Kolkata Registers First Win of IPL 2025, Rajasthan Falls to the Bottom
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first victory in IPL 2025 with a commanding eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday. KKR successfully chased down the 152-run target in just 17.3 overs, securing their position at sixth place in the points table, while Rajasthan slipped to the bottom after consecutive defeats.
Match Summary: KKR vs RR
- Toss: KKR won the toss and opted to field.
- Rajasthan Royals Innings: 151/9 (20 overs)
- Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: 153/2 (17.3 overs)
- Result: KKR won by 8 wickets with 15 balls to spare.
IPL 2025 Points Table After KKR’s Victory
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟠 Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 🟢 +2.200 |
| 🔴 Royal Challengers Bangalore | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 🟢 +2.137 |
| 🔵 Punjab Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 🟡 +0.550 |
| 🟡 Chennai Super Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 🟡 +0.493 |
| 🔵 Delhi Capitals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 🔵 +0.371 |
| 🟣 Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 🔴 -0.308 |
| 🟢 Lucknow Super Giants | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 🔴 -0.371 |
| 🔵 Mumbai Indians | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 🔴 -0.493 |
| 🟡 Gujarat Titans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 🔴 -0.550 |
| 🔴 Rajasthan Royals | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 🔴 -1.882 |
KKR’s Chase: A Dominant Batting Display
Chasing 152, Moeen Ali and Quinton de Kock gave KKR a flying start with a 41-run opening stand. Ali was run out by Mahish Teekshana after scoring 20 runs, bringing Ajinkya Rahane to the crease. Rahane and de Kock added 29 runs in 24 balls before Rahane was dismissed for 18.
De Kock, the star of the night, remained unbeaten on 97, narrowly missing out on a century. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, playing as an impact player, contributed 22 runs, and the duo stitched an 83-run unbeaten partnership to guide KKR home.
- Top Performers for KKR:
- Quinton de Kock: 97* (65)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 22* (18)
- Moeen Ali: 20 (14)
Rajasthan’s Struggles: Early Promise but a Collapse
Rajasthan Royals started strong, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson putting up a 33-run partnership for the first wicket. However, KKR bowlers struck at regular intervals:
- Sanju Samson was dismissed for 13 runs off 11 balls by Vaibhav Arora.
- Captain Riyan Parag contributed 25 runs, forming a 34-run stand with Jaiswal.
- Dhruv Jurel top-scored with 33 runs, while the middle and lower order struggled against KKR’s disciplined bowling.
- Jofra Archer scored 16 runs, providing a late flourish.
RR Batting Performance:
- Dhruv Jurel: 33 (27)
- Riyan Parag: 25 (21)
- Jofra Archer: 16 (10)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 19 (14)
KKR’s Bowling Excellence
KKR bowlers showcased an all-round performance, restricting RR to 151/9:
- Vaibhav Arora: 2/25
- Harshit Rana: 2/28
- Moeen Ali: 2/22
- Varun Chakravarthy: 2/30
- Spencer Johnson: 1/18 (took the crucial wicket of Jofra Archer)
What This Win Means for KKR
- Jump to 6th place in the IPL 2025 Points Table.
- Positive momentum after a tough start to the season.
- Quinton de Kock in prime form, boosting KKR’s top order.
- Bowlers finding rhythm, crucial for upcoming matches.
Looking Ahead: KKR’s Next Match
KKR will look to build on this victory as they prepare for their next match. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals must regroup quickly to avoid further setbacks.
Upcoming Matches:
- Kolkata Knight Riders’ next match: vs Delhi Capitals
- Rajasthan Royals’ next match: vs Mumbai Indians
With the IPL 2025 season heating up, the competition remains fierce. Stay tuned for more updates and match reports!
