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De Kock was caught behind by Jitesh Sharma off the Aussie quick’s bowling in the very first over of the 18th edition of the money-rich T20 franchise league tournament in the curtain-raiser.
Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrates the wicket of Quinton De Kock of Knight Riders during match 1 of the Indian Premier League season 18 (IPL 2025) between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore held at the Eden gardens Stadium, Kolkata on the 22nd March 2025. (Sportzpics)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Josh Hazlewood picked up the first wicket of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League with the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders’ opener Quinton de Kock at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
De Kock was caught behind by Jitesh Sharma off the Aussie quick’s bowling in the very first over of the 18th edition of the money-rich T20 franchise league tournament in the curtain-raiser.
KKR were put to bat first by RCB’s new skipper Rajat Patidar and the hosts promised a good start with de Kock sending one racing away to the ropes like a tracer bullet for four off Hazlewood in the second delivery of the game.
RCB let the the South African off the hook as they dropped him on the very next delivery with former KKR spinner Suyash Sharma’s butter fingers betraying him despite getting right under the ball.
Suyash breathed a big sigh of relief when Jitesh pounced to his right to pick up an incredible catch behind the wicket to get rid of the mercurial Protea opener.
The season opener was preceded by an opening ceremony which witnessed KKR owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan open the floor for singer Shreya Ghoshal, actress Disha Patani and Punjabi rapper Karan Aujla to render their artistic stylings to the packed stadium.
Shah Rukh Khan went on to have a chat with RCB star Virat Kohli and KKR starlet Rinku Singh before shaking a leg with the players to some of his hit Bollywood numbers, much to the delight of the onlooking crowd.
The ceremony was brought to a close as the BCCI office-bearers made their way to the centre to cut a cake to mark the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League before the national anthem brought the entire Eden Gardens to it feet before the main event.