Cricket Score | KKR vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2025: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders lose season opener against Royal Challengers at home ground

The Eden Gardens erupts as two of India’s biggest icons—one from the silver screen, the other from the cricket field—stand side by side at the center. The roar hits fever-pitch when SRK, with his signature charm, announces, “Welcome the King, welcome the GOAT!” before embracing Virat Kohli in a hug that sends the crowd into a frenzy.

But the night’s electrifying moments don’t stop there. SRK then invites Kolkata’s other beloved star, Rinku Singh, onto the stage. The ovation he receives nearly rivals Kohli’s, proving just how much the city adores him. To lighten the mood, SRK shares a fun dance with Rinku—only for the crowd to demand more. And they get it. Kohli joins in for an impromptu jig, sending the decibel levels soaring to new heights.

Punjabi singer takes the centre stage at the opening ceremony. This sure isn’t a live performance by the singer. It looks like Aujla is lip-syncing. But yes, the crowd does seem to be enjoying the performance.

Actor Disha Patani takes to stage after SRK and Shreya Ghoshal. Patani begins her dance performance on a Bengali song. Punjabi singer Karan Aujla is expected to come to perform next in the opening ceremony.

Shreya Ghoshal takes the stage next, enchanting the audience with her soulful voice. She begins with a mesmerizing rendition of Ami Je Tomar, followed by the high-energy Ghoomar and the powerful Kar Har Maidaan Fateh, among other chart-toppers.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan takes over the stage with his monologue.

The opening ceremony will kick off with a monologue by KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, IE reported. Following his introduction, the spotlight will shift to electrifying performances by singer Shreya Ghoshal, Punjabi singer Karan Aujla and actress Disha Patani.

Venkatesh Iyer is the man to watch for Kolkata Knight Riders. The all-rounder had a solid season last year and was instrumental in KKR’s dramatic turnaround in 2021, especially when he partnered with Shubman Gill at the top. But with a hefty price tag hanging over him, every knock and every spell will be under intense scrutiny in the coming matches of the season.

For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, all eyes are on Rajat Patidar, but another name could hold the key — Phil Salt. The English wicketkeeper-batter set the stage on fire for KKR last season but has struggled for form in recent months. While Salt has the potential to fill Faf’s shoes, a poor season from him could leave RCB scrambling for answers in the Powerplay.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders dominated IPL 2024 and are now sticking to their winning formula, hoping to go back-to-back in their title defense.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are still chasing that elusive first trophy. With IPL entering its 18th season, RCB, forever linked to their iconic No 18, Virat Kohli, will be hoping this is finally the year their luck changes. Could the stars (and numbers) finally align for them?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went from rock bottom to roaring back in style last season. After losing seven of their first eight games, they pulled off a sensational six-match winning streak, sneaking into the playoffs by edging out Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on net run rate.

But just as their fairytale comeback gathered steam, Rajasthan Royals (RR) played the villain, knocking them out in the Eliminator. And so, RCB’s elusive hunt for their first-ever IPL trophy stretches into its 18th season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds in several districts of West Bengal through March 23.

According to the forecast, thunderstorms with gusty winds, lightning and light to moderate rainfall are expected in Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Nadia and Murshidabad districts. Other parts of West Bengal are also likely to receive scattered showers and gusty winds until Sunday.

Kolkata, too, won’t be spared, with the city expected to see light to moderate rainfall and breezy conditions through Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the city’s minimum temperature dipped to 21.1°C on Saturday, three degrees below normal for this time of year.

A good news for all of you fans waiting with bated breath for weather update – the weather looks alright in Kolkata currently, IE has reported. We can probably expect no delays anymore in the season opener.

As the IPL 2025 kicks off, brands are loosening their purse strings in a big way — Rs 550 crore, to be precise — all in the name of influencer marketing. That’s right, folks, cricket isn’t just about sixes and yorkers anymore; it’s about hashtags, reels and viral dance challenges too (not sure about the last one)!

According to Qoruz, an influencer marketing platform, IPL 2024 witnessed a jaw-dropping 3,15,000 influencer posts, racking up a mind-boggling 3.2 billion engagements.

This year, brands are doubling down, ensuring that whether you’re watching a match, scrolling Instagram, you’ll be bombarded with cricket-themed promotions. Expect everything from influencers reviewing “T20-friendly” snacks to dance reels celebrating a “perfect cover drive”.

So, welcome to IPL 2025, where cricket meets content creation and everyone’s trying to hit it out of the park!

Read detailed report on this here: Brands to spend Rs 550 crore on influencers for IPL 2025

On the eve of IPL 2025, the BCCI introduced four key rule changes following a meeting with captains, coaches and managers on March 20. Here’s a look at the new rules:

🔹 Saliva rule: Bowlers can once again use saliva to shine the ball, marking a return to pre-pandemic practices after the COVID-era ban

🔹 Dew-control measures: Teams bowling second can now request a ball change after the 10th over if dew affects grip. Umpires will replace it with a ball of similar wear, but teams won’t get to choose the replacement

🔹 New code of conduct: A demerit points and suspension system will now be in place, with violations carrying a 36-month record

🔹 DRS scope expanded: Players can now review height-based no-balls and wide deliveries outside off-stump using Hawk-Eye and ball-tracking technology

In a move to ensure smooth travel for cricket fans, Kolkata Metro Railway has announced special late-night services following the IPL 2025 opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders and their opponents at Eden Gardens on March 22. The initiative comes after a request from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on behalf of KKR, aiming to provide hassle-free transport for spectators returning home.

The extended services will run on both the Blue Line and Green Line-2 networks, offering connectivity to various parts of Kolkata and its suburbs.

As part of the plan, two special Blue Line trains will depart from Esplanade station at 12:15 am. One will head northbound to Dakshineswar, reaching its destination by 12:48 am, while the other will travel southbound to Kavi Subhas, arriving at the same time. Both services will stop at all intermediate stations.

Eden Gardens has favored spinners in recent IPL seasons, but don’t expect a sluggish track right from the start. With a long tournament ahead, the pitch for the opening game is likely to be batting-friendly, setting the stage for a high-scoring contest. The impact player rule further adds to the firepower, making big totals a strong possibility. Additionally, with dew expected to play a role, the team winning the toss may prefer to chase under better batting conditions.

As the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off, Google has joined the cricket fever with a special doodle celebrating the mega tournament. Today, the tech giant rolled out a fun, cricket-themed animation ahead of the blockbuster opener between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens.

Adding a quirky touch, the doodle features two animated ducks playing on the pitch. Clicking on the doodle unveils IPL details, including match schedules, team lineups and upcoming fixtures.

(Google)

As the teams prepared for their upcoming matches earlier this week, the fans across the country seem all set for the opener. Here are some images ahead of the practice sesh and how cities are looking forward to the upcoming matches:

(PTI)

(PTI)

(PTI)

(PTI)

As Kolkata Knight Riders gear up for their IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, team co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan stepped in to lift spirits with an energising pep talk.

In a video shared by KKR’s official Instagram handle, SRK was seen addressing the squad, urging them to stay “healthy and happy” as they embark on their campaign. His signature charm and motivating words added to the buzz ahead of the much-anticipated clash at Eden Gardens, reminding the players to give their best while enjoying the game. He said, “God bless you. Please be healthy, be happy. And thank you, Chandu sir, for looking after them. Welcome aboard to the new members. Thank you, Ajinkya, for joining us and being a captain. God bless you, and I hope you will find a good home here and play well with all of us. Have a good evening, a good match and be healthy.”

Watch:

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, where defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will battle Royal Challengers Bengaluru—still chasing their elusive first title—under the shadow of a potential rain disruption.

The 18th edition of the IPL is set to showcase a wave of fresh leadership, with five teams entrusting new captains to guide their campaigns. Rajat Patidar will lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru, adding a new chapter to the franchise’s quest for an elusive title, while Ajinkya Rahane takes charge of Kolkata Knight Riders following Shreyas Iyer’s departure.

Iyer, in turn, will now spearhead Punjab Kings’ pursuit of their maiden IPL trophy. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals have handed the reins to all-rounder Axar Patel after parting ways with stumper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been appointed as the new captain of Lucknow Super Giants.

Superstar Shahrukh Khan, who is also the owner of defending champions KKR, will be performing tonight at the opening ceremony of the 18th season of Indian Premier League. Along with Khan, there are other artist too in the star-studded lineup for the Opener. But after watch King Khan perform with solid energy at the recent IIFA award in Jaipur, looks like he will own the stage here as well!

Read in detail about the opening ceremony: IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony – Live streaming details, venue, performers, schedule and more

As excitement builds for the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens on Saturday, March 22, the weather might play an unexpected villain. The much-anticipated clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), along with the star-studded opening ceremony, could face disruptions due to forecasted rain and thunderstorms.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Kolkata and surrounding areas, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. The unstable weather is linked to a trough stretching from Odisha to Vidarbha, a wind confluence over eastern India, and an anticyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal—all contributing to scattered rainfall across West Bengal.

With the alert in place until match day, ground staff at Eden Gardens have been proactive, keeping the playing area covered since Thursday. However, Friday’s sporadic drizzle forced both KKR and RCB to cut short their practice sessions, raising concerns about match proceedings. If the rain persists, fans may have to brace for delays—or even the dreaded possibility of a washout.

Read the detailed weather report here: Will rain disrupt KKR vs RCB season opener at Eden Gardens?

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the opening day of IPL 2025 from Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The opening game will see defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore. Before the game begins, there will be opening acts by singers Shreya Ghosal and Karan Aujla, among others.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates from the season opener.