The defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showcased a dominant performance, comfortably defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 8 wickets in their IPL 2025 clash. Quinton de Kock’s sublime 97 off 61 balls* was the highlight of the match, as KKR chased down 152 runs in 17.3 overs with ease.
Match Summary
First Innings: Rajasthan Royals – 151/9 (20 Overs)
Batting first, Rajasthan Royals struggled to gain momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals as KKR’s disciplined bowling attack applied constant pressure.
RR Top Batters:
Dhruv Jurel: 33 (28) | Held the innings together but lacked support
Riyan Parag: 27 (22) | Looked promising but couldn’t convert his start
Sanju Samson: 19 (17) | Dismissed before he could accelerate
Shimron Hetmyer: 18 (12) | Provided a brief late flourish
KKR’s Bowling Performance:
Varun Chakravarthy: 4-0-17-2 | Restrictive spell, key breakthroughs
Moeen Ali: 3-0-23-2 | Struck at crucial moments
Mitchell Starc: 4-0-35-1 | Early breakthrough but slightly expensive
Sunil Narine: 4-0-28-1 | Controlled middle-overs well
Rajasthan failed to capitalize on the powerplay, and despite small contributions from multiple batters, they could only post 151/9—a below-par total on a batting-friendly pitch.
Second Innings: KKR’s Chase – 153/2 (17.3 Overs)
KKR’s chase was smooth and clinical, thanks to Quinton de Kock’s masterclass, supported by Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer.
KKR Top Batters:
Quinton de Kock: ⭐ 97 (61)* | (11 fours, 3 sixes) | Controlled the chase beautifully
Shreyas Iyer: 29 (24) | Played second fiddle, steadying the chase
Venkatesh Iyer: 15 (14) | Provided a quick start before falling
RR’s Bowling Performance:
Yuzvendra Chahal: 4-0-32-1 | Kept things tight but lacked support
Trent Boult: 3-0-28-1 | Got an early wicket but was expensive
Avesh Khan: 3-0-27-0 | Failed to make an impact
De Kock’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, pacing the chase perfectly. KKR reached 153/2 in just 17.3 overs, winning the match with 15 balls to spare.
Key Takeaways:
✅ De Kock’s match-winning knock – A near-flawless 97*, just short of a century.
✅ KKR’s disciplined bowling – Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali’s spells proved crucial.
✅ RR’s struggles with the bat – Lack of partnerships led to a below-par total.
✅ Defending champions dominate – KKR continue their winning momentum in IPL 2025.
With this emphatic 8-wicket win, KKR solidifies its position at the top of the points table and looks set for another strong season.