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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Predictions - De Kock to crush RCB bowlers

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 20 Mar 2025

Simon Lewis 20 Mar 2025

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Kolkata Knight Riders’ Quinton de Kock has scored 3157 runs in 107 innings in the IPL.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli scored 100* & 84 runs in his last four innings.
Can the Knight Riders start the defence of their title with a big win over RCB?

Expired

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

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Predictions

The Knight Riders kick off the defence of their third IPL title against Royal Challengers, who finished in the top four for the fourth time in the last five seasons… but they have yet to lift the IPL title. The Knight Riders topped the IPL title last season with nine wins from 14 matches and I’m backing them to start the season with a win.

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 in a row 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 Team 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 Team 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.

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