After the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season with a convincing seven-wicket victory over the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), captain Rajat Patidar praised spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma for their pivotal roles in securing the win.

Bowling with an older ball that was griping at Eden Gardens, both Krunal and Suyash faced an initial onslaught but ultimately dismantled KKR’s renowned middle-order. Their efforts restricted KKR to a total of 174/8, a significant drop from the potential score of over 230. While Suyash ended with figures of 1-47, Krunal delivered an outstanding performance with 3-29.

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“There was pressure, but overall it was a great day for me. If we continue winning like this, every day will be a good day. I supported Suyash even when he was hit for runs as he was our main wicket-taker. Credit goes to both Krunal and Suyash; from the 13th over onward, they displayed remarkable courage and a winning mentality,” said Patidar after the match.

Patidar reflected on playing alongside legends like Virat Kohli, expressing, “Having such great players around is a fantastic opportunity to learn. The shot I played off Harshit (over backward point) was planned; I aimed to go over covers, and the ball came back nicely into the bat.”

Pandya, awarded Player of the Match, emphasized the need for spinners to adapt in an era dominated by aggressive batting. “Facing a large crowd, I had to focus intensely. If I get hit, it needs to be off a good delivery, and I’m glad I could perform under pressure,” he stated.

“Cricket is evolving; batters now have the skills to hit sixes consistently, so we need to elevate our game as bowlers. I’ve been working on bowling quicker and utilizing variations, even experimenting with bouncers,” he added.

“The atmosphere has been incredible. Since I joined the team, I’ve felt the energy and support from our fans, even in domestic matches where RCB supporters are vocal. My first ten days have been amazing.”

RCB’s pursuit of 175 was fueled by a dynamic opening partnership of 95 runs between Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. Though Salt was dismissed for 56 just before the halfway mark, Kohli remained steady, finishing with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, leading RCB to victory with 22 balls remaining.

“The partnership with Kohli was particularly satisfying since we haven’t batted much together. It felt great to build a strong collaboration today. I’m familiar with this ground and KKR,” he remarked.

“The conditions improved in the second innings, and we just focused on being still and making contact. It made a notable difference. Within our batting group, we discussed this approach, and I’m delighted with our performance. I had a fantastic experience here last year when we won the trophy. However, when it comes to the game, there are no friends,” he added.

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who top-scored for his side with a smooth 56, expressed disappointment over the rapid loss of wickets after the 13th over, which shifted momentum in favor of RCB.

“I felt we were in a strong position until the 13th over, but losing 2-3 wickets changed the game. The subsequent batters did their best, but it didn’t pan out as we hoped,” he commented.

“While batting with Venky (Venkatesh Iyer), we had discussed that a target of 200-210 was achievable. Unfortunately, losing those wickets turned the tide. There was a bit of dew, but RCB had an excellent powerplay. Our total of 174/8 was definitely below par. We aimed for 200+. We should learn from this experience and strive to improve in specific areas,” he concluded.