Bengaluru crush Kolkata at Eden as Kohli, Salt slam fifties in 175 chase (2025)

Harsha Bhogle let out a knowing chuckle on commentary in the run-chase as Ian Bishop brought up a point he loves to make it often, and rightly so. That IPL teams should always have Net Run Rate on their minds, irrespective of what stage of the season they are in. Just because NRR comes into picture later in the tournament, doesn't mean it is not important in Match No 1. As Bishop finished, Bhogle quipped: "I wondered how it took the 35th over of the night for Bish to bring this up!" In the 15th over of the run-chase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were already all but assured of the full points. The finish line was in sight, and they had plenty of wickets in hand. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt had effectively broken the run-chase in the powerplay. But RCB captain Rajat Patidar opted to take the attacking route past the tape and not coast to an easy finish. He smashed Harshit Rana for four boundaries in one over. Patidar's 16-ball 34 was a smart knock, identifying an opportunity for a NRR boost as RCB finished the match off early in the 17th over. It was a good night with the bat for both the new leaders, but it was Patidar who was smiling at the end.

-Vinayakk Mohanarangan

The ball continues to ping off Patidar's blade to the boundary around the turf as Arora offers a lean bumper that lands behind fine leg withFOUR. Arora to Patidar, OUT!Fails to clear the fence this time. Patidar goes cross-batted this time from length and finds Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. Superb intent shown from the skipper to tear down the target briskly, nearly putting his side home.Liam Livingstone is in at 5.Arora bends his back for another short ball but Livingstone's on it in a flash, smearing it through deep square-leg with a rasping pull forFOUR. RCB 167/3 in 16 overs

Rajat Patidar c Singh b Arora 34 (16b 5x4 1x6)

Kohli attempts the slog-sweep off Narine this time but does not get the desired elevations. Sticks to a single.Narine to Padikkal, OUT! In the air and straight to deep mid-wicket.Padikkal advances with a golf-swing but sends the ball straight to the fielder, losing out on power.In comes the captain, Rajat Patidar, at No. 4.He's off the blocks with a single and retains strike.

RCB 119/2 in 12 overs

Devdutt Padikkal c Ramandeep Singh b Narine 10 (10b 1x4)

Chakaravarthy's bowling out in the 11th over.

Another drag-down from Varun and Kohli thumps it over long-on forSIX!The intent against spin is on another level here as Kohli follows up with a couple of singles to end the over.RCB 115/1 in 11 overs

Varun finds the breakthrough.Salt slots a drag-down delivery through mid-wicket forFOURbut is eventually dragged out by Chakaravarthy with a delivery wide outside off. He gets a thick-edge flying to short-third and falls after putting RCB on course for a win here.Devdutt Padikkal is in at 3and Chakaravarthy unfurls a couple of beauties to beat the edge.RCB 96/1 in 9 overs

Phil Salt c Johnson b Varun 56 (31b 9x4 2x6)

For the first four overs, Virat Kohli had the best seat in the house for the Phil Salt show. Another former KKR player, Salt has enjoyed batting at the Eden Gardens. And he was off to a flier on Saturday night, racing to 44 off 19 balls. Kohli, until then, had faced just 5 balls - he had hit a couple of boundaries, but both were streaky. After dragging the 2nd four through the leg side, Kohli shook his head. Four runs alright, but he wasn't timing it right. All that would change at the start of the fifth over, as Kohli produced two early contenders for the shots of the season. Spencer Johnson landed a couple of deliveries in the slot, and Kohli freed his arms, down the ground. The first one, standing tall in the follow-through but the second one was even better as he crouched into his signature off-drive stance, the bottom hand coming more into play, and arrowed it over the bowler's head. Salt was doing the bulk of the run-scoring early on, but Kohli's two sixes were headline-worthy. -Vinayakk Mohanarangan

The iconic Virat Kohli goes down the ground ?

Sit back and enjoy his exquisite stroke play ??@RCBTweets race away to 80/0 after 6 overs.

Updates ? https://t.co/C9xIFpQDTn#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/w4imLyZgbA

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 22, 2025

Chakaravarthy returns with a shorter delivery and Kohli immediately sets down for a slog-sweep through mid-wicket forFOUR,following up with a single to fine leg.And Salt brings up a flawless half-century in only 25 balls as RCB continue to dominate KKR in the chase.

RCB 86/0 in 7 overs

And here's Harshit Rana in action.

A sharp delivery first up to Kohli, shaping the ball away from short of good length to beat the outside-edge. Kohli sets up for the pull but cannot override the extra zip from Rana and gets away with a single. Salt returns the strike with another run.Harshit to Kohli! High in the air and Ramandeep puts down a tough chance at deep point.Another bumper outside off-stump and Kohli attempts to parry it over the fence but nearly finds the fielder in the deep on the full. Admirable effort from Ramandeep there but it seems like he's hurt himself by jamming his palms onto the turf. Kohli closes out the over with a single.

RCB 80/0 in 6 overs

Kohli goes bang-bang downtown as Johnson returns with a bag of freebies for the maestro.Almost action replay from length as Kohli swings through the line in one clean motion down the ground for back-to-backSIXes.He's livid on missing a hat-trick with a mistimed hit.

RCB 75/0 in 5 overs

Here's the contest within the contest. Varun Chakaravarthy into the attack.

Kohli slides back into the crease and watchfully taps the first ball to long-on for a single. Salt dabs one down leg and finds two runs. A slider from Varun and Salt stands tall and biffs it over mid-off forFOUR.Straighter from Chakaravarthy but it makes no difference and Salt nimbly takes the front leg out and smites the ball down the ground forSIX - 50 in 3.4 overs for RCB!And he goes further down to the pads this time and Salt drills it over mid-on forFOUR. FOUR more!!This is a proper thrashing for the KKR mystery spinner as as he drops a loosener that Salt comfortably whips throughs square-leg for another boundary. Salt's nearly covered a semi-circle from the long-off to deep square boundary.

RCB 58/0 in 4 overs

Arora pushes the ball up and Salt thumps it back down the ground forFOUR.Fractionally shorter and Salt realigns his arc a shade square to wide long-on forSIX!Salt drags another to deep square and settles for one run. Arora's all over the strip now as Kohli shimmies down to pump him through mid-wicket forFOUR more. A blistering cover drive to follow but Russell puts in the block at cover. Even a drag-down delivery doesn't help the seamer as Salt scythes it over backward point forSIX! Massive ove this, with 20 from it.

RCB 37/0 in 3 overs

Spencer Johnson from the opposite end

A couple of dots and Johnson sprays across the line for Salt to hammer through cover-point for FOUR.Salt is pinned to the crease with Johnson cutting down room. A leg-bye helps him retain strike.RCB 17/0 in 2 overs

Arora's swing versus this opening pair will be an interesting watch. Here we go.

Some inward movement on the fuller one first up butSalt smokes it on the up first ball through extra cover for FOUR!Arora shortens his lengths with the booming inswingers, hitting an advancing Salt high on the thigh. Another one angling into the pad and Salt sets off on a single with a brisk push to mid-on. Kohli crouches a touch to a good length delivery that keeps a tad low and flicks it with enough muscle to send it through mid-wicket forFOUR.

RCB 12/0 in 1 over

Vaibhav Arora comes in as the Impact Sub in place of Raghuvanshi.

A 175 chase on the hands as Virat Kohli and Phil Salt walk out to the middle for RCB.

KKR 9/1 in 3 overs to 110/3 in 11 overs to 174/8 in 20 overs

Patidar has got his captaincy moves on point on a belter tonight, showing faith on his tweakers against a menacing KKR batting line-up. He even held the spinners back until Sunil Narine was around before going all out. Krunal Pandya's spell of 3/29 looks like gold dust on a batting beauty. Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood also did a terrific job at the end to ensure there weren't any late slip-ups.

Even 180 seems out of KKR's reach now as Hazlewood steps up for the final over.

Three short deliveries and Harshit Rana cannot put bat to ball. Another short delivery and Harshit gets a top-edge pouncing over the keeper forFOUR. Hazlewood to Harshit, OUT!Straight up this time and taken by Jitesh. Hazlewood maintains his shorter lengths and gets Harshit to break with a skier this time. A single off the final delivery andRCB have restricted KKR to a sub-par 174 at the Eden Gardens!

Harshit Rana c Sharma b Hazlewood 5 (6b 1x4)

Suyash Sharma's return to Eden Gardens hadn't begun well. A spinner who had made his mark in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, dropped a sitter in the very first over wearing his new franchise colours. The occasion, perhaps, getting to him. It didn't prove costly as Quinton de Kock was shortly dismissed. But Suyash's night with the ball in hand had also not quite gone to plan. Before he came on to bowl his fourth over, He had gone for 41 runs without a wicket in his first 3 overs. But with Krunal Pandya bringing RCB back into the match, Rajat Patidar stuck to using his spinners from both ends. Suyash had the unenviable task of finishing his tough night with an over to Andre Russell. KKR's big man quietly defended the first ball which was a wrong un, and there was a groan from the fans. The second ball was loose, width on offer and DreRuss cut it away fiercely. Then came the big slog that has sailed many a time into the stands at Eden Gardens over midwicket. This time around, the reduced pace and increased turn breached DreRuss' defence. Timber. The biggest wicket of the night arguably, and it went to a former KKR man. Not much of a reaction from Suyash as he was subbed out, but it was an impact moment alright.

- Vinayakk Mohanarangan

KKR simply can't connect deliveries to the deep as Dayal returns with a bag of tricks and variations. And there's the frustration turning itself into a wicket.A slower bumper outside the off-stump and Raghuvanshi nicks it behind to the keeper!OUT. Wickets continue to tumble and Harshit Rana walks in at 9.

KKR 169/7 in 19 overs

Angkrish Raghuvanshi c †Sharma b Yash Dayal 30 (22b 2x4 1x6)

Hold the pose, Raghuvanshi! Hazlewood tosses in the knuckle ball on length and Raghuvanshi waits on and wallops it over wide long-on for a hugeSIX!200 seems out of reach now but Raghuvanshi will be crucial for KKR to move past 180 too.

KKR 165/6 in 18 overs

First impact sub of the season is here: Padikkal's on for Suyash

We're into the slog overs and Patidar continues with Livingstone! He skims through a tight over. Just the four from it and RCB spectacularly seized control in the second half here.KKR 155/6 in 17 overs

Suyash's woes turn from bad to worse with another short delivery flayed by Russell through point for FOUR.But all it takes him is one ball to redeem himself on a tough night where he's leaked 46 already. A pearler of a wrong'un turns square from the pitch to bamboozle Russell and his wild swing. Bang. The stumps clatter and KKR have lost plot with a heap of wickets in the middle-overs. Patidar kept the tweaker going and now has the big fish on his way back to the KKR dugout.

KKR 151/6 in 16 overs

Andre Russell b Suyash Sharma 4 (3b 1x4)

Krunal skims through another tight over, offering no room for the batters to skim through.And he finishes with a peach to clip top of off!Rinku plays all around another Krunal skidder that straightens from length to hit the off pole.Krunal bows out with superb figures on a belter: 4-0-29-3.

KKR 145/5 in 15 overs

Liam Livingstone into the attack

A late pull-out from Rinku Singh as Livingstone is almost in his final senses in the delivery stride. Rinku nurdles and picks up two before a half-volley helps hammer one across the turf forFOUR.

KKR 141/4 in 14 overs

Krunal goes seam-up andsurprises Venkatesh with a high bumper that's rightly deemed a wide by the umpire.Krunal to Venkatesh, OUT! Got him this time.Has the bouncer constricted Venkatesh there? Krunal returns with another skiddy delivery that scuttles through length to hit the stumps as Iyer holds himself deep in the crease. Massive strike for RCB as Rinku Singh walks in at 6.

KKR 131/4 in 13 overs

Venkatesh Iyer b Pandya 6 (7b 1x4)

Another loosener on length and Iyer quickly rocks back in the crease and heaves Suyash behind square forFOUR.A single to follow and Raghuvanshi gets in on the act with a rasping inside-out drive through extra cover forFOUR more.Flat delivery outside off and Raghuvanshi scythes the ball in a snap behind point for anotherFOUR!

KKR 124/3 in 12 overs

Understandably, there was debate around Ajinkya Rahane's appointment as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. Having decided not to retain their championship-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR needed a new leader and there were no obvious choices after the mega auction. They went big after bringing back Venkatesh Iyer but they eventually decided to name him the deputy and the experienced Rahane was given ther reins. Now, the best way to announce his arrival to a new franchise was to let the bat do the talking. And in the first powerplay of the season, Rahane came up with a powerful statement. He had been in good form in domestic cricket. In Mumbai's Syhed Mushtaq Ali Trophy winning season, Rahane had led Mumbai and was the last edition's leading run-scorer with 469 runs. But it wasn't the volume of runs, it was 164.56 strike rate that was impressive. And, walking in at No 3, he blasted off for KKR. The home side was 9/1 after 3 overs, not an ideal start. But Rahane took charge and finished the powerplay on 39 off 16 balls, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes, striking at over 240. He eventually fell for a 31-ball 56, but by then, the defending champions would have been mighty pleased with what they saw from their new leader.

-Vinayakk Mohanarangan

Back-to-back wickets!The wily Krunal sends Rahane packing with a wafter on length. Rahane draws himself into the pull but smacks it flat back to the deep square-leg fielder. RCB have clawed back into this one with their slower bowlers asKKRsuddenly findVenkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi out in the middle.

KKR 110/3 in 11 overs

Narine's enterprising stay comes to an end after another slew of boundaries as the extra zip from length helps Rasikh pack him caught-behind. The southpaw rode his risks well again and helped KKR put on a firm resurgence through the Powerplay and beyond with his century partnership with Rahane. KKR 107/3 in 10 overs

Sunil Narine c †Sharma b Rasikh Salam 44 (26b 5x4 3x6)

Well, if there were any persisting doubts about KKR's new captain, the veteran Ajinkya Rahane has put the initial detractors to rest with another crackingSIX over long-on to bring up his FIFTY in only 25 balls on his KKR captaincy debut!Just regal to watch the Mumbaikar when on song, putting a range of textbook strokes to full effect.

READ MORE on Rahane's fifty on KKR captaincy debut

And Narine piles the misery on further on RCB with anotherFOURand thunderingSIXdown the ground.

The middle-overs is going to test Rahane and Narine's hitting mettle. Rasikh returns with subtle variations in pace and length and the batters resort to singles to keep the board ticking. Three on the trot now with Rasikh feeding a couple of wides. He follows up with a full delivery outside off-stump and Narine jams it down to third forFOUR. KKR 74/1 in 8 overs

An interesting bit on replays there after 7.4 as Narine's wild swing across to a wide delivery had his blade brush the bails and flick one of them off the groove too, flickering the stumps briefly!

Suyash Sharma is up with the ball against his old franchise.

A tad loose on length and Rahane nimbly creams it through point forFOUR.Sharper lines to follow outside the off-stump and Rahane is wound to the crease for three dots. He reaches out to a delivery outside off and retains strike with a single to long-off.

KKR 65/1 in 7 overs

Dayal's back to close the Powerplay

Dayal slides it down to the pads and Narine whips it fiercely through mid-wicket for anotherFOUR.A single follows andRahanecontinues his onslaught with two contrasting shots behind the square - a rash outside-edge flies over short-third forFOURbefore he scythes the ball with disdain forSIXover deep backward square! Dayal attempts a back-of-the-hand wafter but Rahane's on it like a flash and carves the ball through point for anotherFOUR.

From 9/1 in 3 overs, KKR finish the PP at 60/1.

Time for spin.Krunal Pandya enters the attack.Interesting call on a belter there from Patidar.

Pandya strays to the pads and Narine clobbers it over deep mid-wicket for another soaringSIX!A single and a couple of dots aren't holding KKR back here. Rahane's in his element and he sweeps and lofts Pandya on the on-side for successiveFOURsto round up the over.KKR 40/1 in 5 overs

KKR 25/1 in 4 overs

Usually, the toss takes place 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the match. But at 7.02 pm on Saturday in Kolkata, a towering cake was brought out to the opening ceremony stage. It was called the "IPL turning 18 cake" by the MC of the night, a certain Mr Shahrukh Khan. In the lead-up to those moments, he cracked some #DadJokes. "People don’t break up these days, they take a strategic timeout," he quipped. He danced along to a song from Dunki with Rinku Singh, who got some loud cheers when he came on to the stage. A quintessential IPL success story. Then there was Virat Kohli, the owner of KKR going with a suitably over-the-top introductory speech to the star player of his side's opponents for the night. Then he got Kohli to dance for a song from Pathaan. There was a memento to Kohli as well, for sticking to one franchise over all 18 years of IPL, a loyalty reminder to Indian cricket's royalty. When the toss eventually took place at 7.15pm, there was a small red truck that slowly trudged along in sharp contrast to the ever-present enthusiasm in Ravi Shastri's voice a few seconds earlier. Truly, there is nothing quite like the IPL, is there?

-Vinayakk Mohanarangan

Yash Dayal from the opposite end

Loud appeal first up as Dayal slides the ball down leg, nearly brushing Narine's bat on the way. Dayal operating adeptly away from Narine's swinging arcs to skim through a tight over. A single and Rahane is stuck on the pad with an inswinging delivery that slides down leg.KKR 5/1 in 2 overs

Quinton de Kock smears Hazlewood's second delivery through square with a sizzling cut for FOUR.Hazlewood almost instantly strikes back as QDK mistimes the pull butSuyash Sharma drops a sitter at mid-wicket!Hazlewood takes no time to make amends as he cuts de Kock in half with a nip-backer that finds the inside-edge through to keeper Jitesh Sharma. Top quality comeback there.Ajinkya Rahane walks in at 3.

Quinton de Kock c Sharma b Hazlewood 4 (5b 1x4)

KKR 4/1 after 1 over

Ravi Shastri in the middle with Rahane and Patidar.

TOSS: RCB win toss, opt to bowl

Rajat Patidar:We have decided to bowl first, the pitch looks hard. Amazing to lead RCB and great opportunity to learn from the great players. We have done proper preparations for the last 10-15 days. I am confused with this impact player. We are going with 4 fast bowlers and 2 spinners.

Ajinkya Rahane:It's an honour to lead this team. Our preparation has been good, the core group has been the same. Looking forward to bat well first and defend later on. It is all about giving the players the freedom and allow them to play as a unit. We are playing 3 fast bowlers and 2 spinners.

Sayak Dutta: Players of both teams are out on the field now for some last moment drills as the ground staff dismantle the makeshift stage. Eden is jampacked.

'He is the OG of IPL,' says SRK while a modest Kohli gestures to keep the praises down. 'The bold generation is coming up very strongly, the old generation is still here trying to create more memories,' says Kohli. And we have Rinku Singh joining them on the stage.

Rinku and SRK dance to the "Lutt Putt Gaya" song while Kohli is in splits at one end of the stage!And Shah Rukh Khan now gets Kohli to put a few moves onto the Pathaan theme song. Well, that's a rare moment right there.