Kolkata/Patiala, 22 March (Sports Desk)
The IPL 2025 season kicked off on March 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with a clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). RCB won the toss and opted to field, putting KKR to bat first. Here’s a detailed breakdown of KKR’s first innings, pieced together from live updates on X and web sources.
KKR First Innings: 174/8 in 20 Overs
Batting Performance:
- Quinton de Kock (wk): 4 runs (dismissed early at 2.1 overs, KKR 5/1, bowled by Josh Hazlewood)
- Sunil Narine: 44 runs off 26 balls (6 fours, 1 six; dismissed at 10 overs, KKR 107/2, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Rasikh Dar)
- Ajinkya Rahane (c): 56 runs off 29 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes; reached his fifty in 25 balls, dismissed at 10.3 overs, KKR 109/3, bowled by Krunal Pandya)
- Venkatesh Iyer: 6 runs (dismissed at 12.1 overs, KKR 125/4, bowled by Krunal Pandya)
- Rinku Singh: Dismissed (exact score not specified, but out before Andre Russell, likely around 12-14 overs, KKR 130-150 range, bowled by Krunal Pandya)
- Andre Russell: 4 runs off 3 balls (1 four; dismissed at 15 overs, KKR 150/6, bowled by Suyash Sharma)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 30 runs (including 1 six; dismissed at 19 overs, KKR 168/7, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Yash Dayal)
- Ramandeep Singh: 3* runs (not out, faced the final over)
- Harshit Rana: 4 runs (dismissed in the 20th over, KKR 174/8, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Josh Hazlewood)
- Extras: Likely contributed to the total (exact number not specified, but typical in such scores).
Key Moments:
- KKR started cautiously, reaching 9/1 after 3 overs following de Kock’s early dismissal.
- A 103-run partnership between Narine and Rahane (off 55 balls) propelled KKR to 107/2 by 10 overs. Rahane’s aggressive 25-ball fifty (including a six off Suyash Sharma) and Narine’s 44 (with a six and four in the 9th over) set a strong foundation.
- RCB’s spinners turned the game around in the middle overs. Krunal Pandya struck twice quickly, dismissing Rahane (10.3 overs) and Venkatesh Iyer (12.1 overs), while also taking Rinku Singh’s wicket, finishing with figures of 3/29.
- Suyash Sharma, brought back as an impact sub for Devdutt Padikkal, dismissed Andre Russell with a googly at 15 overs (KKR 150/6), triggering a collapse.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided a late spark with a six off Hazlewood, but his dismissal in the 19th over (168/7) and Harshit Rana’s exit in the final over capped KKR’s innings at 174/8.
- RCB’s bowlers, particularly Josh Hazlewood (2/22) and Yash Dayal, were disciplined in the death overs, ensuring KKR couldn’t reach the 200-run mark despite a strong start watch….Annu Rani Shines with Gold, Secures Asian Championships Spot at Indian Open Throws 2025
RCB Bowling Highlights:
- Krunal Pandya: 3/29 (key wickets of Rahane, Iyer, and Rinku Singh)
- Josh Hazlewood: 2/22 (dismissed de Kock and Rana)
- Suyash Sharma: 1 wicket (Andre Russell)
- Rasikh Dar: 1 wicket (Sunil Narine)
- Yash Dayal: 1 wicket (Angkrish Raghuvanshi)
Innings Summary: KKR’s innings was a tale of two halves. A blazing start saw them race to 107/2 in 10 overs, but RCB’s spinners, led by Krunal Pandya, orchestrated a dramatic slowdown, taking 6 wickets for just 67 runs in the last 10 overs. The pitch at Eden Gardens, typically a batting paradise with an average first-innings score of 167 (and higher in recent seasons), offered some assistance to spinners, which RCB exploited effectively. KKR’s final total of 174/8 was competitive but below par for the venue, setting up an intriguing chase for RCB under overcast conditions with a looming threat of rain.
