In the IPL season opener, Josh Hazlewood made a significant impact upon his return from injury, helping the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secure a decisive win over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Anchoring the chase, Virat Kohli scored an impressive 59 runs off 36 balls, leading RCB to triumph in just 16.2 overs against KKR’s total of 174.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front for KKR, scoring a quick-fire 56 off 31 balls. However, his team’s momentum faltered as they were restricted to 8-174 after RCB captain Rajat Patidar opted to field first following the toss. Hazlewood set the tone early, with KKR managing only nine runs in the first three overs of their innings, ultimately finishing with figures of 2-22. He took the pivotal wicket of Quinton de Kock and sealed the match by dismissing Harshit Rana in the final over.
During the powerplay, Phil Salt—who was previously not retained by KKR—demonstrated aggressive batting, scoring rapidly and propelling RCB to 80 runs without losing a wicket in the first six overs. He hit 21 runs in a single over against spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, showcasing RCB’s batting prowess. However, Salt fell victim to Chakaravarthy’s bowling in the ninth over, attempting another ambitious hit.
Kohli continued to build on the solid foundation laid by Salt, reaching his half-century with flair and maintaining the scoring momentum. The match was briefly halted when a fan rushed onto the field to touch Kohli’s feet, a common occurrence at IPL matches. Patidar also contributed effectively, scoring 34 off just 16 balls before getting out, while Liam Livingstone finished the game with an aggressive eight-ball cameo, including a six and a boundary.
On the bowling front, spinner Krunal Pandya was instrumental for RCB, claiming three wickets and restraining KKR’s scoring in the latter half of their innings. Despite a strong start—reaching 2-107 in the first ten overs—KKR struggled to maintain their pace, mustering just 67 runs in the final ten overs. Hazlewood’s early spell, coupled with Pandya’s subsequent success and Yash Dayal’s effective bowling, ensured Kolkata’s innings never fully recovered.
Overall, RCB’s comprehensive win marked a successful beginning for Patidar as captain and set a promising tone for the remainder of the tournament.