Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu hailed Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s veteran batter Virat Kohli for batting with intent in the team’s seven-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday.

Kohli scored an unbeaten knock of 59 runs off 36 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 163.89 to help his team chase down the target of 175 with 22 balls to spare.

Kohli was able to add 80 runs in the Powerplay overs with Phil Salt, who raced to his fifty off just 25 balls. The Indian talisman, on the other hand, completed his half-century off 30 balls. 

Rayudu noted that Kohli mostly likes to stay unbeaten till the end but he played with an aggressive approach throughout the innings, which are great signs for RCB.

Rayudu said on ESPN Cricinfo, “Kohli, generally, loves to finish the game, stay not out. But here, he stayed not out with the intent. He continued batting with that intent. That shows that… if Kohli is ready to do that, the rest eight [batters] will do that for RCB. And that’s a great, great sight. That shows his leadership in the batting department.”

Meanwhile, chasing 175, RCB raced to 37 runs in the first three overs, with Phil Salt playing the aggressive role. Rahane decided to use in-form Varun Chakravarthy for the fourth over but the mystery spinner was taken for 21 runs by the English batter. Rayudu noted that over all but sealed the game for RCB.

“That over quickly sealed it, the confidence of KKR was completely shattered in that over,” Rayudu said in the same interview.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.