Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, was taken aback by Royal Challengers Bengaluru's decision to leave star bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar out of their lineup for the IPL 2025 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. In the first match of the 18th IPL season, even after captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first, Bhuvneshwar didn’t make the cut for RCB's XI. Typically, teams that bowl first like to include an extra bowler due to the Impact Player rule, but RCB opted for only four specialist bowlers, relying on all-rounders Krunal Pandya and Liam Livingstone.

While Josh Hazlewood spearheaded the pace attack, Shastri was particularly surprised by the choice of Yash Dayal and Rasikh Salam Dar over Bhuvneshwar, who had been acquired for a staggering ₹10.75 crore in the mega auction. At 35, Bhuvneshwar ranks as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and leads among Indian fast bowlers, boasting 181 wickets from 176 matches.

RCB felt Bhuvneshwar's absence right away; despite a strong start that saw them restrict KKR to 9/1 in the first three overs, they struggled in the latter part of the powerplay due to the lack of a solid third seamer.

Hazlewood and Dayal had KKR's top order in trouble on a lively pitch. Hazlewood even took out Quinton de Kock in the very first over, while Narine found it tough to connect with the ball. However, the game took a dramatic turn when new RCB captain Rajat Patidar brought in Rasikh Salam Dar in the fourth over.

KKR's captain Rahane went after the young bowler, smashing him for two sixes and a four. The last three overs saw a flurry of runs, totaling 51, as KKR wrapped up the powerplay at 60/1.

"Can't figure out why Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn't playing. He's got a ton of experience and should definitely be in the lineup," Shastri commented during the broadcast.

There hasn't been any official update from the RCB side regarding Bhuvneshwar. However, he seemed to be in good form during RCB's practice session on Friday.

This marks the first time since 2008 that KKR is facing RCB in the opening match of an IPL season. Patidar has stepped in as RCB's captain, taking over from Faf du Plessis, while Ajinkya Rahane has taken the reins from Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title last year.

Read Also: Ajinkya Rahane Shines in KKR Captaincy Debut with Explosive Six-Hitting Against RCB

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!