Quinton de Kock’s near-century masterclass powered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a convincing win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL 2025 clash. Chasing a modest target of 152, KKR cruised home with seven wickets in hand, marking their first victory of the season. De Kock’s unbeaten 97 off 61 balls was the cornerstone of the chase, while young Angkrish Raghuvanshi played a composed supporting role with 22* off 17.
On a pitch that offered some grip for the spinners, KKR’s bowlers laid the foundation for the win. After being asked to bowl first, the Knight Riders restricted RR to 151/8, thanks to disciplined spells from their bowling unit.
RR’s Faltering Batting Display
Rajasthan’s innings never quite took off despite multiple batters getting starts. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson added 33 runs for the opening wicket but failed to convert their promising knocks into substantial scores. Riyan Parag too got a start, he hit some crisp sixes but fell before he could make a significant impact.
The middle order struggled to find momentum, with Dhruv Jurel’s painstaking 33 off 28 balls failing to provide the late acceleration RR needed. Shubham Dubey, brought in as the impact substitute, failed to fire, while Wanindu Hasaranga’s promotion also backfired. It was only Jofra Archer’s late onslaught, with a few powerful blows in the death overs, that helped RR cross the 150-run mark.
For KKR, Moeen Ali (2/21) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/25) were the standout performers, using the slowness of the surface effectively.
De Kock’s Dominance in the Chase
KKR’s chase was measured yet commanding. They started cautiously, with de Kock and Moeen playing out the initial burst from Jofra Archer. The South African wicketkeeper-batter then took charge, dismantling Maheesh Theekshana with crisp strokes through the off-side.
Moeen’s casual run-out post the powerplay briefly slowed the momentum, but RR’s decision to overuse their spinners made it easier for KKR. Hasaranga was inconsistent with his lengths, offering release balls that were gleefully dispatched by de Kock.
Despite losing Ali and captain Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession, de Kock remained unflustered. His calculated assault on Jofra Archer in the final overs sealed the deal, with the left-hander finishing the match with a towering six down the ground.
De Kock’s unbeaten 97, laced with boundaries and cleanly struck sixes, ensured KKR bagged their first win of the season, while RR slumped to their second successive defeat.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
