RCB rubs Salt in KKR's Virat wounds

WINS IPL 2025 OPENER BY SEVEN WICKETS

- ARINDAM BASU

As IPL turned 18, Eden Gardens remained witness to a blockbuster opening night with Phil Salt-Virat Kohli duo ensuring RCB romped home at KKR's backyard with a seven-wicket win with 22 balls to spare.

RCB made 177 for 3 in 16.2 overs, after KKR had finished with a below-par score of 174 for 8, being put into bat by RCB.

As the run chase began, RCB raced to 75 runs in just 5 overs with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli going hammer and tongs at the KKR's bowling attack. While Salt made most of his knowledge of the ground, having played for KKR last season, Virat carried the Champions Trophy form to the delight of the partisan crowd at Eden Gardens. The chanting of Virat-Virat grew with every delivery, till it felt like RCB's home ground.

As pathetic as the bowling attack could be, after 2 overs KKR's Vaibhav Arora's figures read 2 overs 32 runs, Spencer Jonson's 2 overs 21 runs, and Varun Chakravarthy's 1 over 21 runs.