North India Statesman
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Badshah Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders team, who won the trophy by defeating everyone in 2024, is getting a chance to play their first match in 2025 as per the IPL tradition. The match against Royal Challengers Bangalore will be played at Eden Gardens. The ground where spinner decides the future of teams and becomes the biggest factor to win or lose a hitting match off the first 36 balls.
If we look at the records of both teams, then KKR’s upper hand is heavy. This time it will be on home ground. KKR is quite balanced under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane. But still they may have to face strict competition from RCB. Because last year, Phil Salat, who played for KKR, has joined Bangalore and considers Kolkata’s strategy better.
RCB in search of titles from 17 season
RCB, who has been looking for the title for the last 17 seasons, will have to show strength from the first match to fulfill his dream this time. Talking about the playing XI of Bangalore, Philip Salt can open with Virat Kohli. While Devdutt Padikkal can come to bat at number three. Captain Patidar can bat at number four. The team can also include Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI. Overall, one thing is clear that after the departure of Faf du Plessis and Maxwell, the entire weight of batting has come on Virat’s shoulders and will decide his wickets how strong the Royals’ challenge is.
Kolkata will try to continue to win.
This time the challenge for KKR under the leadership of the new captain Rahane will not be easy. This time neither Gautam Gambhir’s mind is with the team nor the support of the champion captain. Salt, who made a splash in the last season, has now joined the ICB. In such a situation, Sunil Naren and Quinton de Kock can be asked to start the innings. Captain Rahane can come to bat at number three. Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh’s place in the playing XI is almost confirmed. Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh may also get a chance to play. But the real strength of the team is spinners Varun Chakraborty and Naren who decide the match in the middle overs.
A total of 34 matches have been played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore so far. During this time Kolkata Knight Riders have won 20 matches. While RCB has won 14 matches. In this way, KKR’s pan looks heavy.
Possible playing XI of KKR and RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Sunil Naren, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana/Varun Chakraborty
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma/Rasik Dar Salaam
