IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB opener likely to be washed out? What the weather forecast says

The opening match of the IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the iconic Eden Gardens is likely to give cricket fans a sense of déjà vu. At the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008, New Zealand batter and then KKR opener Brendon McCullum lit up the night sky with a blistering 158, which changed the world of cricket forever.

Seventeen years later, KKR, who have won three IPL titles, and RCB, who are still waiting for their maiden title, will clash yet again in the opener of the lucrative league.

A star-studded opening ceremony featuring Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani is scheduled to set the tone for the night. However, there are dark clouds hovering above the plans, literally.

IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB weather forecast. Will it rain?

The forecast is not too encouraging for the opening match between the KKR and RCB at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The weather department has issued an orange alert as thunderstorms and rain have been predicted in parts of West Bengal.

The IMD has predicted “light or moderate" rainfall over West Bengal from March 19 to 22. Accuweather has predicted a 74 per cent chance of rain in the city on March 22 while cloud cover is likely to be at 97 per cent.

Whether the showers will completely wash out the match or KKR and RCB will manage to play the minimum number of overs to constitute a match, remains to be seen

IMD has issued a yellow alert for March 23.

Incidentally, one match at the Eden Gardens has already been rescheduled – the KKR vs Lucknow Super Giants on April 6 has been shifted to Guwahati due to security concerns related to 'Ram Navami' celebrations in the city on the day.

RCB vs KKR: Clash of the new captains

Both the teams have new skippers this season – Ajinkya Rahane for the KKR and Rajat Patidar for the RCB. The Kolkata side will rely on their ace spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy and pace spearheads Anrich Nortje and Harshit Rana to counter the strong RCB batting lineup comprising Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Patidar, Jacob Bethell and finishers such as Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone among others.

RCB have an experienced pace department, too, this season with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood shoring up their attack, though the absence of a frontline spinner might hurt them at the Eden Gardens.

KKR have firepower in the batting, too, with the likes of Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer and Narine.