Ajinkya Rahane, captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), acknowledged that during their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Eden Gardens pitch performed differently than normal.

The ground, which has historically helped spinners, provided minimal turn this time, which affected KKR’s spin-dependent bowling attack and contributed to their seven-wicket loss.
Rahane noted that there was some wetness early on since the wicket had been covered for the previous 1.5 days because of the continuous rain. The RCB’s fast bowlers, especially Josh Hazlewood, benefited from this and took full advantage of the circumstances.

“We would love to see a pitch that helps spin bowlers, but this wicket was under covers for the last one and a half days,” Rahane said at the news conference held after the game.

“There was some moisture when we started our batting, and Hazlewood used the conditions really well,” he said.

Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, KKR’s spin tandem, found it difficult to break free and turn as they usually do. Narine concluded with 1 for 27, while Chakravarthy, who had just completed a successful Champions Trophy campaign, was dismissed for 43 runs in his four overs. Together, the two took only two wickets, demonstrating the pitch’s lack of support.
Rahane, however, continued to have faith in his spinners’ skills.

“No complaints. Our two excellent spinners are capable of bowling on every kind of pitch.”Yes, the pitch played differently since it was under cover and there was rain all day yesterday,” he said, “but I’m sure they’re confident too.

Phil Salt and Virat Kohli (59*) gave Bengaluru a daring start as they entered the game, chasing 175. While Kohli was aggressive with the few deliveries he received during the powerplay, the Englishman assumed the role of the aggressor.

Salt’s brutal strokeplay helped RCB to their second-highest total in the history of the lucrative league, 80, at the conclusion of the powerplay without losing a wicket.

Ajinkya Rahane, the skipper of KKR, used every tactic in his toolbox against the devastating pair, including mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, during the opening six overs. In the fourth over, Salt smashed 21 runs from his over and tore Chakravarthy apart on his own.

The RCB was unbeaten in the first six overs because of their fluid strokes, which went well with their strategy. Though it was too late to rescue a victory, KKR made the breakthrough. Salt swung his shot to Spencer Johnson just after reaching fifty, giving Chakaravarthy his first wicket of the game.

Devdutt Padikkal walked down the crease in an attempt to take on Sunil Narine, but it went straight to Ramandeep Singh’s hands.

While at work, the Chase Master maintained his impressive form and reached his fifty by finding the boundary rope by lofting the ball over cover. As RCB made a huge stride toward victory, his name reverberated across Eden Gardens.

Rajat Patidar, the captain of the RCB, entered the game, unleashed his fury with a brisk performance, and quickly reached 34 before being removed by Vaibhav Arora.

To finish off for RCB, Liam Livingstone (15*) arrived. He opened with a four, smoked the ball into the stands on the first delivery of the next over, then completed the match with a spectacular boundary to give the visitors a seven-wicket victory.

The hosts didn’t start the 18th edition off well in the first innings, losing De Kock after just four runs in the first over. Josh Hazelwood, a right-arm seamer, took the wicket.

After the southpaw left, Narine and the team’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, walked out to bat in the middle. In the sixth over, both batsmen hit the RCB bowlers and reached the team’s fifty.

Rahane hit a boundary off leg-spinner Suyash Sharma’s bowling to reach his 50-run milestone on the first ball of the ninth over.

The 100-run partnership between Rahane and Narine was accomplished in the tenth over. After hitting 44 runs off of only 26 balls, Narine was taken back to the dressing room, costing the KKR team the second wicket. This wicket was taken by Rasikh Salam on the last ball.

Rahane was dismissed in the eleventh over after amassing 56 runs throughout his innings, which included six fours and four sixes.

Venkatesh Iyer, the vice captain, batted next but was dismissed after just six runs. In the 13th over, with the team score at 125, Krunal Pandya removed him.

Rinku Singh got two runs before being removed by Krunal Pandya’s bowling in the fifteenth over. Andre Russell was removed by Suyash Sharma in the sixteenth over, marking the next wicket at 150.

On Yash Dayal’s bowling, Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored 30 runs off 22 balls before being removed in the 19th over.
With the team total at 173, KKR lost Harshit Rana as their last wicket. The team captained by Ajinkya Rahane lost eight wickets and reached 174 runs at the end of the first innings.

Krunal Pandya was the best bowler for the visitors, taking three wickets in his four overs while giving up 29 runs.

Josh Hazelwood conceded 22 runs while taking two wickets in his four overs. In their individual periods, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam, and Yash Dayal each claimed one wicket.

On Wednesday, KKR will travel to Guwahati to play the Rajasthan Royals.