IPL 2025, KKR vs SRH: Kolkata Knight Riders Set Competitive Total Of 200 Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Eden Gardens witnessed a thrilling encounter as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) put up a competitive total of 200/6 in their 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The match, filled with explosive batting and crucial breakthroughs, saw KKR's middle-order rise to the occasion after a shaky start. Venkatesh Iyer 's blistering half-century and Angkrish Raghuvanshi's gritty 50 were the highlights of the innings, while SRH's bowlers, led by Harshal Patel , kept the pressure on with timely wickets.

KKR's Powerplay Struggles

KKR began their innings cautiously, with openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine at the crease. However, the early overs were far from smooth. Mohammad Shami drew first blood in the very first over with a leg-bye boundary, but it was Pat Cummins who struck decisively in the second over. Cummins's well-directed short ball accounted for Quinton de Kock, who mistimed his pull shot, finding Zeeshan Ansari at deep square leg. De Kock departed for just 1 (6), leaving KKR at 14/1.

Sunil Narine tried to counterattack with a massive six off Cummins in the same over, but SRH struck again in the next over. Shami's fuller delivery outside off forced an outside edge from Narine, who was caught brilliantly by Heinrich Klaasen diving to his left. At 16/2, KKR were in a spot of bother, and the pressure was firmly on skipper Ajinkya Rahane and the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Rahane and Raghuvanshi Steady the Ship

The duo of Rahane and Raghuvanshi began rebuilding the innings with a cautious yet effective partnership. Rahane, known for his classical strokeplay, found his rhythm with a couple of boundaries and a six off Cummins in the 4th over. Raghuvanshi, on the other hand, showcased his talent with some elegant drives and deft touches. The pair brought up their 50-run partnership in just 30 balls, with Raghuvanshi reaching his half-century in style.

However, just as the partnership was gathering momentum, Zeeshan Ansari provided the breakthrough for SRH. Rahane, attempting a reverse sweep, edged the ball to Klaasen, who took a sharp catch. Rahane's departure for a well-made 38 (27) left KKR at 97/3.

Iyer and Rinku Singh's Late Flourish

Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh took charge of the innings after Raghuvanshi's dismissal. Iyer, in particular, was in devastating form, smashing 60 off just 29 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. His aggression put SRH on the back foot, and the boundaries flowed freely in the death overs. Rinku Singh played the perfect foil, contributing with a crucial 30 off 17 balls, including a couple of sixes.

The highlight of the final overs was Iyer's fifty, which came off just 24 balls. His ability to clear the boundaries at will kept KKR's scoreboard ticking, and the team crossed the 200-run mark in the final over. However, Iyer's fireworks came to an end in the penultimate over when he mistimed a shot off Harshal Patel, finding Aniket Verma at long on.

SRH's Bowling Efforts

SRH's bowlers had their moments, with Harshal Patel being the pick of the lot with two crucial wickets. Patel's variations and control in the death overs were commendable, and he was well-supported by Cummins and Ansari. Simarjeet Singh also chipped in with a wicket, but the bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs in the final overs.

• Harshal Patel: 2 wickets for 35 runs in 4 overs
• Pat Cummins: 1 wicket for 30 runs in 4 overs
• Zeeshan Ansari: 1 wicket for 25 runs in 3 overs

Key Moments

• Quinton de Kock's early dismissal in the 2nd over set the tone for KKR's shaky start.
• Sunil Narine's six off Cummins was a brief moment of relief before his dismissal.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's fifty was a testament to his composure under pressure.
• Venkatesh Iyer's explosive 60 off 29 balls propelled KKR to a competitive total.
• Harshal Patel's strike in the 20th over halted KKR's momentum.

As SRH gear up to chase 201, the stage is set for a thrilling second innings. With a strong batting lineup, SRH will be confident of chasing down the target, but KKR's bowlers will be eager to defend their total and secure a crucial win.