In the IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will kickstart the tournament at Eden Gardens. Here's what happened when both the teams clashed against each other in the inaugural season of the cash-rich league (Pics: AFP/X)
Updated On: 2025-03-22 05:42 PM IST
Compiled by : Sujay Shivalkar
The biggest and richest T20 league across the globe, the Indian Premier League, will begin its 18th edition with the first match being played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders, the teams which inaugurated the lucrative league back in 2008
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed the first-ever match of the star-studded Indian T20 league
Having won the toss, RCB skipper Rahul Dravid opted to field first against Sourav Ganguly-led KKR
Coming in to bat, Kolkata skipper Ganguly departed early on 10 runs. Later, swashbuckling batsman Brendon McCullum was the man who stole the show in RCB's home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Having faced 73 deliveries, the right-hander played an unbeaten knock of 158 runs which was laced with 10 fours and 13 sixes. Riding on his knock, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a total of 222 for the loss of just three wickets
Zaheer Khan, Ashley Noffke and Jacques Kallis managed to claim one wicket by completing their spell of four overs
In the run chase, despite having the likes of Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis, Cameron White and Mark Boucher, RCB fell short by 140 runs to secure the win
Pacer Praveen Kumar turned out to be the highest run-scorer for the Bengaluru-based franchise in the league opener. He garnered 18 runs in 15 balls which included 1 four and 2 sixes. RCB's innings was wrapped up for just 82 runs