In the first match of the 2025 IPL, the defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets on Saturday, March 22, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Before the squad faltered in the middle overs, scoring 174/8, captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with a brilliant 56 runs in 31 balls to get KKR off to a fast start.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane is optimistic that the batting unit would recover despite the outcome of the first game. “The middle-order hitters are seasoned, dangerous, and explosive players,” he stated. They have dealt with a lot of similar circumstances in the past. It always comes down to granting children autonomy and letting them go play their game outside.
“It looks good when that works out. Today didn’t work out, but that’s okay; it will happen. During the post-match press conference, he told the reporters, “It’s a long tournament; we’re going to back every individual.”
The seasoned player said, “For me, it’s all about contributing to the team,” in reference to his batting performance. The team always wins when I score runs, and that’s what counts to me. It would be more satisfying for me to score those runs and win.
Rahane also provided some insight into KKR’s opening lineup, saying, “We have batters who like to go after the bowlers.” In this format, Quinton de Kock has proven to be a dangerous player. At the top of the order, he has scored runs. As everyone knows, Sunil (Narine) had an amazing season and has been doing admirably. We think de Kock and Narine together can be a potent starting duo.
On March 26, the Kolkata Knight Riders will play the Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in an attempt to recover.
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