KKR vs. RCB Prediction: A thrilling match is in store on the first day of the 2025 Indian Premier League. The season will begin on Saturday, March 22, when the reigning champion Kolkata Knight Riders play Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens.

The Knight Riders, who recently won their third championship, will be looking to start their title defense strongly. In contrast, RCB has a great chance to make mistakes and get off to a winning start.

KKR vs RCB Head to Head Record

In IPL history, the Kolkata Knight Riders have won 20 of 34 meetings, while RCB has only won 14. The Knight Riders won in both games during the 2024 IPL season, with the Eden Gardens match ending in a victory by a mere one run.

Match Details:

Match: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Match 1, IPL 2025

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Date & Time: March 22, 2025, Saturday, 7:30 PM

Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar

KKR vs RCB Prediction: Who will Win IPL 2025 1^st Match?

The main advantage of KKR is their strong spin attack, which can take advantage of the conditions at Eden Gardens thanks to Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. With explosive all-rounders like Andre Russell and seasoned players like Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh, their batting lineup is well-balanced.

In contrast, Virat Kohli leads RCB’s explosive top order, which is fueled by power batters Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone. While all-rounders like Romario Shepherd provide depth in both areas, their pace attack, which includes Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, adds variation.

KKR looked to have a slight lead in the first match because of their potent spin attack and home field advantage. Additionally, the three-time IPL champions have an outstanding record against, which further tips the scales in their favor.

Eden Gardens pitch report

We can usually count on a high-scoring game at the Eden Gardens. The Punjab Kings set a record for the biggest run chase in T20 history by chasing down 262 runs on this same field. According to statistics, teams that bat first have won 38 of the 93 games, while those that chase have won 55 of them.

The Eden Gardens track has long been a batting haven because of its narrow boundaries. However, don’t write off the bowlers just yet. In the second half of games, we may anticipate turn and bounce for the spinners, as Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have a history of weaving a web around the batsmen on this field.

Therefore, expect a lot of runs on the pitch with help from the spinners.

Weather Report:

Right now, this is the only thing that everyone is thinking about. What kind of weather can we expect on Saturday? As a result of the rain on the eve of the opener, teams stayed safe in their changing rooms and the Eden Gardens were totally covered.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange signal for Kolkata and the adjacent areas on March 22, which has raised serious concerns over the first game.

KKR vs RCB Predicted Playing 11

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakravarthy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Suyash Sharm