IPL 2025 opener: KKR vs RCB, a rivalry that never fades

Dubai: Seventeen years, 35 battles, and a rivalry that refuses to fade. Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have locked horns since the very first Indian Premier League match in 2008, and as the defending champions take on a team still chasing its elusive title, the stage is set for another gripping showdown — if the rain stays away.

The opener promises to be a cracker, particularly after their last encounter, where over 440 runs were scored in just 40 overs, and KKR won by a narrow one-run margin. Since their first clash, the rivalry has only grown. The two teams have met 35 times—34 in the IPL and once in the Champions League Twenty20—with Kolkata enjoying a dominant 21-14 head-to-head record.

Dubbed El Primero of the IPL, Kolkata’s biggest win in the tournament came against RCB in that very first match of 2008, when they won by a massive 140 runs. Virat Kohli, who played in that match, begins another IPL campaign with hopes of clinching the elusive title, while KKR, having lifted the trophy three times in 17 seasons, look to add another to their collection.

Kohli, Phil Salt — KKR’s second-highest run-scorer last season, now familiar with their bowling — and newly appointed captain Rajat Patidar will look to counter Kolkata’s spin-heavy attack, led by Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.

While IPL fever is reaching its peak, the weather threatens to play spoilsport, with heavy rains looming over the opener. Fans will be hoping the rain stays away, but all eyes remain on the toss.

Batters: Rinku Singh (retained), Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane (captain).

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

All-rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell (retained), Sunil Narine (retained), Ramandeep Singh (retained), Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali.

Spinners: Varun Chakravarthy (retained), Mayank Markande.

Fast bowlers: Harshit Rana (retained), Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Chetan Sakariya.

Batters: Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David (overseas), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt (overseas), Jitesh Sharma, Swastik Chikara.

All-rounders: Jacob Bethell (overseas), Manoj Bhandage, Liam Livingstone (overseas), Mohit Rathree, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd (overseas).

Bowlers: Abhinandan Singh, Josh Hazlewood (overseas), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi (overseas), Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh. Nuwan Thushara (overseas), Yash Dayal.

Eden Gardens, Kolkata.