As per the Cricbuzz report, IPL 2025 will have its first match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22 at Eden Gardens. This season is yet to honour the tradition of the defending champions hosting the first match of the new season.
Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not announced the full schedule, the report stated that some ‘key dates’ were given to the 10 franchises, including the date fixed for the final of the tournament, which would also be played in Eden Gardens on Sunday, May 25.
The second match, after KKR-RCB, will see last season’s finalists, Sunrisers Hyderabad, hosting Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on March 23. Besides the regular home venues for each franchise, the report added that matches will also be played in Guwahati and Dharamsala, which are the second homes of the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings respectively.
Last season, KKR were on top against RCB in both of those contests. While the first meeting was a relatively easy victory for KKR at the Chinnaswamy, the second match at Eden Gardens was a nail-biter that went down to the last over. The teams have shared a niggling rivalry over the years, partly on account of the IPL rivalry between their biggest superstar icons Gautam Gambhir (no longer at KKR) and Virat Kohli.
“The one team I have always wanted to beat has to be RCB, and possibly even in my dreams,” Gautam Gambhir had once told Star Sports. I just wish to beat them… They are the second-most high-profile team, a flamboyant team, the owner and the squad, the Chris Gayle, the Virat Kohli, and the AB de Villiers. But for me, they haven’t won anything and still act like they have won everything; that is the kind of attitude I cannot accept.”
On Saturday, RCB appointed Rajat Patidar as captain. KKR is one of the two teams yet to announce captains.
Rajat Patidar’s teammate in Madhya Pradesh, Venkatesh Iyer, is among some names the franchise is considering. That said, they are no different in style than the KKR management during the IPL 2025 retentions process, where patience seems to be exercised to the fullest before making a call.
