IPL 2025, RR vs KKR, Hits & Flops: Quinton de Kock’s brilliance and KKR’s spin attack dismantle Rajasthan, securing KKR’s first win of the season. KKR move to 6th place.
Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): 153/2 in 17.3 overs (Quinton de Kock 97*, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 22*; Jofra Archer 1/32) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR): 151/9 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 33, Yashasvi Jaiswal 29; Varun Chakaravarthy 2/24, Moeen Ali 2/28)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a dominant victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their IPL 2025 encounter at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. RR, struggling to find momentum, managed to post a modest total of 151/9 in 20 overs. KKR, led by an explosive Quinton de Kock innings, chased down the target comfortably with more than 2 overs to spare.
Hits from RR vs KKR game
Ajinkya Rahane’s tactical captaincy on a tricky pitch
KKR’s skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, displayed excellent leadership by making strategic bowling changes that kept RR in check. Recognising the assistance for spinners, he introduced Moeen Ali in the powerplay, which disrupted RR’s top order. Rahane’s move to rotate his bowlers effectively ensured that RR never got the momentum they needed.
Despite missing Sunil Narine, KKR’s bowling unit put up a commendable performance. Varun Chakaravarthy (2/24) and Moeen Ali (2/28) were particularly effective in the middle overs, stifling RR’s scoring rate. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana also chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring RR never got to a competitive total.
Quinton de Kock’s return to form
Quinton de Kock was in sublime touch, scoring 97* off just 69 deliveries, with nine boundaries and three sixes. His ability to accelerate at the right moments allowed KKR to cruise to victory without any real hiccups. With KKR needing a solid top-order batter, de Kock’s return to form bodes well for the franchise as the tournament progresses.
Read More: IPL 2025, KKR vs RCB, Talking Point: Patidar’s astute use of spinners drives KKR out of the game
Flops from RR vs KKR game
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag’s slow knocks hurt RR
Yashasvi Jaiswal, known for his aggressive batting, struggled to get going on the sluggish surface. His 29 off 35 balls lacked fluency, preventing RR from capitalising on the powerplay. His strike rate of 120.83 put pressure on the middle order to accelerate, which eventually led to wickets falling in quick succession.
Despite being promoted in the batting order, Riyan Parag failed to deliver, managing just 25 runs off 15 balls. RR have backed Parag for multiple seasons, but his inconsistency continues to be a major concern. If RR are to improve their batting performances, Parag will need to take more responsibility in the middle order.
Conclusion & Way Forward
KKR’s commanding win showcased their balance in both batting and bowling. Ajinkya Rahane’s tactical captaincy, Quinton de Kock’s explosive batting, and their disciplined bowling ensured a clinical chase. The franchise will be pleased with the form of their key players as they eye consistency in the tournament.
On the other hand, RR need to address their top-order issues. While their bowlers did a decent job in defending a below-par total, their batters failed to capitalise on starts. The likes of Jaiswal and Parag must step up to support the team’s experienced players.
As the tournament progresses, RR will have to work on preventing batting collapses, while KKR will look to build upon the momentum they have gained from this victory. Read More: IPL 2025, SRH vs RR, Talking Point: Sunrisers continue power game, catch Royals off guard
IPL 2025 Points Table
Top Twitter Reactions from KKR vs RR, Guwahati Game, IPL 2025
Read More: IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders squad complete analysis
