The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season kicks off with a blockbuster clash between defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens on March 22. This match brings back an iconic and historic rivalry, as these two teams faced off in the first-ever IPL game back in 2008 which KKR won by 140 runs.

The side will now play under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane after the franchise released IPL-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer. However, the management was successful in retaining their core squad and getting like-to-like replacements for those who were released.

Historically, in the head-to-head record, Kolkata has had a slight edge over the Bengaluru-based franchise with 21 wins in 35 games. Notably, an orange alert for rain in Kolkata can disrupt the season opener. If the weather remains fine, fans will expect a high-scoring clash between the two teams.

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Here’s Kolkata Knight Riders’ best XI against Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2025 opener:

Openers – Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Sunil Narine

KKR will begin their campaign with a strong opening pair with Quinton de Kock joining Sunil Narine at the top. Their title-winning season in 2024 was well supported by their destructive openers, with Narine and Phil Salt stitching together 559 runs in 12 innings, the third-best tally of the season. Narine was impressive, smashing 488 runs at a strike rate of 180. However, with Salt no longer in the squad, De Kock is expected to get a nod over Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

The South African keeper-batter was a major buy for KKR in the 2025 auction but is coming off a disappointing IPL 2024 with the Lucknow franchise, where he managed just 250 runs in 11 matches. He will be keen to open alongside Narine. With Gurbaz struggling for consistency, De Kock is the preferred wicketkeeper-opener, making this left-handed duo an important factor in their title defence.

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Middle-order: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh

The newly appointed captain, Ajinkya Rahane is set to take the No. 3 position. While he has historically struggled against spin, his recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) form – where he was the highest scorer – shows good signs of him anchoring the innings while also maintaining an aggressive approach. His smart batting will serve as a bridge between the openers and the middle order and help to cruise through the middle overs.

KKR’s biggest buy at the auction, Venkatesh Iyer, will be another key member of this middle order. Having scored 370 runs at an average of 46.25 in IPL 2024, he was among KKR’s top performers and has now been named vice-captain. His ability to tackle both pace and spin well makes him a reliable batter at No. 4.

If the side opts against using a batting impact player, Rinku Singh might have to bat slightly higher at No. 5. With a strike rate of 182.1 and a lower dot-ball percentage than Andre Russell, Rinku’s ability to rotate strike and soak in the pressure makes him a valuable player to this line-up.

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All-rounders: Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh

Knight Riders will rely heavily on the firepower of Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh when they take on RCB. Both retained ahead of the mega auction, will add balance to KKR’s lower middle order.

A stalwart for the franchise since 2014, Russell is one of the most destructive finishers in the league. Retained for INR 12 crore, the West Indies all-rounder has consistently delivered with his six-hitting abilities and handy bowling. His strike rate of 175.91 in IPL history shows his dominance, particularly in the death overs (16-20), where he has smashed 1,324 runs at 182.1 runs per 100 balls. In the previous season, the veteran scored 222 runs and picked 19 wickets in 15 games.

On the other hand, Ramandeep Singh, a promising all-rounder from Punjab, will provide the necessary depth. The right-hander had a brilliant IPL 2024, scoring 125 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 201.61. His ability to contribute both with the bat and ball makes him a valuable asset.

Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy

The side has put together a strong bowling attack. With the experienced Varun Chakravarthy leading the spin department alongside Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Spencer Johnson handling the pace duties, KKR will be looking to once again showcase the same performances as the previous season.

Varun has been a match-winner for KKR, picking 21 wickets in IPL 2024 at an economy of 8.04. His ability to deceive batters with his variations makes him a crucial player. Rana, too, has come out to become an important member, picking up 19 wickets last season at an economy of 9.08. His performance led him to get his maiden national call-up and make his debut in all three formats.

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Meanwhile, Arora who generates swing with the new ball took 11 wickets in IPL 2024 and will hope to pick early wickets. With Anrich Nortje struggling for fitness, Spencer Johnson will come in as the overseas pacer. The Australian left-arm quick has been brilliant in the shortest format of the game.

KKR’s best XI that can defeat RCB in Match No.1 of IPL 2025: