Krunal Pandya's triple strike turns the tide as RCB crush KKR by 7 wickets in IPL opener

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Krunal Pandya, right, celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli. (AP Photo)

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As it happened:

Brief Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders 174/8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 56, Sunil Narine 44; Krunal Pandya 3-29)

174/8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 56, Sunil Narine 44; Krunal Pandya 3-29) Royal Challengers Bengaluru 177/3 in 16.2 overs (Virat Kohli 59 not out, Phil Salt 56; Sunil Narine 1-27)

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started their IPL 2025 campaign with a bang, securing a convincing seven-wicket win over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday. Led by new skipper Rajat Patidar, RCB showcased their dominance with both bat and ball to kick off their season in style.Chasing a competitive target of 175, RCB's dynamic opening pair of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli stole the show. The duo put on a blistering 95-run stand in just 8.3 overs, setting the foundation for an easy chase. Salt was the aggressor, hammering 56 off 31 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Kohli, the "chase master," remained unbeaten on 59 off 36 deliveries, guiding RCB to 177/3 in 16.2 overs. Though KKR managed to pick up a few wickets, the damage had already been done, with Liam Livingstone sealing the victory with a boundary.The turning point of the match, however, came in the first innings when Krunal Pandya produced a remarkable spell to restrict KKR. At one stage, KKR seemed destined for a massive total, reaching 107/1 after 10 overs, with Ajinkya Rahane (56) and Sunil Narine (44) smashing the RCB bowlers. However, Krunal’s three-wicket burst in quick succession changed the game. He dismissed Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer (6), and Rinku Singh (0), sending shockwaves through the KKR camp and halting their momentum.Rahane fell trying to clear the boundary but found the fielder at deep backward square leg. Soon after, Venkatesh Iyer was caught at long-on, and Rinku Singh fell prey to Krunal’s sharp turn. The once-promising innings collapsed from 107/1 to 145/5 within just a few overs. KKR never recovered, eventually posting 174/8 in their 20 overs.Josh Hazlewood complemented Krunal's efforts, claiming two wickets for 22 runs, including the key scalp of Quinton de Kock in the opening over. Rasikh Salam, Yash Dayal and Suyash Sharma chipped in with a wicket each.Despite the valiant efforts of Rahane and Narine, KKR’s middle order faltered under pressure, unable to capitalise on the strong start. The combination of Krunal’s decisive spell and RCB’s ruthless batting performance made the difference, ensuring a commanding victory for the visitors.

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