RCB VS KKR: Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar not playing IPL 2025 opener?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, one of the best Indian bowlers in the Indian Premier League, is not playing the ongoing first match of the IPL 2025, KKR vs RCB at Eden Gardens Kolkata. RCB captain Rajat Patidar named Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar, and Josh Hazlewood as their primary fast bowlers against the defending champions in the season opener. 

Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar not playing KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 opener?

In the IPL 2025 opener, Rajat Patidar, the captain of RCB, won the toss at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and decided to bowl first. However, surprisingly, he did not name Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI and did not reveal any reason for benching one of the most experienced bowlers in the league.

KKR vs RCB playing XI’s

KKR: Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy

RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

At the time of writing, the six-over powerplay has concluded, and KKR smashed 60 runs with the loss of 1 wicket. RCB started amazingly well in the season opener with the early wicket of Quinton de Kock, but after surviving three overs, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane took charge and bounced back hard to reach a total of 60 in the powerplay.

Virat Kohli dances with Shah Rukh Khan at the IPL 2025 Opening Ceremony

One of the highlights of the IPL 2025 opening ceremony was Virat Kohli and Rinku Singh dancing with Shah Rukh Khan on Bollywood songs. Shah Rukh Khan and Rinku first danced to the “Lut Putt Gaya” song and then the actor asked Virat to join and the duo then danced to the “Jhoome Jo Pathan” song.