KKR vs RCB: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
As the defending champions, KKR carries significant expectations. Ajinkya Rahane will take the helm of the team following Shreyas Iyer’s move to Punjab Kings (PBKS) for this season. The management has also seen a shift, with Dwayne Bravo stepping in as mentor after Gautam Gambhir transitioned to the head coach role for the Indian men’s team.
KKR has also acquired Anrich Nortje to fill the gap left by Mitchell Starc’s transfer to Delhi Capitals (DC). However, the team faced a blow with Umran Malik being ruled out of the tournament, leading to Chetan Sakariya being named as his replacement. All eyes will be on Venkatesh Iyer, who was purchased for Rs 23.75 crore during last year’s mega auction.
Meanwhile, RCB is entering a new chapter with Rajat Patidar as their captain. Patidar, who guided Madhya Pradesh to a runner-up finish in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, takes over from Faf du Plessis.
To enhance their batting strength, RCB has signed Phil Salt, who had an impressive season with KKR last year. Additionally, the team has fortified their bowling lineup by bringing in seasoned fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who will be crucial to their success.
Although RCB is one of the founding teams of the IPL, alongside PBKS and DC, they have yet to secure a championship title.
When can you catch the KKR vs RCB match live in India?
The match between KKR and RCB is set to kick off at 7:30 PM IST, which is 2:00 PM local time.
Where can you watch KKR vs RCB live in India?
The KKR vs RCB match will be broadcasted on the Star Sports Network.
Fans can tune in to the game on various channels, including Star Sports 1 SD, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 SD, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi SD, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports First, as well as regional channels like Star Sports 1 Tamil SD, Star Sports 1 Tamil HD, Star Sports 1 Telugu SD, Star Sports 1 Telugu HD, Star Sports 1 Kannada SD, and Star Sports 1 Kannada HD.
For those who prefer online viewing, the match will also be live-streamed on the JioStar app.
