The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), won the match by 14 runs against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. KKR registered their fourth victory of IPL 2025 and moved up to seventh in the points table. Having lost their last two matches in the IPL, DC now sit fourth in the table.
Talking Points
1. KKR top-order batters score quick runs
KKR openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26 off 12) and Sunil Narine (27 off 16) got off to a flying start in the powerplay by scoring quick runs. After Gurbaz was dismissed, skipper Ajinkya Rahane (26 off 14) continued the momentum. At the end of the powerplay, KKR had raced to 79 runs for the loss of just one wicket.
2. DC bowlers tighten the grip
After the powerplay, DC spinners put the brakes on KKR’s scoring. Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam picked up two wickets each and maintained control during the middle overs, effectively restricting the flow of runs for a period.
3. Raghuvanshi and Rinku’s crucial partnership
For the fifth wicket, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 32) and Rinku Singh (36 off 25) built a solid partnership of 61 runs off 46 balls, which helped KKR reach a competitive total of 204. Mitchell Starc claimed three wickets in his spell, but it was expensive, as he conceded 43 runs.
4. KKR spinners keep DC in check
KKR spinners Anukul Roy (1/27), Sunil Narine (3/29), and Varun Chakravarthy (2/39) played a crucial role in restricting the DC batters from scoring freely. By picking up wickets at regular intervals, they maintained pressure and effectively disrupted DC’s chase.
5. DC batters’ efforts go in vain
DC opener Faf du Plessis scored a steady 62 off 45 balls, while skipper Axar Patel added a quickfire 43 off 23. Vipraj Nigam’s late blitz of 38 off 19 gave some hope, but it was not enough to chase down the target. DC fell short by 14 runs, and KKR secured a crucial win, one of the five they need to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Who said What?
Axar Patel, DC (losing captain)
I think how the wicket was and how we bowled in the powerplay, we gave away 15-20 runs too many. We also lost a few wickets in a soft manner. The positive was how we restricted them after the powerplay, coming to the batting, even though few batters failed, 2-3 of us contributed and took it so close. When Vipraj was batting there was hope, if Ashutosh was there then they could have repeated the first game. My skin got peeled off as I dived on the practice wickets to stop the ball, but the good thing is there are 3-4 days break and hopefully I will be able to recover.
Ajinkya Rahane, KKR (winning captain)
(on his injured hand) Not bad. I will be okay. I will be fine. (turning point of the game) After 13 overs, those two overs from Sunil. When he picked those wickets, that was the game for us. 204 on that wicket was good, but frankly I felt we were 15 runs short. Russell one over in between and good support from Anukul and Varun. History at this ground, left-arm spinners have always done well, he has been working hard, but one game at a time, we don’t want to think too far ahead. That’s always been the talk, when we were not doing well. Take confidence from this game and move forward. He has been a champion bowler for this franchise, he has done well on many occasions. So good to have him and Varun, I can go back to him when we are ion trouble. Coming early to the practice session, bowling hours and hours in the nets, also working on his batting. Dre also working hard on his bowling, he has been bowling good yorkers in the nets. As a team, we can back him. He has been fantastic, whenever he has bowled in this season, he has picked wickets.
Sunil Narine, Player of the Match
It was a total team effort, we started in the middle overs with Anky and Rinku with the bat. I still back myself to come back and deliver for the team. There are games when you start well and struggle and then there are games that you don’t begin well and end well. (on which wicket he enjoyed the most) It’s all wickets, it is not one wicket that I enjoy. Not the greatest fielder, but it is always good to get a good run-out whenever possible. (on that run-out) Just swing and throw the ball as hard as possible. Self-pride. Always want to be able to give the captain an option of going for you in a pressure situation. If you want to be that player, you have to do the hard work even when there’s no training.
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