IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Match 1 Both Teams Best Playing 11
Ajinkya Rahane and Rajat Patidar in focus in our RCB vs KKR match 1 best playing 11 for both teams for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
It’s finally time for the Indian Premier League festival to begin as the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening fixture of IPL 2025. If you remember the opening fixture of IPL 2008, these are familiar situations when both teams had also played the opening fixture then. It was the Brendon McCullum storm that shook the RCB team as KKR registered a huge victory.
But will things go a similar way for the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders? Well, they certainly have a strong team, but with a new Captain Ajinkya Rahane. It was an interesting call by KKR to trust the leadership of experienced Rahane, who is almost at the flag end of his career. Quite interestingly, KKR also had Captaincy options in the form of Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer, who could have also led the team for years to come.
Similarly, RCB will be beginning their new era under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. Patidar, who doesn’t have much experience in the IPL will be leading a side full of stalwarts. Thankfully, Patidar has Virat Kohli by his side to channelize things properly. Also, Patidar will be leading a strong RCB side that has the right balance in terms of players from all categories. With both sides being fully packed, it will be an epic contest to be witnessed in Kolkata.
Key Match Details
Tournament: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025
Match Details: Match 1 – RCB vs KKR
Where: Kolkata
When: March 22, 2025, 7:30 pm IST
The Kolkata Eden Gardens pitch was a belter last year with assistance mostly to spinners. Both teams are filled with firepower, so expect a high-scoring contest as he had seen in IPL 2008, albeit a better and much-improved performance from the RCB team. But what will be ideal playing 11 for both teams? Well, let’s analyze the complete squad for IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR match 1, and find out their best playing 11.
IPL 2025 Official Squad and Players List for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Batters: Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Swastik Chikara, Tim David (o) & Virat Kohli
WKs: Jitesh Sharma & Phil Salt (o)
All-rounders: Jacob Bethell (o), Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Mohit Rathee, Romario Shephard (o) & Swapnil Singh
Bowlers: Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood (o), Lungi Ngidi (o), Nuwan Thushara (o), Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma & Yash Dayal
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Best Playing 11
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru team should see a new opening pair in the form of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. With two solid openers there, Rajat Patidar should come at number 3. The top-order looks potent for the RCB team, but the middle-order lacks reliable batters if Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Tim David will play in those positions. RCB do not have many options, so these five should continue. However, RCB may think of playing Devdutt at 4, and drop Rasikh Dar as his bowling may not be required much.
Ideally, Krual Pandya and Rasikh Dar should play as the finisher all-rounders. Whereas the bowling line-up should consist of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal as pacers, and most likely Suyash Sharma as the front-line spinner. With these four leading the bowling, Krunal, Rasikh, and Liam should support them with 5-6 overs. It’s a good bowling lineup, but the lack of spinners may be a sign of trouble for RCB on the Eden Garden pitch.
IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Best Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood & Yash Dayal
Best Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
IPL 2025 Official Squad and Players List for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Luvnith Sisodiya, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh & Rovman Powell (o)
WKs: Quinton de Kock (o) & Rahmanullah Gurbaz (o)
All-rounders: Andre Russell (o), Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali (o), Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine (o) & Venkatesh Iyer
Bowlers: Anrich Nortje (o), Harshit Rana, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson (o), Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora & Varun Chakravarthy
Kolkata Knight Riders Best Playing 11
Kolkata Knight Riders will also see a new opening pair in the form of Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock. Phil Salt, who was the opening partner for de Kock last season will now be playing for RCB, and as his replacement, de Kock isn’t bad too. With de Kock and Narine as openers, the middle-order should see Ajinkya Rahane at 3, Venkatesh Iyer at 4, and Riku Singh at 5. It’s a good top 5, but the form of Rahane and Sunil Narine will be crucial.
For the finishing all-rounders, KKR will rely on Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, and Anukul Roy mostly. While Russell will mostly play as a floater, Ramandeep Singh and Anukul Roy will be needed for final touch-ups. Meanwhile, the primary bowling shall rely on Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Aroa, and Varun Chakravarthy. These four form a good bowling lineup, and they will have Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to support wherever possible.
IPL 2025 RCB vs KKR Best Playing 11 for Kolkata Knight Riders
Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje & Varun Chakravarthy.
Best Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora
Top Fantasy Playing 11 for RCB vs KKR Match 1 of IPL 2025
Batters: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane & Rajat Patidar
Wks: Phil Salt & Quinton de Kock
All-rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine & Liam Livingstone
Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy
CVC Choice: Virat Kohli & Andre Russel
So, that’s about the best playing 11 for RCB vs KKR match 1 of IPL 2025. Overall, both teams are neck-and-neck in terms of firepower in their batting lineup. Although KKR look a better batting unit, bowling-wise, RCB have a slight edge. The form of Anrich Nortje and other fast bowlers will be crucial for KKR’s success. Whereas the form of Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya as spinners will be crucial for their success.
Thanks for reading! What’s your best playing 11 for the RCB vs KKR Match 1 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
