KKR vs RCB Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! And that's that! Royal Challengers Bengaluru are up and running in the 2025 IPL! Angling across the right-hander, on the fuller side, Liam Livingstone stays deep in the crease and swats it to the right of mid on for a boundary to seal the deal.

SIX! All the way! Spencer Johnson begins from over the wicket and bowls a bumper, around off, Liam Livingstone walks across his stumps and swings for the pull. Gets more of a top edge as the ball gets big on him. It sails well over deep fine leg for a six.

On a back of a length, on off, Liam stays on the back foot and cuts it to deep point for a single. 8 more needed for RCB.

Off-pace delivery and this stays a bit low, on the fuller side, Liam Livingstone has a heave across the line. Gets an under edge that dribbles behind to the keeper.

FOUR! Cracked away! Arora bangs it into the deck, over middle, Liam Livingstone swivels and hammers the pull to the right of deep square leg for a one-bounce boundary.

OUT! TAKEN! Rajat Patidar holes out in a bid to get the game done quickly! This is the leg-cutter from Arora, on a length, at the stumps, Rajat Patidar swings across the line. Gets it off the inner half of the bat and hits it straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket where Rinku Singh takes a safe catch around his waist. Rajat goes for a quickfire 34 off 16 balls with RCB 13 runs away from a win on the opening night.

FOUR! Up and away! Pace taken off, on a back of a length, at the hips, Patidar is slightly early into the shot and picks it up to the right of deep backward square leg for a boundary.

On a length, on off, Kohli knocks it in front of mid off for a single.

FOUR! Probably the shot of the inning! Patidar moves into his 30s! On that in-between length from Harshit, around off, Rajat Patidar cuts it a bit uppishly over backward point for a boundary. Royal Challengers Bengaluru need just 18 runs to win in 30 balls remaining.

FOUR! Finds the gap again! Hard length outside off, Rajat Patidar stands tall and cuts it to the right of the sliding backward point fielder. Rinku Singh slides but the ball evades him and races away to the fence. Harshit Rana is not pleased by the effort by the looks on his face.

On top of middle on a length, Rajat Patidar gets inside the line and tucks it across to deep backward square leg. Runs the first one hard and scampers back for the second as Vaibhav Arora cuts it off to his right in the deep.

FOUR! Helped away! A bit wayward from Harshit, on the pads, full in length, Rajat Patidar uses the pace of the ball and tickles it uppishly and to the right of short fine leg for a boundary. 28 needed off 33 now.

FOUR! Just over the fielder and finds the fence! On the hard length, at off, Rajat Patidar stays leg side of the ball, and chips it over the leaping Ajinkya Rahane at cover for a boundary.

Fuller and slower, outside off, Kohli tries to drag it to the leg side, but mistimes off the inside half of the bat, down to long on for a single. Grunts in frustration as he doesn't connect it well.

Sliding on the leg stump, on a length, Virat Kohli waits for it on the back foot and tucks it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single. RCB need 37 off 36, just a tinge above run-a-ball.

Short and on middle, Rajat Patidar swivels and pulls it along the ground to deep square leg. Another single.

On that in-between length, on the leg stump, Virat Kohli nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Length-delivery, on the pads, worked across to deep square leg for a single.

SIX! The skipper moves into his double figures with that mammoth hit! Right into the wheelhouse, on middle, Rajat Patidar slogs it powerfully behind long on for a huge six. A 91-meter hit into the stands.

Looped up, on middle on a length, Kohli nudges it to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length, around off, Virat Kohli weighs on the back foot and taps it out to the cover region and steals a quick single to end the over.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR VIRAT KOHLI! His 56th fifty in the IPL for VK, along with 8 centuries! On a good length, just outside off, Virat Kohli places it through the cover gap, a bit uppishly for a boundary. Playing his 400th T20 game, Kohli has mounted another masterclass in this chase.

Fuller and on middle and leg, Rajat Patidar flicks it to widish long on to the right for a single.

Angling on the pads, on a length, Rajat Patidar clips it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Back of a length, skidding through quickly off the surface, outside off, Rajat Patidar goes fishing at it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Swing and a miss! Hits the deck hard, does Harshit, at 143.5 kph, Rajat Patidar misses to cut it square as the ball passes above his angled bat.

Floated fuller on middle, Rajat Patidar leans ahead and turns it away to deep mid-wicket for a single. The RCB skipper is off the mark.

Full on middle and leg, clipped to mid-wicket.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! A timely wicket for KKR as the Impact Player of RCB, goes without much of an impact. Narine dishes a fuller-length delivery, on the stumps, Devdutt Padikkal charges down the track to clear the deep mid-wicket fence, but cannot quite get his bat properly under the ball and goes through the shot. Hits it flat in the air, off the toe end of the bat and finds Ramandeep Singh at deep mid-wicket, who doesn't have to move an inch to snaffle the catch.

Tossed up, fuller and on off, Kohli sits on his knee and slogs it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Around the stumps, length, around off, Devdutt tucks it across, along the ground, to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Good length, around off, punched off the back foot by Kohli for a single at deep cover.

Angling back into the stumps, on a length, Virat Kohli plays it late and cuts it off the back foot to the backward point region for a quick single. RCB are 115/1, needing 60 runs off 54 balls remaining.

Good length, on the pads, Padikkal glances it off his pads to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Length ball, on the stumps, worked across by Kohli for a single to deep mid-wicket. He looks for a second but it was never there.

SIX! Timed well enough! Pitched fuller by Varun, into the slot, around off, Virat Kohli sits down, reads the googly, and thumps it behind long on for a cracking six.

Around the wickets with a slip for Devdutt Padikkal. Full, into the body, Padikkal leans and works it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Short in length, on off, Kohli hangs back and cuts it along the ground to deep backward point for a single.

FOUR! Sheer timing! Sliding on with the arm from around the wicket, Devdutt Padikkal uses the depth of the crease and just times his flick right between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 8 runs off the over. At the halfway stage, RCB are 104/1, needing 71 runs from 60 balls.

A big mix-up, DDP slips but gets away with it! On the pads, on a length, Kohli tucks it to the right of deep mid-wicket and calls for two straight away. Rinku Singh charges to his right in the deep and seeing that, Kohli sends Devdutt back on the second run. Padikkal slips while returning but a wayward throw at the batting end allows him to get back. This single brings up 1000 runs for Kohli against KKR in IPL.

Short and on off, Devdutt Padikkal whips it to long on and gets to the other end.

Gives the ball air, fuller and attacking the stumps, Kohli wrists it to wide long on for one.

Turning into the pads, on the shorter side, Kohli misses the tickle and gets hit on the back pad.

Flat and short, on off, Devdutt Padikkal shuffles and turns it through mid-wicket for a single.

Darted in, on middle, Padikkal jabs it through mid-wicket for a single. Good phase for KKR. Last 4 overs have gone for just 21 runs and yielded the wicket of Phil Salt. Identical scores for the two teams at this stage - 96/1 after 9 overs.

And again! This turns more than the previous delivery, on a nagging length, DP plays inside the line and gets beaten.

Beaten! From around the wicket to the left-hander, this lands and grips away a bit, on off, Devdutt Padikkal is beaten on the defence on the outside edge.

OUT! CAUGHT! Varun Chakaravarthy provides KKR with a much-needed breakthrough! Salt has done his job though. A fine hand of 56 runs from 31 balls comes to an end. Varun cleverly keeps it away from the batter's arc and gives the ball air, Salt swings with a cross bat to go down the ground. Only manages to get a thickish outside edge that balloons towards short third. Spencer Johnson makes no mistake there as he takes it with a slide and tumble to his left. The 95-run opening stand is broken. RCB need 80 runs from 69 balls.

Beaten! Pushed through at 100.9 kph, on off, Salt goes for the cut but gets beaten as the ball goes over his bat.

FOUR! Splits the gap! Fractionally short, on off, Salt goes deep in the creases and swivels for the pull. Pulls it through square leg and beats the fielder in the deep to his left for a boundary.

Keeps it tight, short and on the off stump, Salt gets on top of it and pushes it past point for another run. A tidy start from Sunil. Just 5 runs off it.

Slows it down at 86 kph, on a short of a length, nudged through mid-wicket for one more by Virat.

Attacking the stumps, on a nagging length, Phil stays leg side of the ball and knocks it to long off for one.

Shorter and quicker, on off, Kohli presses back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Turning back into the right-hander, Kohli sweeps it fine but straight to short fine leg.

Leg bye! At 92.2 kph, full and around the pads, Salt sits for a slog sweep but misses. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads to short third.

Drags the length back now, on off, Kohli is a bit early into the drive and mistimes it to cover.

FIFTY FOR SALT! An entertaining innings from the Englishman! 7th fifty of his IPL career and it has come in just 25 balls. Tossed up, on off, Salt eases the drive past cover for a single to get to the milestone.

Sliding on with the arm, short and on middle and leg, Salt misses the flick and wears it on the back pad.

On the pads, shorter and quicker, Kohli glances it down to deep fine leg for one.

FOUR! In the gap! Floated up, right in the arc, on middle and leg, Kohli gets down on a knee and smears it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Starts with a flat one, on the shorter side, on off, Kohli pats it back to Varun.

Bashes the hard length, on off, Kohli rides the bounce and steers it down to deep third for a single. KKR end the Powerplay on a quiet note thanks to a 5-run over from Rana. RCB end the Powerplay on 80/0, requiring 95 runs in 84 balls.

Did that carry? A top effort from Ramandeep Singh regardless! Seems to have injured himself in the process. This is on a good length, on off, Kohli loses his shape as he looks to hoick it away. Gets a leading edge that goes straight up towards deep point. Singh moves across to his right and puts in a dive. The ball brushes his fingertips and it rolls away to his right. Two runs taken. Singh's fingers get jammed into the turf and Singh will require some medical assistance.

Banged in short, outside off, Salt walks across his stumps and pulls it on the bounce to deep backward square leg for a single. So far, so good from Rana!

An off-cutter from Harshit at 118 kph, fuller in length and following the batter, Salt backs away and gets beaten on the inside edge as he looks to swipe it away.

Dug in short and this hurries Kohli up. He shapes up for the pull but isn't able to complete the bat swing as the ball arrives quicker than he expected it to. Checks his shot and flat bats it to the left of the bowler. Rana sticks out a hand and it gets parried away on the off side for one.

Rana beats the bat straight away! On a back of a length, moving away off the deck, Kohli fiddles at the delivery and gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Easy-peasy says Salt! On a back of a length, just outside off, Phil Salt waits for the ball to arrive and cuts it magnificently between backward point and short third for a boundary. 75/0 after the first 5 overs. This has been a start of some quality from Salt and Kohli.

Hard length, across off, Phil Salt eases it off the back foot to point.

That had wheels on it as well! But Ramandeep Singh did well enough to cut it off! Short and on top of off, Virat Kohli weighs on the back foot and smashes the pull shot to square leg where Ramandeep intercepts the ball on the bounce to his right. Only a single.

Speared in fuller, on off, Virat Kohli works it off the inner half of the bat to mid on.

SIX! Action replay! Full again, just outside off, Virat Kohli lofts it over the bowler's head for another six to the right of long off.

SIX! Admire that as Kohli joins the attack! Spencer serves it fuller, around off, Virat Kohli clears the front leg, plays with a straight bat and parks it right behind the bowler for a six.

FOUR! Just toying around with the field, is Salt! Fractional fuller in length, on middle and leg, Phil Salt pulls it to the vacant deep square leg region for another boundary. 21 runs off Varun Chakaravarthy's first over.

FOUR! It is raining fours and sixes off Salt's bat! Full again from Varun, in front of the stumps. Phil Salt picks up well and collects a boundary to the right of long on.

SIX! 50 up for RCB in no time! Serves a fuller one, on middle, Phil Salt clears the front leg and smashes it over mid off, and just clears the long off fence for a six.

FOUR! Shot! Fuller in length, on off, Phil Salt lofts it inside out over cover for a one-bounce boundary.

Short and on the middle and leg, Phil Salt works it across to the square leg region and rushes through for the second run.

Back of a length, sliding into the off stump, Virat Kohli hangs back and tucks it to the right of long on for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Shortens the length, on off, does Arora, Phil Salt waits for it and ramps it over the backward point region for a boundary.

Oh, that was travelling as well, but Andre Russell makes a good stop! Fuller, across off, Virat Kohli shows full face of the bat and smashes it to the cover region. Just a single as Dre Russ stops it well.

FOUR! Kohli moves into the double digits! Arora serves it fuller in length, and angles it on the leg stump line, Virat Kohli charges down the pitch and heaves across, along the ground, off the inside half of the bat. Harshit Rana runs across from deep square leg, but gives up the chase as the ball races into the fence.

Fuller in length, around off and middle, Phil Salt heaves across with the inner half of the bat. Collects a single at deep square leg.

SIX! WOW! Arora serves a friendly half volley on the stumps, Phil Salt brings his bottom hand into play, picks it up nicely, and goes airborne, and clears cow corner with ease for a six.

FOUR! Clears the in-field with ease and at will! Pitched fuller on the stumps, Phil Salt sees mid on inside the circle and chips it over the fielder and collects a boundary at long on.

Good gas there from Spencer! At 141.1 kph, on a hard length, jagging back into the batter, Phil Salt is hurried into his pull shot but misses to connect. The ball deflects off the thigh pad to the off side, and the batters cross over for a leg bye.

A yorker, far outside off. Phil Salt moves outside off, and carves it back to the bowler. Couldn't quite get under the ball there.

Pitched fuller on middle, Phil Salt leans on it and blocks it out to the cover region.

FOUR! Through the gap! Spears in a fuller ball, does Spencer, on off, Phil Salt balances himself well on the front foot, opens the bat face at the last second and places it through the covers for a boundary.

BEATEN! Slanting across middle and off, on a good length, nibbling away with the angle. Phil Salt looks to work it square of the wicket on the off side. But the ball passes close to the outside edge on the way to the keeper.

Full and across off, Phil Salt swings for the hills but does not connect.

Good running! Fuller and on off, with a tinge of an inward shape. Virat Kohli guides it through backward point for a quick couple of runs to end the first over. 12/0.

FOUR! Uppish and beats the fielder! Virat Kohli is off the mark with a boundary. Tailing back into the pads, full in length, Virat Kohli flicks it uppishly through the mid-wicket region and it slows down a bit on the way to the fence. The fielder from deep square, Harshit Rana, runs across to his left, dives to flick the ball in the arena, but parries it eventually into the fence.

Had to hurry! Angling on the pads, full in length, Salt flicks it to the mid on region and straightaway calls off for a single. Gets to the other end safely.

Hard length, skidding through at 130.8 kph, on off, Phil Salt leans forward and blocks it out to the off side.

Speared in fuller on the stumps, Phil Salt charges down a bit to whip it to the leg side, but the ball jags in a bit off the surface and beats Salt as the ball pings on the pad.

WIDE! Wayward down leg, with some lateral movement on a fuller length. Phil Salt misses to flick and a sharp diving stop by QDK to his left behind the wickets.

FOUR! Salt and RCB are up and away in style! Arora bowls full and gets the ball to tail back in from outside off, Phil Salt presses forward and cracks the drive through the gap between mid off and cover for a boundary.