Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showcased their explosive batting prowess and disciplined bowling to secure a captivating 14-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 48th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Despite a spirited fightback orchestrated by young gun Vipraj Nigam, DC ultimately fell short against KKR’s early dominance and a pivotal bowling performance from Sunil Narine.
Delhi Capitals, after winning the toss and opting to field, would have aimed to stifle KKR’s formidable batting lineup. However, the opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine had other intentions, igniting KKR innings with a blistering 48-run stand in a mere 18 deliveries – the highest opening partnership for the Knight Riders this season. The breakthrough for DC came courtesy of Mitchell Starc, who dismissed the aggressive Gurbaz for a rapid 26 off just 12 balls.
Narine continued his aggressive onslaught, finding a composed partner in Ajinkya Rahane. The duo added a crucial 50 runs before the introduction of young DC spinner Vipraj Nigam, who provided a vital breakthrough by dismissing Narine for a breezy 27 off 16 deliveries. This wicket sparked a mini-collapse for KKR as DC clawed their way back into the contest. Rahane (26) and Venkatesh Iyer (7) fell in quick succession, momentarily halting KKR’s momentum.
However, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh counter-attacked with resilience, forging a vital 60-run partnership that threatened to take the game away from DC. Just as KKR looked poised for a late acceleration, Dushmantha Chameera broke the stand, removing Raghuvanshi for a well-compiled 44 off 32 balls. The very next over saw Nigam strike again, dismissing the dangerous Rinku Singh for a quickfire 36 off 25. KKR struggled to regain their earlier impetus in the final overs, eventually crossing the 200-run mark but losing three wickets in the process. Notably, this marked only the second instance in KKR’s IPL history where they managed to surpass 200 runs without any individual batter reaching a half-century, highlighting their collective batting effort.
Chasing a challenging total of 204, Delhi Capitals endured a disastrous start, losing Abishek Porel on just the second ball of their innings. While Faf du Plessis launched a counter-attack from one end, KKR struck again, trapping Karun Nair leg-before-wicket. Adding to DC’s woes, a sharp piece of fielding from Narine resulted in the run-out of the dangerous KL Rahul.
Du Plessis and Axar Patel then engineered a crucial 60-run partnership, with the experienced South African batter leading the charge and reaching his half-century in a brisk 31 balls. Just when the partnership appeared threatening, Narine returned to haunt the Capitals. In a game-changing over, he dismissed both Axar Patel (43) and Tristan Stubbs in quick succession, significantly derailing the DC chase. Narine wasn’t finished yet, as he then accounted for the crucial wicket of du Plessis in his subsequent over, who departed after a well-fought 50. This dismissal was a significant milestone for the veteran spinner, as it marked his 208th wicket in Men’s T20 cricket, equalling the record for the most wickets in the format.
KKR’s spinners continued to tighten the screws, with Varun Chakaravarthy compounding DC’s woes by removing Ashutosh Sharma and Mitchell Starc in quick succession, effectively sealing the victory for Kolkata. Despite a valiant late surge from young Vipraj Nigam (38 off 19), who showcased his talent with some audacious hitting, the required run rate proved too steep for the Capitals. KKR held their nerve in the final overs to secure a hard-fought 14-run victory.
Sunil Narine was deservingly awarded the Man of the Match for his impactful all-round performance. His crucial three wickets for 29 runs, coupled with a vital direct hit to dismiss the dangerous KL Rahul and his earlier contribution of 27 runs off 16 balls, proved instrumental in Kolkata Knight Riders’ triumph. This victory will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to KKR’s confidence as they progress further in the IPL 2025 season.
Scorecard:
Kolkata Knight Riders: 204-9, Overs 20, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 44, Mitchell Starc 3/43
Delhi Capitals: 190-9, Overs 20, Faf du Plessis 62, Sunil Narine 3/29