By IPL Fan 
Date: April 3, 2025
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won by 80 runs.
Kolkata Knight Riders delivered a commanding performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad, securing an 80-run victory at Eden Gardens. After setting a formidable target of 200 runs, KKR’s bowlers dismantled SRH’s batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 120 runs.
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings:
- Total: 200/6 in 20 overs
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venkatesh Iyer | 60 | 29 | 6 | 3 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 50 | 32 | 5 | 2 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (C) | 38 | 27 | 4 | 2 |
| Rinku Singh | 36* | 18 | 3 | 2 |
- Fall of Wickets:
- Sunil Narine – 14/1 (2.4 overs)
- Quinton de Kock – 16/2 (3.2 overs)
- Ajinkya Rahane – 97/3 (11 overs)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi – 106/4 (12.3 overs)
- Venkatesh Iyer – 197/5 (19.3 overs)
- Andre Russell – 200/6 (20 overs)
Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings:
- Total: 120 all out in 16.4 overs
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamindu Mendis | 27 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 19 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
- Fall of Wickets:
- Abhishek Sharma – 14/1 (2.1 overs)
- Travis Head – 19/2 (3.2 overs)
- Ishan Kishan – 39/3 (5.4 overs)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – 41/4 (6.1 overs)
- Heinrich Klaasen – 75/5 (10.3 overs)
- Aniket Verma – 90/6 (12.5 overs)
- Kamindu Mendis – 98/7 (13.4 overs)
- Pat Cummins – 102/8 (14.2 overs)
- Harshal Patel – 115/9 (15.5 overs)
- Simarjeet Singh – 120/10 (16.4 overs)
- Venkatesh Iyer’s Explosive Innings: His rapid 60 off 29 balls provided KKR with a solid foundation, setting the tone for a high total.
- Middle-Order Contributions: Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh’s aggressive batting in the latter stages propelled KKR to the 200-run mark.
- Early Breakthroughs by KKR Bowlers: The quick dismissals of SRH’s top order within the powerplay severely hampered their chase.
- Sunil Narine’s Bowling Spell: Narine’s economical and wicket-taking performance stifled SRH’s middle order, sealing the game in KKR’s favor.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Strengths:
- Dynamic Batting Lineup: Multiple players contributed significantly, showcasing depth and versatility.
- Effective Bowling Attack: Bowlers executed plans meticulously, leading to regular breakthroughs.
- Weaknesses:
- Early Wicket Losses: The initial dismissals of openers could be a concern in tighter matches.
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
- Strengths:
- Potential in Middle Order: Players like Kamindu Mendis displayed resilience, indicating depth.
- Weaknesses:
- Fragile Top Order: Early collapses put immense pressure on the middle and lower order.
- Ineffective Bowling at Death: Conceding 78 runs in the last five overs allowed KKR to reach a formidable total.
Q1: Who was the Player of the Match?
A: Venkatesh Iyer for his impactful 60 off 29 balls.
Q2: What was the primary reason for SRH’s defeat?
A: Early top-order collapse and inability to build partnerships during the chase.
Q3: How did KKR’s bowlers perform?
A: They delivered a cohesive performance, with Sunil Narine leading the attack and ensuring regular wickets.
Q4: What are the implications of this match for both teams?
A: KKR’s victory boosts their confidence and standings, while SRH needs to address top-order vulnerabilities and death-over bowling strategies.
