Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025
On March 26, 2025, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati witnessed an electrifying clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 6 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. KKR, the defending champions, showcased their prowess with a clinical 8-wicket victory, powered by a sensational batting performance from Quinton de Kock and a disciplined bowling effort. Here’s a detailed recap of the match highlights and the full scorecard.
Match Overview
- Date: March 26, 2025
- Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- Toss: KKR won the toss and elected to bowl first
- Result: KKR beat RR by 8 wickets
RR, coming off a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their season opener, aimed to bounce back on their adopted home ground. However, KKR’s bowlers had other plans, restricting RR to a modest total before de Kock’s brilliance sealed the chase with ease.
First Innings: Rajasthan Royals Struggle to 151/9
RR’s batting lineup faced early trouble as KKR’s bowlers exploited the sticky pitch conditions. Captain Riyan Parag, standing in for Sanju Samson, elected to bat first but couldn’t anchor the innings as wickets fell at regular intervals.
- Key Moments:
- Early Blows: Vaibhav Arora struck in the powerplay, dismissing Sanju Samson (8 off 11) with a well-directed delivery that crashed into the stumps. RR were 28/1 after 4 overs.
- Jaiswal and Parag Fight Back: Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 off 24) and Riyan Parag (25 off 15) provided some resistance, with Parag smashing a six off Harshit Rana. However, Moeen Ali ended Jaiswal’s stay, and Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Parag with a sharp catch by de Kock, leaving RR at 67/2 in 8 overs.
- Middle-Order Collapse: The spin duo of Chakravarthy (2/17) and Ali (2/23) turned the screws, removing key batsmen like Nitish Rana and Shimron Hetmyer cheaply. RR slipped to 96/6 by the 14th over.
- Jurel’s Resistance: Dhruv Jurel top-scored with 33 off 28 balls, hitting a few boundaries to give RR a fighting chance. However, Harshit Rana (2/38) and Arora (2/33) cleaned up the tail, restricting RR to 151/9 in 20 overs.
- Bowling Standouts:
- Varun Chakravarthy: 4 overs, 2/17
- Moeen Ali: 4 overs, 2/23
- Vaibhav Arora: 4 overs, 2/33
- Harshit Rana: 4 overs, 2/38
Second Innings: Quinton de Kock’s Masterclass Seals the Chase
Chasing 152, KKR got off to a cautious start but soon found their rhythm, thanks to Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 97 off 61 balls. His knock, laced with 8 fours and 6 sixes, ensured KKR cruised to victory with 15 balls to spare.
- Key Moments:
- Slow Start: Jofra Archer bowled a fiery opening over, conceding just 2 runs (both wides) to Moeen Ali. KKR managed only 40/0 in the powerplay, with RR’s bowlers keeping it tight.
- Moeen’s Exit: Riyan Parag dismissed Moeen Ali (5 off 12) in the 5th over, caught short of his crease attempting a risky double. KKR were 25/1.
- De Kock Takes Charge: Partnering with Ajinkya Rahane (18 off 15), de Kock steadied the innings before unleashing his aggression. He reached his fifty off 44 balls, hammering Riyan Parag and Wanindu Hasaranga for sixes.
- Rahane Falls: Hasaranga trapped Rahane LBW in the 10th over, but the damage was minimal as KKR were 61/2, needing 91 off 66 balls.
- De Kock’s Late Surge: With Angkrish Raghuvanshi (22* off 17) for company, de Kock accelerated, smashing Jofra Archer for a four and a six in the 17th over. He finished the game in style with another six off Archer, ending on 97* as KKR reached 152/2 in 17.3 overs.
- Batting Standouts:
- Quinton de Kock: 97* (61 balls, 8 fours, 6 sixes)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 22* (17 balls, 2 fours)
- Ajinkya Rahane: 18 (15 balls, 1 four)
- Bowling Efforts:
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 1/32 in 4 overs
- Jofra Archer: 0/32 in 3.3 overs (expensive final over)
Scorecard
Rajasthan Royals Innings: 151/9 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 29 | 24 | 2 | 1 | c de Kock b Ali |
| Sanju Samson | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | b Arora |
| Riyan Parag (c) | 25 | 15 | 1 | 2 | c de Kock b Chakravarthy |
| Nitish Rana | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | b Chakravarthy |
| Dhruv Jurel (wk) | 33 | 28 | 3 | 0 | c Russell b Rana |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | b Ali |
| Shubham Dubey | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0 | run out (Russell) |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | c Rahane b Rana |
| Jofra Archer | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | b Arora |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4* | 2 | 1 | 0 | not out |
| Tushar Deshpande | 0* | 1 | 0 | 0 | not out |
| Extras | 11 | (lb 2, w 9) | |||
| Total | 151/9 | (20 overs) |
Bowling (KKR)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Arora | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Harshit Rana | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| Spencer Johnson | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Moeen Ali | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| Andre Russell | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: 152/2 (17.3 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | 97* | 61 | 8 | 6 | not out |
| Moeen Ali | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | run out (Parag) |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 18 | 15 | 1 | 0 | lbw b Hasaranga |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 22* | 17 | 2 | 0 | not out |
| Extras | 10 | (lb 1, w 9) | |||
| Total | 152/2 | (17.3 overs) |
Bowling (RR)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 3.3 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Riyan Parag | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Nitish Rana | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Player of the Match
- Quinton de Kock: His unbeaten 97 off 61 balls was the cornerstone of KKR’s chase, earning him the Player of the Match award. Falling just 3 runs short of a century, de Kock’s blend of caution and aggression dismantled RR’s bowling attack.
Turning Point
The turning point came during RR’s innings when KKR’s spinners, Chakravarthy and Ali, triggered a middle-order collapse. From 67/2, RR lost 4 wickets for 29 runs, derailing their momentum and setting a below-par total that KKR chased down comfortably.
Post-Match Analysis
KKR’s victory marked their first win of IPL 2025, lifting them to sixth on the points table, while RR remained at the bottom after two losses. The absence of Sunil Narine due to injury was a concern, but Moeen Ali stepped up admirably. For RR, the inability of their top order to convert starts and a lackluster bowling performance highlighted areas needing urgent improvement.
This win showcased KKR’s depth and resilience, setting the tone for their title defense. RR, meanwhile, will look to regroup ahead of their next challenge.
This article captures the essence of the KKR vs. RR clash, blending highlights with a detailed scorecard for a comprehensive match summary.
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