Quinton de Kock’s Blazing 97 Powers KKR to a Dominant Chase Against Rajasthan Royals

With the end of the 6th game of the IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a dominant 8-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR), chasing down the target of 152 with ease. The highlight of the match was Quinton de Kock’s sensational unbeaten knock of 97 off 61 balls, guiding KKR to their first win of the season with 15 balls to spare.

Rajasthan Royals Positive Start and Collapse!

Winning the toss, KKR opted to bowl first, a decision that proved to be highly effective as their bowlers put the Royals under constant pressure. Rajasthan Royals had a decent start with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson opening the innings. Jaiswal played a steady knock of 29 off 24 balls, but Samson couldn’t make an impact, getting dismissed for just 13 off 11 balls by Vaibhav Arora in the fourth over. Captain Riyan Parag showed some intent with his aggressive approach, smashing 25 off 15 balls, but he couldn’t build a big partnership, falling to Varun Chakravarthy in the eighth over.

Nitish Rana (8 off 9) and Wanindu Hasaranga (4 off 4) also failed to make a mark, with Moeen Ali dismissing both in quick succession. Dhruv Jurel stood out with a gritty 33 off 28 balls, anchoring the innings in the middle overs. However, wickets kept falling at regular intervals, making it difficult for RR to gain momentum. The lower middle order, including Shubham Dubey (9 off 12) and Shimron Hetmyer (7 off 8), couldn’t accelerate the scoring. Jofra Archer provided some fireworks towards the end, smashing 16 off 7 balls, including two sixes, but it wasn’t enough to set a formidable total. Rajasthan Royals finished at 151/9 in their 20 overs, a below-par score on a good batting surface.

For KKR, their spinners played a crucial role in restricting RR’s batting lineup. Varun Chakravarthy was outstanding, picking up 2 wickets for just 17 runs in his 4 overs. Moeen Ali also impressed, claiming 2 wickets for 23 runs. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana chipped in with two wickets each, while Spencer Johnson took one. The disciplined bowling effort kept Rajasthan in check, ensuring that they couldn’t post a challenging total.

Kolkata Knight Riders Smooth Chase!

Chasing 152, Kolkata Knight Riders got off to a watchful start. Moeen Ali, who opened alongside Quinton de Kock, struggled to find his rhythm, managing just 5 runs off 12 balls before being run out in the sixth over. Despite this early setback, KKR never looked in trouble, thanks to de Kock’s brilliant form. The South African wicketkeeper-batter paced his innings beautifully, playing a mix of cautious strokes and aggressive shots.

Ajinkya Rahane played a supporting role, scoring 18 off 15 balls before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga in the 11th over. At this stage, KKR was at 70/2, still in complete control of the chase. Young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi then joined de Kock at the crease and played a sensible knock of 22* off 17 balls, ensuring there were no further hiccups in the chase.

De Kock’s innings was a masterclass in timing and shot selection. He struck 8 fours and 6 sixes, accelerating the scoring whenever required. As KKR inched closer to victory, de Kock remained composed, guiding the team home with a flicked boundary in the 18th over, sealing an emphatic win.

Rajasthan’s bowling lacked penetration, with none of their bowlers being able to put KKR under significant pressure. Jofra Archer had an off day, conceding 33 runs in just 2.3 overs. Hasaranga was the only bowler to pick up a wicket but was expensive, giving away 34 runs in 3 overs. Riyan Parag (4-0-25-0) and Sandeep Sharma (2-0-11-0) bowled economically, but they couldn’t contain de Kock’s brilliance.

With this win, KKR opened their account in IPL 2025, earning 2 points and moving up the points table. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, suffered their second consecutive defeat, struggling to find consistency in their performances. The major takeaway from this match was Quinton de Kock’s outstanding knock, proving his worth as one of the most reliable batters in T20 cricket.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

In the 6th match of IPL 2025 between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, KKR emerged victorious by 8 wickets in a dominant chase. While the match had several exciting moments, including a fan touching Riyan Parag’s feet as a tribute to the local star, the standout moment of the game as well as the TCNI’s Magic Moment came in the final over of Rajasthan Royals’ innings when Spencer Johnson delivered a stunning ball to dismiss Jofra Archer. With Rajasthan Royals struggling at 143/8 in the last over, Archer, known for his power-hitting, was their last hope to push the total past 160. Facing Johnson, Archer had already struck two massive sixes and was looking dangerous. 

On the first ball of the over, he launched a stunning six, making his intentions clear. However, Johnson remained calm under pressure. On the fifth delivery, he bowled a perfectly pitched good-length ball that completely deceived Archer. The ball nipped back in, beating Archer’s attempted shot and sending the off-stump cartwheeling. The dismissal not only ended Archer’s cameo of 16 runs off just 7 balls, but it also ensured that RR couldn’t cross the 160-run mark, finishing at 151/9. Johnson’s ability to execute under pressure was commendable, and his wicket of Archer was the defining moment of the innings, setting the stage for KKR’s comfortable chase.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

When discussing the TCNI’s Hero of the Day for the IPL 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), one name immediately stands out — Quinton de Kock. The South African wicketkeeper-batter played a sensational knock of 97 off 61 balls*, leading KKR to a comfortable 8-wicket victory. Opening the innings, de Kock took charge from the start and ensured he remained till the end, anchoring the chase perfectly. His innings included 8 fours and 6 sixes, showcasing his dominance over the Rajasthan bowling attack. His masterclass helped KKR secure two crucial points with 15 balls to spare, making him the undisputed star of the batting lineup. However, when it comes to turning points in the match, it was Varun Chakravarthy’s spell that dismantled Rajasthan Royals’ batting order.

After RR had made a strong start with 59/1 in the powerplay, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane knew he needed breakthroughs to shift the momentum. He introduced Varun into the attack, and the mystery spinner delivered immediately. In his very first over, Varun removed Riyan Parag, the RR captain, who had been striking well at 25 off 15 balls. This breakthrough triggered a collapse for Rajasthan. When he returned for his second spell in the 10th over, he struck again, dismissing Wanindu Hasaranga for just 4 runs off 4 balls. His final figures of 2/17 in 4 overs completely choked the opposition, restricting them to just 151/9 in 20 overs. While de Kock’s innings sealed the win, Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling set up the victory, making him one of the most impactful players of the match.