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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Predictions & Tips - De Kock to take KKR to victory in IPL opener

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 21 Mar 2025

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Ralph Staniforth 21 Mar 2025

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KKR enters 2025 IPL as defending champions, facing RCB.
Quinton de Kock expected to perform strongly for KKR.
RCB relies on star batter Virat Kohli for success.

Expired

Quinton de Kock hits out for the Super Giants in 2024. (credit: Noah Seelam / Getty Images)

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview

The Knight Riders come into the 2025 IPL season as the defending champions and will be confident on home soil. I am backing them, along with Quinton de Kock, to produce the goods on day one of the Indian Premier League.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview
Head-to-Head
Kolkata Knight Riders Form
Kolkata Knight Riders News
Royal Challengers Bengalore Form
Royal Challengers Bengalore News

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Quinton de Kock has scored 10688 runs in T20s (ave 31.62).
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rovman Powell has scored 28, 25, 32*, 20 & 63 in his last 6 innings.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli has scored 52, 22, 100* & 84 in his last 5 innings.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Phil Salt has scored 23, 55, 43, 26 & 23 in his last 8 innings.

Head-to-Head

The Knight Riders have won their last four matches against the Royal Challengers.

Kolkata Knight Riders Form

The Knight Riders clinched their third IPL title at the end of last season, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final for their sixth win on the bounce.

Sunrisers elected to bat first but were rattled by early strikes from Mitchell Starc (2/14) and Harshit Rana (2/24) reducing them to 62/5. Andre Russell wrapped up the tail in picking up 3/19, Sunrisers being bowled out for 113 in the 19th over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39 off 32 balls) and Venkatesh Iyer (52* off 26 balls) added 91 for the 2nd wicket to take their side to the edge of an eight-wicket win off just 10.3 overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders News

The Knight Riders have a well-balanced squad that bats deep. They should have the power to outmuscle Royal Challengers.

Royal Challengers Bengalore Form

Royal Challengers were knocked out in last season’s Eliminator by the Rajasthan Royals, losing their first game in five matches.

Royal Challengers were sent in to bat first by the Royals, with Rajat Patidar (34 off 22 balls) and Faf du Plessis (33 off 24 balls) top-scoring for the Challengers as they struggled to 172/8 off their 20 overs.

Mohammed Siraj (2/33) bowled superbly, but it was not enough to prevent the Royals from sneaking home with one over and four wickets to spare.

Royal Challengers Bengalore News

The Challengers are likely to rely on Virat Kohli for their success with the bat this season. India’s best batter comes into this match on the back of good form in international whiteball cricket.

Verdict

Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore

I am backing Kolkata Knight Riders to win. I am also backing Quinton de Kock to top score for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Virat Kohli is a good bet to top score for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Knight Riders Win

Result

@4/5 - 2 Units

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Quinton de Kock

Best Knight Riders Batter

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