IPL 2025 KKR vs RCB | Battle of the new skippers: who among Rahane and Patidar will start with a victory?

Clarity of roles: While Kohli is anticipated to open the batting for RCB, Hazlewood’s obligation will be to get wickets with the new ball.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR

‘Well begun is half done’ needs to be the mantra for Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru once they, led by new captains Ajinkya Rahane and Rajat Patidar respectively, meet in the much-awaited Indian Premier League-18 season opener at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday (March 22, 2025).

Despite the rain risk, the followers are excited to witness some high-quality motion preceded by a music-and-dance present, starring actor Disha Patani and singer Shreya Ghoshal, as an IPL opener returns to the Eden after a decade.

Armed with the knowledge of Rahane and Virat Kohli, the two well-balanced sides will look to adapt to the pitch, recognized for staging high-scoring entertainers.

A 20-14 win-loss document, together with a thrilling one-run win right here of their final encounter, in opposition to RCB will give defending champion KKR a psychological edge.

With a semi-new setup at the helm and a seasoned bunch in its core, the KKR steering wheel has modified palms from a youthful and exuberant Shreyas Iyer to a mature and composed Rahane.

While Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine can present a brisk start, Rahane and his deputy Venkatesh Iyer will stay versatile. Trusted accelerators Rinku Singh and Andre Russell will await the dying overs.

Mystery spinners Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, and pacers Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, or Spencer Johnson will be essential parts in the KKR assault.

KKR gamers throughout a apply session at the Eden Gardens.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR

Mainstay

Patidar, with the added accountability of captaincy, and Kohli, succesful of dividing the spectators, will be RCB’s batting mainstay. Former KKR opener Phil Salt will carry out his explosive position in numerous colors, whereas the big-hitting Tim David could be helpful later.

Pacers Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal, and spinners Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya are distinguished faces in RCB bowling.

The contest, the first one with new rules, needs to be fascinating.