In the IPL 2025 opener, RCB secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over KKR. RCB captain Rajat Patidar expressed his excitement about leading the team and praised the contributions of star players like Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane acknowledged the team’s mistakes and emphasised the need for improvement following their defeat.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) triumphed over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets in the opening match of
IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens on Saturday. RCB put on an amazing display for skill and great teamwork to hand KKR a crushing defeat. Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, and Josh Hazlewood stepped up with brilliant performances to see their team start the IPL 2025 campaign on a high.
Rajat Patidar reflects on his captaincy debut
RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who contributed with a quickfire 34 off 16 balls, spoke about the win in the post-match presentation. KKR were off to a flying start after Quinton de Kock fell early in the innings. Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine were playing with an aggressive approach, and RCB were in desperate need of a breakthrough. Patidar made crucial changes in the middle overs to help RCB get back into the match and restrict KKR to 174/8 in 20 overs.
“There was pressure, of course, but it was a good day for me. I hope for more such days,” Patidar reflected on his captaincy debut. He highlighted the strategic decision to bring back Suyash Sharma for the 16th over, stating, “It was clear we wanted Russell’s wicket; him conceding runs didn’t matter. He is our strike bowler, and we backed him.”
Patidar also expressed his excitement about the opportunity to captain a side featuring cricketing legend Virat Kohli. “Feels great to captain Kohli; he supports a lot. It’s a great opportunity to learn from one of the best,” he stated.
Krunal Pandya emerged as the Player of the Match for his pivotal bowling performance, taking three wickets for just 29 runs. “I just wanted to narrow down my focus upon returning in the 11th over. Glad I was able to deliver. You have to go with the flow, right now batters can hit sixes consistently, so you have to find ways to up your game. So, I wanted to bowl quick, changes of pace were useful too. Jitesh knows I can do anything, bowl a wide yorker or bouncer, so he’s aware. You have to use what you have in your arsenal.”
Meanwhile, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane acknowledged the shift in momentum after losing crucial wickets in middle overs. “We went well till the 13th over, but 2-3 wickets changed momentum. We have to learn from our mistakes,” Rahane remarked. He also pointed out the need for early wickets and a better performance as a unit in future matches.
The match featured an explosive start from Phil Salt, who contributed 56 runs off 31 balls, setting a solid foundation for
RCB’s successful chase. Kohli scored a remarkable unbeaten 59 runs, steering RCB to chase down the target in just 16.2 overs.