Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) proved they could win even without Sunil Narine, thanks to new signing Moeen Ali and the experienced Varun Chakravarthy. The spin duo dominated on a slow Guwahati pitch, restricting Rajasthan Royals (RR) to just 151 for 9. Their combined figures of 8-0-40-4 were so effective that KKR didn’t even need Andre Russell to bowl.
RR Struggle to Post a Competitive Total
Rajasthan’s innings never really took off, with most of their batters struggling against KKR’s disciplined bowling. Dhruv Jurel was the top scorer with 33 off 28 balls, while Jofra Archer’s late hits helped RR cross 150.
Key Performers for KKR’s Bowling:
- Varun Chakravarthy: 2-17
- Moeen Ali: 2-23
- Vaibhav Arora: 2-33
- Nitish Rana: 2-36
Parag’s Unhappy Homecoming
Captaining RR in his hometown, Riyan Parag gave the crowd a few moments of excitement. He hit a couple of big sixes, including a one-handed shot off Harshit Rana. However, he fell to Varun Chakravarthy for 14 runs, failing to convert his start.
With the ball, Parag bowled decently, finishing with 4-0-25-0, and also contributed with a run-out, but it wasn’t enough to turn the game in RR’s favor.
Varun and Moeen Disrupt RR’s Game Plan
Moeen Ali, who might not have played if Narine was available, made an immediate impact. He dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 29 off 24 balls, marking only Jaiswal’s second dismissal to spin in the IPL since 2023.
Rajasthan’s plan to use Wanindu Hasaranga as a pinch-hitter at No. 5 also backfired, as he was dismissed for just 4 runs. From 67 for 1, RR collapsed to 82 for 5, losing their grip on the match.
De Kock’s Masterclass Leads KKR to Victory
Chasing 152, KKR lost Moeen Ali early for 5 off 12 balls, run out after a mix-up with Quinton de Kock. However, de Kock made up for it with a brilliant unbeaten 97 off 61 balls, ensuring KKR cruised to the target with eight wickets and 14 balls to spare.
He dominated the powerplay, scoring 34 of KKR’s 40 runs inside six overs, and continued his assault on RR’s bowlers, smashing Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Riyan Parag all over the park.
Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (21 off 16)* provided solid support, adding an unbeaten 83-run stand off 44 balls with de Kock to seal the win.
KKR Get First Points, RR Lose Back-to-Back Games
With this win, KKR opened their account in IPL 2025, while RR suffered their second consecutive defeat. Their total of 151 for 9 was the lowest in this high-scoring IPL season so far, exposing their batting struggles.
KKR’s next challenge will be to maintain this momentum, while RR will need to bounce back quickly to stay in the hunt.
