17 years later, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru kick off the IPL season once again, with familiar faces, fresh storylines, and a classic rivalry to reignite.
The Big Picture
Back in 2008, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played the very first match of the IPL – a night that lit the spark for what would become a cricketing phenomenon. Now, 17 seasons and a thousand games later, they’re set to open the show once more.
This league has evolved into a spectacle like no other. Stadiums sell out quicker than international matches (Eden Gardens is packed), the trophy tours the country, and player arrivals feel like movie premieres. Virat Kohli juggling a ball can mesmerize millions. The IPL has become more than cricket — it’s an obsession, and it’s only getting bigger.
The KKR-RCB rivalry has produced some unforgettable clashes, including a one-run thriller last season. Over the years, both teams have helped redefine T20 cricket. Narine revolutionized opening batting with a carefree approach, AB de Villiers showed us that behind-the-wicket shots are as potent as traditional ones, and Andre Russell continues to test the boundaries of physics with every swing.
All we need now is for the rain to hold off.
Upcoming Matches
- KKR hit the road next, with away games in Guwahati and Mumbai to face the Royals and the Indians, before returning home to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- RCB enjoy a five-day break before meeting CSK, then take on the Gujarat Titans — a tough early schedule against spin-heavy teams. But once they reach the Wankhede, the runs should start flowing.
Swapping Allegiances
Phil Salt, who was a key player for KKR last season with 435 runs at a strike rate of 182, has switched camps to RCB. His aggressive batting was vital to KKR’s high-tempo game, and now, he’ll be looking to replicate that impact in Bengaluru’s colors.
Team News & Probable XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders have filled the gap left by Salt with Quinton de Kock, a proven IPL winner. However, his record at Eden Gardens leaves room for improvement — just 65 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 112. Either Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje is expected to take the spot of the released Mitchell Starc.
Likely XI – KKR:
- Sunil Narine
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Ajinkya Rahane (capt)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Spencer Johnson / Anrich Nortje
- Vaibhav Arora
Royal Challengers Bengaluru come armed with a deep batting order, allowing them to go on the offensive even against a strong KKR bowling unit. However, new signing Suyash Sharma, formerly of KKR, may miss the opener due to ongoing recovery from a groin injury.
Likely XI – RCB:
- Phil Salt
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (capt)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Tim David
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Josh Hazlewood
- Yash Dayal
- Swapnil Singh / Mohit Rathee / Rasikh Salam
Leadership Change at RCB
The decision to name Rajat Patidar as captain has raised eyebrows. A relatively new face, Patidar only joined RCB in 2021 and remains on the fringes of the Indian national setup. With RCB still chasing their elusive first title, the pressure is on. But those who’ve seen Patidar up close believe he’s built for the challenge.
Spotlight Players: Rinku Singh & Virat Kohli
Rinku Singh, despite being left out of the T20 World Cup squad, has featured in 18 of India’s last 20 T20Is. His finishing prowess is now well known — who can forget that six off the last ball to nearly touch 300 in an innings? Rinku’s IPL journey began with KKR, and fans will be keen to see what he has in store this season.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has shown signs of a tactical shift. Historically cautious against Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, he went after them in 2024, scoring at a strike rate of 166.66 across 18 balls in one match — a significant leap from his previous 98.56. Could this be the new Kohli? All eyes will be on how he plays the mystery spin duo this year.
Key Matchups & Stats
- The Varun-Narine spin combo could be game-changing. Varun struck every 14.2 balls in 2024, while Narine kept it tight with an economy of 6.7. This is where RCB could struggle — five of their top seven have strike rates below 140 against spin since 2024.
- Liam Livingstone: Strike rate vs spin – 107
- Tim David: Strike rate vs spin – 106
- Sunil Narine, KKR’s surprise top run-scorer last season, has struggled recently, averaging just 9.05 in his last 20 innings. Could that prompt a shuffle in the batting order? With Rahane at the helm, the team might experiment with powerplay combinations.
- Patidar’s promotion is rooted in numbers: he dominated the middle overs last year, scoring over 300 runs at a strike rate of 180.68. Against spin, that jumps to a whopping 197.24.
- Despite losing Mohammed Siraj, RCB added Bhuvneshwar Kumar — the IPL’s all-time leader in powerplay wickets (71). Pair him with the reliable Josh Hazlewood, and RCB have strength across all phases of play:
- Hazlewood’s IPL Record:
- Powerplay: 14 wickets, Econ 7.4
- Middle: 8 wickets, Econ 7.7
- Death: 13 wickets, Econ 10.0
- Hazlewood’s IPL Record:
Pitch & Conditions
Eden Gardens was a batter’s paradise in IPL 2024, producing six 200+ scores, including a successful chase of 262. However, the weather forecast for Saturday doesn’t look promising. Fans — and players — will be praying for the rain to stay away from what promises to be a high-voltage start to the season.
Let the fireworks begin — just not the thunderclouds.
