Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets in IPL 2025 opener. Key moments, including Krunal Pandya’s stellar bowling and Virat Kohli’s masterful innings, defined the match’s outcome. Check out the biggest turning points of the match.
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In the highly anticipated opening match of
IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) showcased their dominance by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets. While the victory was a collective effort, several pivotal moments defined where the match was won and lost.
The
KKR vs RCB match featured several crucial turning points that ultimately determined the outcome. Here’s a summary of the defining moments:
Early struggles and KKR’s promising start
The match began with KKR losing Quinton de Kock early, but the aggressive batting of captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine provided hope for the home side. Their 103-run partnership was instrumental in giving KKR a solid foundation. Rahane, in particular, looked in excellent form, playing a series of shots that raised expectations for a big total.
However, the momentum shifted after the 13th over. Despite their strong start, KKR suffered a collapse, losing crucial wickets in quick succession. The turning point came when RCB’s Krunal Pandya took three important wickets in the middle overs, which shifted the game in RCB’s favour.
First match as #KKR captain ✅
First fifty of the season ✅Ajinkya Rahane continues to make merry 👌
Updates ▶ https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/aeJUNEF9Bs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
Krunal Pandya: The game-changer
Krunal Pandya emerged as the hero for RCB, claiming three key wickets for just 29 runs. His effective spell included the dismissals of Rahane, Rinku Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer, which halted KKR’s momentum and restricted them to a below-par total of 174 runs.
The impact of his bowling was felt significantly. With each wicket, the pressure mounted, and the KKR middle order crumbled under the weight of expectation. The inability to capitalise on their strong start proved costly, as RCB’s bowlers executed their plans with precision.
For his impressive and game changing spell of 3⃣/2⃣9⃣, Krunal Pandya bagged the Player of the Match award that helped #RCB register a 7⃣-wicket victory 👌👌
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @RCBTweets | @krunalpandya24 pic.twitter.com/NqbiTqasNT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
RCB’s chase: Setting the tone early
As RCB took to the crease, the foundation laid by Phil Salt and Virat Kohli was crucial in defining the match’s outcome. Salt’s explosive 56 off 31 balls provided RCB with the ideal start. The early momentum allowed RCB to gain control over the match, as they raced to 80 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay.
Kohli’s partnership with Salt not only built a solid foundation but also put KKR’s bowlers under pressure. The turning point in the chase came when RCB lost Salt, but Kohli’s composure ensured that RCB remained in control and that they had already scored 95 runs between them, helped.
The chase master at work 🫡
FIFTY 🆙 for Virat Kohli as he continues to entertain Kolkata with his batting masterclass ✨
Updates ▶ https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/Icfo35EvJs
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025
The final push: Kohli and Patidar seal the win
As the chase progressed, RCB needed to maintain their focus. Rajat Patidar’s quickfire 34 off 16 balls played a significant role in keeping the run rate steady. His fearless cameo allowed RCB to stay ahead of the required run rate despite KKR taking a couple of wickets.
RCB were on the driving seat when Kohli reached his half-century. The final moments saw RCB comfortably chase down the target in just 16.2 overs, with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 59. Liam Livingstone provided the finishing touches as he hit a six and a four to close the chase.
#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 ▶ https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @RCBTweets | @rrjjt_01 pic.twitter.com/1P7buQ8m0O
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025