Royal Challengers Bangaluru thrashed Kolkata Knight Riders by 7 wickets to kick off the IPL 2025 season. Three wickets from Krunal Pandya and two wickets from Josh Hazlewood restricted KKR to a modest total of 174 runs. In reply, quick-fire fifties from Phil Salt and Virat Kohli steered RCB home with 7 wickets in hands and 22 balls to go.

Being asked to bat first, Kolkata Knight Riders lost Quinton De Kock earlier of their innings to Josh Hazlewood. Sunil Narine and skipper Ajinkya Rahane then held together to steer the side, stitching a sensational 103-run stand off only 55 deliveries before the departure of Narine to Rasikh Salam on 44 off 26 balls. Krunal Pandya had Venkatesh Iyer as KKR fell in further trouble.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane departed immediately after scoring his fifty. Wickets then kept tumbling at the other ends as KKR had a horrible collapse in the middle order. Angkrish Raghuvanshi stood tall as he made a gritty 30 off 22 balls amid the collapse. KKR finished their innings on 174.

In reply, Royal Challengers Bangaluru started off to a flier. Phil Salt smashed Vaibhav Arora for 20 runs as RCB made a solid statement earlier on. Virat Kohli too supported him as Virat Kohli then slammed Spencer Johnson for 17 runs and RCB smashed 80 runs inside 6 overs.

Phil Salt scored a quick-fire knock of 56 off only 31 balls before his departure. While Devdutt Padikkal departed cheaply after scoring 10 off 10 balls. Skipper Rajat Patidar came in to support Virat Kohli and stitched brisk stand, helping RCB etching towards the victory. The duo added 44 runs off 23 balls before the fall of skipper Patidar after his 34 off just 16 deliveries.
However, Liam Livingstone came in and blasted two sixes and four to steer RCB home. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 59* off 36 deliveries.