Image: Iyer and Raghuvanshi powered KKR to a crushing win over SRH / © NDTV Sports
One of the most dominant performances in the Indian Premier League 2025 saw Kolkata Knight Riders dismantle Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 runs at Eden Gardens. KKR delivered a commanding display with both bat and ball, outclassing SRH in all aspects of the game. The victory was powered by crucial contributions from Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and a sensational spell from Vaibhav Arora.
Winning the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to field first, looking to capitalise on the evening conditions. KKR, however, started cautiously with openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine at the crease. De Kock fell early, scoring just 1 off 6 balls before edging a delivery from Pat Cummins to the wicketkeeper. Narine followed soon after, managing 7 runs before being caught behind off Mohammed Shami’s bowling, leaving KKR at a precarious 16/2.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Rahane anchored the innings with a 27-ball 38, striking four sixes and a boundary before falling to Zeeshan Ansari. Meanwhile, Raghuvanshi played a composed yet aggressive knock, scoring 50 off 32 balls with five fours and two sixes, ensuring that KKR maintained a healthy run rate.
The real acceleration came when Venkatesh Iyer took charge. Batting with supreme confidence, he smashed 60 off just 29 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 206.89. His clean hitting put SRH bowlers under immense pressure, particularly in the death overs. Supporting him, Rinku Singh provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 32 off 17 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 188.23. KKR concluded their innings at a formidable total of 200/6 in 20 overs, setting SRH a daunting target of 201.
For SRH, the bowling unit struggled to contain KKR’s batters. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers, conceding 29 runs in his four-over spell while picking up a crucial wicket. Pat Cummins, Zeeshan Ansari, Harshal Patel, and Kamindu Mendis chipped in with a wicket each, but they were all expensive. Simarjeet Singh proved to be the most expensive, leaking 47 runs in his four overs.
Chasing 201, Sunrisers Hyderabad had a disastrous start, losing their top order within the first three overs. Travis Head managed just 4 runs before being dismissed by Vaibhav Arora. Abhishek Sharma followed him soon after, falling to Harshit Rana for a mere 2 runs. The collapse continued as Ishan Kishan departed cheaply, managing just 2 off 5 deliveries before being caught off Arora’s bowling.
At 9/3, SRH were already struggling, and their woes continued. Nitish Kumar Reddy showed some resistance with a 15-ball 19, hitting two fours and a six before Andre Russell dismissed him. Kamindu Mendis played a fighting knock of 27 off 20 balls, striking a six and a boundary, but his dismissal at the hands of Sunil Narine further dented SRH’s chances.
The only significant contribution came from Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a valiant 33 off 21 balls. Playing his natural attacking game, Klaasen hit two sixes and two fours, but with wickets falling around him, he could not carry his team forward. Aniket Verma and captain Pat Cummins tried to stitch a small partnership, but their efforts were in vain as Varun Chakravarthy and Russell continued dismantling the SRH lineup.
SRH’s lower order crumbled, with Aniket Verma (6), Harshal Patel (3), and Simarjeet Singh (0) falling cheaply. Pat Cummins managed 14 off 15 balls before being dismissed by Chakravarthy, while Mohammed Shami remained not out with just 2 runs. SRH was eventually bundled out for 120 in 16.4 overs, falling short by 80 runs.
KKR’s bowling attack delivered a collective masterclass, with Vaibhav Arora emerging as the standout performer. He finished with figures of 3/29 in four overs, removing key SRH batters early in the innings. Varun Chakravarthy also impressed, scalping 3 wickets for 22 runs in his four-over spell. Russell played a crucial supporting role, picking up 2 wickets in just 1.4 overs, while Narine and Harshit Rana bagged one wicket each.
With this emphatic win, KKR secured two vital points in the IPL 2025 standings. Venkatesh Iyer was declared Cricinfo’s MVP with 85.21 impact points, while Vaibhav Arora’s match-winning spell earned him the Player of the Match award. SRH, on the other hand, suffered their biggest-ever IPL defeat by a margin of runs and will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in the tournament.
This match saw KKR’s balance in both batting and bowling, reaffirming their credentials as strong contenders this season. SRH, meanwhile, will need to address their fragile top order and inconsistent bowling to improve their performance in the upcoming games.
Kamindu Mendis showcased his rare ambidextrous bowling ability in a single over, creating a unique moment in the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the 13th over of KKR’s innings, Mendis bowled both left-arm spin and right-arm off-spin, adjusting his style based on the handedness of the batters. The remarkable display of versatility was later named the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game. Mendis started the over bowling left-arm spin to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who was in fine form and had just reached his half-century. On the first delivery, the batter eased the ball down the ground for a single. Switching tactics for the left-handed Venkatesh Iyer, Mendis switched to right-arm off-spin and kept the batter in check with a short ball outside off, allowing only a single.
He then returned to left-arm spin for Raghuvanshi, who played a defensive shot to a well-directed delivery. However, the over’s defining moment came on the last ball when Mendis dismissed Raghuvanshi with a brilliant delivery that tempted the batter into an aggressive shot. Slicing the ball towards deep backward point, Raghuvanshi fell victim to an outstanding forward-diving catch by Harshal Patel. The over not only disrupted KKR’s momentum but also highlighted Mendis’ exceptional ability to switch seamlessly between bowling styles, making it a standout moment in the match.
The whole match between Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad was turned upside down by our TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Vaibhav Arora. With a fiery opening spell, Arora set the tone for KKR’s dominant bowling display, finishing with figures of 4-1-29-3. His early breakthroughs put SRH on the back foot and ensured they never got the momentum needed to chase down 201. Arora struck in just the second delivery of the innings, dismissing the dangerous Travis Head for 4, caught by Harshit Rana. In his next over, he sent Ishan Kishan back for just 2, caught at slip by Ajinkya Rahane.
Both openers were back in the hut within the first three overs, leaving SRH reeling at 9 for 3. Later, when Heinrich Klaasen threatened to rebuild, Arora returned to dismiss him for 33, getting him caught by Moeen Ali. His disciplined line and ability to move the ball troubled the batters throughout, with 12 dot balls in his spell. Arora’s controlled aggression and timely strikes ensured KKR stayed ahead, making him the standout performer in a commanding victory. His spell was instrumental in dismantling SRH and securing an emphatic win for KKR.