Virat Kohli delivered a stellar performance in his 400th T20 match, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant 7-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2025 opener on March 22 at Eden Gardens.

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KKR’s Batting Struggle

KKR batted first and scored 174/8 in 20 overs. Ajinkya Rahane was the top scorer with 56 runs off 31 balls, while Sunil Narine also played well, scoring 44 runs. But after their partnership, KKR lost wickets quickly. RCB’s bowlers, Krunal Pandya (3/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/22), stopped them from scoring big in the last overs.

RCB’s Strong Chase

RCB started their chase in style. Virat Kohli (59 not out) and Phil Salt (56 runs) gave a strong start with a 95-run partnership in just 8.3 overs. Rajat Patidar also played a quick inning of 34 off 16 balls. RCB finished the match in just 16.2 overs, winning comfortably.

Special Moment for Virat Kohli

This match was memorable for Virat Kohli, as it was his 400th T20 match. BCCI honored him with a special award before the game.

RCB’s win gave them a strong start, while KKR needed to improve its batting in the next matches.