KKR won by 8 wickets, marking their first victory in IPL 2025.
KKR won the important toss on a sticky wicket and decided to bowl first. While RR batters started with the intent of putting a big total but they never looked comfortable in the middle due to slow wicket.
Rajasthan Royals’ Innings:
RR struggled throughout their batting innings, unable to build significant partnerships and finishing with a below-par score of 151/9.
Dhruv Jurel was the top scorer from RR, he scored a valuable 33 runs off 23 balls, including 2 sixes. He provided some resistance in the middle order.
Middle overs struggle for RR:
On a wicket assisting the spinners, KKR used spin between 7 to 15 overs, seven out of the nine overs in this period, with Moeen Ali and Varun Chakaravarthy hampering RR’s progress. Between them, they conceded just a 6 and a 4 while picking up 4 wickets, as RR managed only 56/5 in this phase, with only 22 runs in boundaries. In contrast, de Kock paced his innings well, chose his shots wisely and ensured KKR did not fall behind in the middle overs even though spin was used predominantly by RR as well. De Kock got good support from Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Whereas RR lost key wickets early, putting the team under pressure right from the start.
Sanju Sampson couldn’t repeat his last match performance today. Then despite scoring two sixes and two fours in the powerplay, Jaiswal didn’t look in his fluent best, mistiming and not able to find the gaps. Parag, on the other hand, was scoring a lot quicker and hit his third six when he put away a short ball from Varun. But RR’s stand-in skipper departed in the same over, a lofted attempt going awry as Quinton de Kock held on to a high catch.
Despite contributions from Shimron Hetmyer (25) and Devdutt Padikkal (19), RR couldn’t capitalize on the platform, lost wickets at regular intervals.
KKR Bowling:
Varun Chakravarthy: Bowled brilliantly, picking up 2 wickets for just 17 runs in his 4 overs.
Moeen Ali: Took 2 wickets for 23 runs, applying pressure during the middle overs.
Andre Russell and Tim Southee: Contributed with crucial wickets at the death.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chase:
KKR’s chase was perfectly paced and clinical as they reached 155/2 in just 17.3 overs, showcasing their dominance.
Only 2 wickets fell for KKR, Moeen’s struggle (5 off 12) eventually came to an end when he was run out attempting a second. Hasaranga struck in his second over, getting Rahane to top-edge a sweep before de Kock cleared the deep midwicket fence to bring up a 36-ball fifty.
Quinton de Kock: Played a magnificent innings, remaining unbeaten on 97 runs off 61 balls. His knock included 12 fours and 3 sixes, effectively anchoring the chase.
De Kock and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (22 off 17 balls) formed a steady opening partnership, adding 68 runs in 7.2 overs.
KKR’s captain scored a composed 29 off 24 balls, playing the supporting role and ensuring there were no hiccups in the chase.
RR Bowling:
RR’s bowlers struggled to make an impact, with Trent Boult (1/31) and Kuldeep Sen (1/37) managing to pick up the only two wickets.
Key Turning Points:
- RR’s Batting Collapse: Losing 5 wickets within the first 12 overs severely restricted their scoring potential.
- De Kock’s Masterclass: His calculated aggression and flawless execution in shot-making completely nullified RR’s bowling attack.
- Spin Dominance by KKR: Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali’s economical and wicket-taking spells-controlled RR’s momentum.
Player of the Match:
Quinton de Kock for his unbeaten 97, steering KKR to victory with grace and control.
This match highlighted KKR’s ability to dominate with both bat and ball, while RR’s struggles in batting and bowling coordination proved costly.
Next Games for Both Teams:
The Royals stay back in Guwahati where they’ll play their next home game against Chennai Super Kings on March 30. The Knight Riders will fly to Mumbai for their next match against Mumbai Indians on March 31.