Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 59 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Chasing a target of 175, Kohli built a solid 95-run opening stand with England’s Phil Salt, who smashed 56 off 31 balls on a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch. RCB reached the target in just 16.2 overs, with new captain Rajat Patidar playing an explosive 16-ball 34, while England’s Liam Livingstone sealed the win in style with two fours and a six in his unbeaten 15 off five balls.
Kolkata got off to a flying start, racing to 107-1 in 10 overs after South Africa’s Quinton de Kock fell for just four in the first over. Sunil Narine and captain Ajinkya Rahane then built a strong 103-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, RCB clawed back control through a brilliant spell from spinner Krunal Pandya, who took 3-29. He dismissed Rahane for 56, bowled Shreyas Iyer for six, and sent Rinku Singh back for 12. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, returning from injury after missing the Champions Trophy, also impressed with a tight spell of 2-22.
Post-match, Rahane admitted his side had aimed for a total beyond 200 on the flat pitch, but RCB’s dominant chase made quick work of the target, making a strong statement in their quest for their first-ever IPL title. The team had reached the Eliminator in 2024 before being knocked out by Rajasthan Royals, while Kohli had finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 741 runs in 15 innings.