RCB Win By Seven Wickets | KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Highlights: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Bowlers Power Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Big Win in Season Opener

RCB beat KKR by seven wickets! What a performance it has been from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they begin the season with a win over the defending champions! Rajat Patidar is off to a winning start as RCB captain. Chasing 175 to win, RCB got to the target in 16.2 overs and made a massive statement, registering a convincing victory in the first match of the Indian Premier League season 18. They also have done their Net Run Rate (NRR) a world of good with this performance. KKR bowlers could not have any impact as RCB cruised to a big win at the Eden Gardens. Virat Kohli was the top-scorer for RCB with an unbeaten 59 off 36 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes. His opening partnership with Phil Salt (56) that yielded 95 runs off just 8.2 overs proved to be the game-changer in the second innings of this contest. For KKR, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy  Sunil Narine got one wicket each but it was far from enough to stop this rampant RCB side. Earlier, RCB showed character after being hammered for 107 runs in the powerplay. The bowlers, lead by Krunal Pandya (3/26) and Josh Hazlewood (2/22) were superb in restricting KKR to a below-par score after they seemed to be heading towards 200-220 here. KKR will have some things to sort out before they take the field in their next match against Rajasthan Royals on March 26. RCB next face CSK on March 28 and will be brimming with confidence.

KKR vs RCB Match Summary

Liam Livingstone has walked out to the crease and made his intentions pretty clear. RCB need another eight runs to win off four overs. KKR have lost the plot big time today.

OUT! Vaibhav Arora has dismissed Rajat Patidar but not before the RCB made an impact. The right-hander found Rinku Singh in the deep and KKR get a wicket. But unfortunately for them, RCB need just 13 runs off 27 deliveries and are well on top here. Rajat Patidar c Rinku Singh b Vaibhav Arora 34(16)

RCB are inching closer to a massive win with Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar at the crease. While Virat Kohli has entertained the fans at the Eden Gardens with a spectacular knock, Rajat Patidar is showing why he is so special with some good shots of his own.

FIFTY for Virat Kohli! What a knock it has been from the star cricketer who has got to the half-century off just 30 deliveries. The Eden Gardens crowd cheers 'Kohli, Kohli' as he raises his bat after finding the boundary. RCB are cruising here and only a miracle can see KKR win from here.

OUT! Devdutt Padikkal has perished in an attempt to find the boundary. KKR find another wicket and but they would ideally want a few more to bounce back. Devdutt Padikkal c Ramandeep Singh b Sunil Narine 10(10)

Virat Kohli has attained another milestone, reaching 1000 runs against KKR. Meanwhile, RCB have continued their good start and have scored 104 runs off the first 10 overs. At this rate, the match might come to an end soon.

OUT! Varun Chakaravarthy finally has produced the breakthrough for KKR as he dismisses Phil Salt! The England wicketkeeper-batter got an edge while attempting another big shot and Spencer Johnson did well to take the catch. KKR will be relieved and hope that they create some pressure with this wicket. Phil Salt c Spencer Johnson b Varun Chakaravarthy 56(31)

FIFTY for Phil Salt! The England wicketkeeper-batter smashed a half-century on his debut for RCB and did so in splendid fashion, off just 25 balls. Phil Salt struck eight fours and two sixes and will aim at continuing in the same manner against his former team.

RCB are off to a flying start as they aim to hunt down 175. The powerplay has yielded 80 runs and KKR are under pressure here big time. They need to find a cluster of wickets here if they are to bounce back in this contest. RCB on the other hand, will aim at continuing the same way and hopefully finishing off the game with overs to spare.

RCB have smashed 75 runs in five overs and this game seems to slip away from KKR's grip easily. The two right-handers have not allowed any bowler to settle down and KKR continue to be under pressure. A big test for Ajinkya Rahane here as KKR look for a way to claw back.

Phil Salt is haunting his former team big time here! Varun Chakaravarthy's over has yielded 21 runs and 20 of those came from the bat of Phil Salt. He has peppered the field and toyed with KKR's bowling attack here. If he continues in this manner, this game will be over soon.

RCB are off to a positive start in this innings with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt scoring 17 runs in two overs. RCB will want these two to bat throughout the powerplay while KKR eye a wicket.

RCB have made a positive start to this run chase, hitting 12 runs off the first over bowled by Vaibhav Arora. Phil Salt crunched the first ball of the chase for a four and Virat Kohli found the boundary off the fifth ball. KKR need a wicket up front or else this game could slip easily.

KKR finish with 174/8 and what an effort it has been with the ball for RCB! After being hammered for 107/1 in the first 10 overs, RCB produced a remarkable comeback in the middle overs through the spinners to ensure that KKR did not get many in the end. KKR lost wickets at regular intervals and RCB continued to grow more into the contest as the game headed into the dying stages of the game. For RCB, Krunal Pandya was the standout bowler with figures of 3/29 while Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets for 22 runs. Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam got one each. For KKR, captain Ajinkya Rahane was the best batter with 56 runs off 31 deliveries while Sunil Narine chipped in with 44 runs off 26 deliveries. Have KKR got enough? Time to find out in the second innings!

OUT! Harshit Rana has perished in an attempt to clear the fence. Josh Hazlewood stuck to his plan of bowling the short delivery and a top-edge has Harshit Rana find the gloves of Jitesh Sharma, who has had an excellent night.

OUT! Yash Dayal has picked up the wicket of Angkrish Raghuvanshi and KKR seem to lose their way here. RCB have produced a remarkable comeback in the middle overs and Yash Dayal has continued that. KKR will look to score at least 180-185 from here, which might not be a match-winning score on this track. Angkrish Raghuvanshi c Jitesh Sharma b Yash Dayal 30(22)

Two overs remain and KKR will look to get past 200 here. RCB have done a remarkable job in the middle overs as they not only slowed down the flow of runs but also picked wickets. How many can KKR get from here?

Ramandeep Singh has walked out to the middle and KKR will eye a big finish from these two. Ramandeep Singh can clear the fence at will and Angkrish Raghuvanshi also will look to accelerate with 24 balls left in this innings. Meanwhile, RCB have introduced Devdutt Padikkal as the Impact Player and he has replaced Suyash Sharma.

OUT! Suyash Sharma can finally afford a smile as he castles Andre Russell! The right-hander attempted to slog but missed the ball which crashed into the stumps. He has a wicket against his former franchise as RCB will believe that they can keep KKR to below 200 with this blow. Watch the video here. Andre Russell b Suyash Sharma 4(3)