174/8 Kolkata Knight Riders Innings Report: IPL 2025, Match 1 – KKR vs RCB
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Venue:Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Score: 174/8 in 20 Overs
Opposition: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a competitive total of 174/8 in 20 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. Led by new captain Ajinkya Rahane’s masterful 56, KKR overcame an early stumble to post a challenging score on a pitch that offered some assistance to bowlers as the innings progressed.
Early Setback
KKR’s innings began on a shaky note after RCB captain Rajat Patidar opted to bowl first. Josh Hazlewood struck in the third over, removing opener Quinton de Kock for just 4 (7 balls, 1 four). De Kock, attempting an aerial drive, edged a length ball to Liam Livingstone at slip, leaving KKR at 5/1 after 2.2 overs. The early wicket put pressure on the new-look top order, with Rahane walking in at No. 3 to steady the ship.
Rahane-Narine Partnership
Ajinkya Rahane (67 off 39, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Sunil Narine (44 off 26, 5 fours, 3 six) launched a counterattack, stitching together a 103-run partnership off 62 balls. Rahane, in his debut as KKR captain, played with elegance and aggression, driving through the covers and lofting spinners with precision. Narine, promoted to No. 2, complemented him with brute force, smashing boundaries off Hazlewood and Yash Dayal. The duo took KKR to 60/1 by the powerplay’s end (6 overs) and reached 107/1 by the 10th over, with Rahane’s fifty coming off 29 balls in the ninth over.
Middle-Order Wobble
RCB clawed back in the middle overs, with Krunal Pandya (3/29) turning the game in the 12th over. Narine, looking to accelerate, miscued a lofted shot to long-off, departing for 42, while Venkatesh Iyer (12 off 9, 1 four) edged a slower ball to Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps two balls later. Pandya’s double strike reduced KKR to 119/3. Rasikh Salam (1/34) added to the pressure, dismissing Angkrish Raghuvanshi (8 off 10) in the 14th over, caught at deep midwicket attempting a lofted cover drive. At 146/5 after 16 overs, KKR’s momentum had stalled.
Late Flourish
Angkrish Raghuvans (28 off 22, 2 fours, 1 sixes) and late surge.
Fall of Wickets
1. 4/1 (Quinton de Kock, 0.5 overs)
2. 107/2 (Sunil Narine, 9.6 overs)
3. 109/3 (Ajinke Rahane, 10.3 overs)
4. 125/4 (Venkatesh Iyer, 12.2 overs)
5. 145/5 (Rinku Singh, 14.6 overs)
6. 150/6 (Andre Russel, 15.4 overs)
7. 168/7 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 18.5 overs)
8. 173/8(Harshit Rana 19.5 Overs)
Bowling Analysis (RCB)
– **Josh Hazlewood:** 4-0-22-2 (de Kock, Rana)
– **Yash Dayal:** 4-0-25-1 (Raghuvanshi)
– **Rasikh Salam:** 3-0-35-1 (Sunil Narine)
– **Krunal Pandya:** 4-0-29-3 (Rinku Singh, Iyer, Rahane)
– **Suyash Sharma:** 4-0-47-1(Andre Russel)
– **Liam Livingstone:** 2-0-14-0
Key Moments
Powerplay (1-6 overs): 60/1 – Narine’s aggression and Rahane’s composure set a solid base.
-Rahane’s Fifty: A 29-ball effort in the 9th over, blending caution and flair.
Pandya’s 12th Over: Two wickets in five balls shifted momentum to RCB.
Russell’s Cameo: 28 off 15, including two sixes, pushed KKR past 180.
Innings Summary
KKR’s 174/8 was a tale of two halves. Rahane’s 56 anchored the innings, Narine’s 44 provided the early fireworks, However, Pandya’s three-wicket haul and RCB’s disciplined death bowling (40 runs in the last 5 overs) prevented KKR from breaching 200. On a batting-friendly Eden Gardens track, 174 is competitive but not imposing.
