KKR's Thrilling Win Over Rajasthan Royals Boosts IPL 2025 Campaign
KKR Gains Momentum After Victory
Following their recent triumph against the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy expressed that such victories are crucial for building momentum as they progress in IPL 2025.
With this win, KKR now holds the sixth position in the standings, having secured five victories against five losses, totaling 10 points, which keeps their hopes alive. Conversely, the Royals find themselves in eighth place with three wins and nine losses, accumulating only six points.
Chakravarthy's Insights on the Win
During the post-match press conference, Chakravarthy remarked, "Victories like this instill confidence and momentum, essential for winning tight matches. This is precisely what we needed. I am optimistic about our chances in the next three matches, as we have achieved this before. We have no excuses now."
KKR's Nail-Biting Victory Despite Riyan's Heroics
In a thrilling chase for 207 runs, Rajasthan Royals found themselves struggling at 71/5. However, a remarkable 92-run partnership between Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, along with explosive performances from Shubham Dubey and Jofra Archer, nearly led them to victory. Ultimately, they fell just short, missing a double on the final ball, ending at 205/8.
Riyan Parag's outstanding 95 runs were in vain as KKR held their nerve to secure a narrow win, leaving the Royals just one run shy of victory.
Chakravarthy Emphasizes the Need for Wins
Chakravarthy further emphasized the importance of winning all remaining matches in this edition of the lucrative league, stating that every game is now a "knockout" for them.
"We must win every match; it’s a knockout situation. We view the next six matches as crucial, including three here and two in the playoffs. Each game is vital, so we need to bring our best performance. This win will help us gain momentum for the upcoming matches," he added.
Match Summary: How KKR Secured the Win
In the match, KKR won the toss and chose to bat first. After Sunil Narine's early dismissal, a solid partnership between skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 25 balls, including four boundaries and a six) stabilized the innings.
A significant 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 31 balls, with five fours) and Andre Russell (57* off 25 balls, featuring four boundaries and six sixes) propelled KKR to a total of 206/4 in their 20 overs.
Jofra Archer, Yudhvir Singh, Riyan, and Maheesh Theekshana each contributed with wickets.
During the chase, despite RR's early struggles at 71/5, Riyan Parag's explosive 95 off 45 balls (with six fours and eight sixes) and Shimron Hetmyer's 29 off 23 balls (including a four and a six) gave them a fighting chance. However, despite late fireworks from Shubham Dubey (25* off 14 balls, with a four and two sixes) and Jofra Archer (12 off eight balls, with a four), RR fell just short, finishing at 205/8.
For KKR, Varun Chakravarthy (2/32), Harshit Rana (2/41), and Moeen Ali (2/43) were the standout bowlers.