The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) promises intense action, fierce rivalries, and thrilling finishes. Fans can expect massive sixes, elegant cover drives, and dramatic on-field moments.
The tournament kicks off on March 22 with an exciting match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Since KKR are the defending champions, they will aim for a strong start. Meanwhile, RCB will look to secure an early win and set the tone for the season.
Badrinath Mocks RCB Before IPL 2025 Opener
Ahead of this highly anticipated match, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath took a playful dig at RCB on Instagram.
In a video, he greeted representatives from various teams while posing as a CSK representative. However, when he reached RCB’s table, he deliberately ignored them and moved on to the next team. His actions sparked reactions from fans, making the clip go viral.
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Badrinath, who played 95 matches for CSK, scored 1,441 runs at an average of 30.65, with 11 half-centuries. Now, all eyes are on March 28, when CSK and RCB will renew their rivalry in Chennai.
AB de Villiers on IPL’s Challenges and RCB’s Hopes
Meanwhile, former RCB star AB de Villiers explained why winning the IPL is so difficult.
“Winning the IPL is incredibly difficult. There are 10 world-class teams that could even win a World Cup, let alone the IPL. So many factors come into play—travel, team strategies, injuries, and adapting to different conditions throughout the season. The team that manages to maintain energy and momentum towards the back end of the tournament usually comes out on top. Teams that capitalize on their home advantage tend to perform well,” de Villiers said on Jio Hotstar.
Furthermore, he expressed his hope that RCB will finally lift their first IPL title. He believes that Virat Kohli, wearing jersey number 18, could lead them to victory in this 18th season.
“I hope this is the year—the 18th season, with number 18 (Virat) in the squad. If RCB lifts the trophy, I will be there celebrating with Virat!” de Villiers added.
