Kolkata, Mar 22 (UNI) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted a competitive 174 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Batting first after RCB opted to bowl, KKR got off to a brisk start but lost opener Quinton de Kock early for just 4 runs. De Kock, who hit the first boundary of the tournament, was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in the opening over, caught behind by Jitesh Sharma. Earlier, de Kock had a reprieve when Suyash Sharma dropped a simple catch at mid-wicket, much to the frustration of Hazlewood.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine steadied the innings with an aggressive 100-run partnership. Rahane, leading KKR for the first time, played a fluent knock of 56 off 31 balls, laced with six fours and four sixes. He was particularly dominant against Yash Dayal, dispatching him for a 69-metre six over fine leg to bring up the 50-run stand, followed by consecutive boundaries that showcased his aggressive intent. Narine, too, made his presence felt with a blistering 44 off 26 balls, including a massive 80-metre six off Rasikh Salam to bring up the 100-run partnership.
Rahane's innings was laced with exquisite stroke play, including a well-timed four over the infield off Krunal Pandya’s bowling and a flat-batted drive square on the off-side off Yash Dayal. Narine also found his rhythm early, whipping a full delivery from Dayal between mid-on and mid-wicket with remarkable power.
After the dismissals of the set batsmen, KKR’s middle order faltered. Venkatesh Iyer (6) was bowled by Krunal Pandya, while Rinku Singh (12) and Andre Russell (4) also fell cheaply. Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided some resistance with a 22-ball 30, but wickets at regular intervals hindered KKR’s late acceleration.
RCB’s bowlers put up a disciplined effort, with Krunal Pandya (3/29) emerging as the pick of the bowlers. Hazlewood (2/22) and Yash Dayal (1/25) provided crucial breakthroughs, while Rasikh Salam (1/35) and Suyash Sharma (1/47) also chipped in.
KKR’s innings concluded at 174 for 8, setting a competitive target for RCB. The chase promises to be an intriguing battle under the lights at Eden Gardens.
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