Ajinkya Rahane led from the front as his blitz for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the powerplay overs put Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on the backfoot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Rahane had to walk out to bat in the opening over of the game after Josh Hazlewood dismissed Quinton de Kock (4).

Rahane was slow to get off the blocks. However, he changed the game's complexion when Rasik Dar Salam was introduced in the attack in the fourth over. The right-hander made most of the loose bowling, smashing the pacer for 16 runs, bringing KKR's innings back on track.

Rahane's onslaught also enabled Sunil Narine at the other end, as he took a liking to left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya. Rahane then got among the act in the sixth over as he smashed Yash Dayal all around the mark. Rahane and Narine took KKR's score to 60/1 at the end of the sixth over.

At one stage, KKR was 9/1 after the end of the third over. The next three overs fetched 51 runs, all down to the impetus Rahane showed with the bat in hand. Rahane eventually brought up his half-century in the 9th over. The seasoned pro took just 25 balls to bring up the landmark. Rahane was eventually dismissed for 56 runs off 31 balls. His knock included 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Rahane's selection as KKR captain raised some questions. Several fans and pundits questioned whether the right-hander could play attacking cricket. Former India batter Aakash Chopra had said that giving the captaincy to Rahane looks like an afterthought on the part of KKR.

However, this knock against RCB is a smashing reply to all the naysayers and critics.

Returning to the KKR and RCB contest, Quinton de Kock lost his wicket on the match's fifth ball. Josh Hazlewood's delivery jagged back in sharply, taking the inside edge of Quinton's bat. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma had no trouble taking the catch as KKR lost their opening wicket.

Earlier, Quinton de Kock was dropped by Suyash Sharma in the opening over.

Rajat Patidar has won the toss

RCB's captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and decided to bowl first. The team features four overseas players: Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, and Josh Hazlewood.

Meanwhile, KKR has their own set of four overseas players: Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Spencer Johnson.

During the toss, Patidar mentioned, “The pitch looks solid. It’s incredible to lead RCB and a fantastic chance to learn from some great players. We’ve been preparing well for the last 10-15 days. I’m a bit unsure about this impact player rule. We’re going with three fast bowlers and two spinners.”

On the flip side, Ajinkya Rahane expressed, “It’s a privilege to captain this team. Our preparation has been solid, and the core group remains unchanged. I’m excited to bat first and then defend our score. It’s all about giving players the freedom to play together as a unit. We’re also fielding three fast bowlers and two spinners.”

Before the IPL 2025 season kicked off, a spectacular opening ceremony took place. Hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, the event featured performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani in front of a packed Eden Gardens.

Read Also: KKR's Title Defense Shaken: Iyer Out, Gambhir Gone, and Rahane in Doubt

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