New Delhi: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a resounding eight-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the sixth match of IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on March 26. This win marked KKRโs first triumph of the season, powered by Quinton de Kockโs scintillating unbeaten 97 off 61 balls.
Opting to bowl first, KKRโs bowlers delivered a clinical performance, restricting RR to a modest 151/9 in 20 overs. Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen Ali (2/23) were instrumental in choking RRโs middle order with their spin, while Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana claimed two wickets each.
RRโs batting lineup struggled to build partnerships, with Dhruv Jurelโs 33 off 28 balls being the only notable contribution. Captain Riyan Paragโs decision-making came under scrutiny, as his field placements and bowling changes lacked clarity.
ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyerโs captaincy leads PBKS to a thrilling victory over GT
In response, KKRโs chase was anchored by Quinton de Kock, who showcased a masterclass in controlled aggression. His innings included eight boundaries and six towering sixes, with the final blow being a massive six off Jofra Archer to seal the victory. Angkrish Raghuvanshi supported de Kock with a steady 22 off 17 balls, as KKR chased down the target in just 17.3 overs.
Post-match, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane praised the teamโs all-round performance, saying, โThe bowlers set the tone, and Quintonโs knock was simply outstanding. This win gives us the momentum we needed.โ
ALSO READ: New Zealand wins series with dominant win over Pakistan in 5th T20I
Meanwhile, RRโs stand-in captain Riyan Parag admitted, โWe fell short with the bat and couldnโt capitalize on key moments. Credit to KKR for their performance.โ
This match highlighted KKRโs depth in both batting and bowling, while RRโs struggles with consistency were evident. KKRโs bowlers, despite missing Sunil Narine, stepped up to the challenge, with Moeen Ali filling the void effectively. On the other hand, RRโs bowling unit, including Jofra Archer, failed to contain KKRโs aggressive batters.
The victory propelled KKR to the sixth position in the points table, while RR remained at the bottom after two consecutive losses. With the IPL season heating up, both teams must regroup and address their weaknesses to stay competitive.
