowlers to watch in RCB vs KKR match?
Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Varun Chakravarthy are the key bowlers to watch out for in this match.
4. Are there any injury concerns for RCB or KKR ahead of the match?
KKR have picked Chetan Sakariya in place of injured Umran Malik in the squad.
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