Ajinkya Rahane admits Kolkata lost their grip after quick wickets derailed their 200+ target in IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kolkata, March 23 – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane pinpointed the game-changing moment in their 7-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), saying a cluster of wickets in the middle overs flipped the match’s momentum at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
“I thought we were going well till the 13th over, but 2-3 wickets changed the momentum,” Rahane said during the post-match presentation.
“We were eyeing 200-plus, but the collapse pulled us back.”
A Strong Start Fizzles Out
After being put in to bat, KKR initially rode high on the aggressive partnership between Rahane (56) and Sunil Narine (44). The duo lifted the home side to 107/1 in 9.5 overs, sending the Eden Gardens crowd into a frenzy.
But the tide turned quickly when Rasikh Salam removed Narine, opening the gates for Krunal Pandya, who struck twice in quick succession. From 145/2, KKR stumbled to 174/8, failing to capitalize on their dominant start.
“When Venky and I were batting, 200-210 looked achievable. But those wickets changed everything,” Rahane lamented.
RCB’s Powerplay Masterclass
In reply, RCB’s chase was ruthless. Phil Salt (56) and Virat Kohli (59)* stitched a 95-run opening partnership, silencing the home crowd and setting the tone for an easy victory.
Despite some late breakthroughs, RCB cruised to 177/3 in 17.3 overs, with Kohli anchoring the chase and Liam Livingstone (15) finishing things off in style*.
“A little bit of dew was there, but they had a very good powerplay. The total was under par,” Rahane admitted, praising RCB’s dominant start.
Rahane Focused on Regrouping
The KKR skipper remained optimistic despite the loss, emphasizing the importance of learning from the defeat and improving key areas.
“We don’t want to think too much about this game, but at the same time, just try and get better in certain areas,” he added.
Match Summary:
Kolkata Knight Riders: 174/8 (Rahane 56, Narine 44; Krunal Pandya 3/29)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 177/3 in 17.3 overs (Kohli 59*, Salt 56)
Result: RCB won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli