IPL 2025 opener: Key KKR vs RCB matchups that could decide the game

IPL 2025 opener: Key KKR vs RCB matchups that could decide the game

Defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hosts Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens in the Indian Premier League 2025 opener on Saturday.

Here are three key matchups which could determine the fate of the KKR vs RCB game:

Can Kohli overcome KKR’s spin duo — Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine?

Kohli vs Narine in IPL

Kohli vs Varun in IPL

Narine has the lowest strike rate against Kohli among bowlers who have bowled at least 100 IPL deliveries to him.

Can RCB’s pace duo, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, restrict Narine early?

Narine vs Hazlewood in IPL

Narine vs Bhuvneshwar in IPL

Only once has Narine scored more than 10 runs in an IPL innings against Bhuvneshwar, in 2018.

Who will dominate the death overs — Andre Russell and Rinku Singh or Tim David and Jitesh Sharma? (All numbers below from overs 16-20 in IPL)

Russell has been one of the most destructive IPL finishers.

• Runs: 1324

• Strike rate: 194.41

• Average: 27.02

Rinku Singh thrives under pressure.

• Runs: 499

• Strike rate: 182.11

• Average: 29.35

RCB’s new recruits bring firepower too.

Tim David has been a reliable finisher.

• Runs: 540

• Strike rate: 191.48

• Average: 28.42

Jitesh Sharma is an explosive lower-order option.

• Runs: 264

• Strike rate: 188.57

• Average: 17.60

Since 2022, only Dinesh Karthik (607) has scored more IPL death-over runs than Tim David (539).

Published on Mar 21, 2025