KKR’s Dominant Win: De Kock’s Blazing 97 Seals Victory Over RR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kick-started their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign in style with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. A stellar all-round bowling performance set the stage before Quinton de Kock’s breathtaking unbeaten 97 powered KKR to a comfortable win in just 17.3 overs.

Bowlers Set the Tone

Put in to bat, Rajasthan Royals got off to a steady start as Yashasvi Jaiswal reached the milestone of 200 IPL fours with a stylish boundary. He followed it up with a monstrous 89-meter six, but KKR struck back quickly. Vaibhav Arora uprooted Sanju Samson’s leg stump to break a 33-run opening stand. Stand-in skipper Riyan Parag injected momentum with a brisk 25 off 15 balls, featuring three audacious sixes.

However, Moeen Ali and Varun Chakaravarthy soon took charge, triggering a dramatic collapse. Playing in place of the unwell Sunil Narine, Ali dismissed Parag with a well-judged catch by de Kock. Chakaravarthy and Ali then ran through the middle order, dismissing key batters like Jaiswal, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Nitish Rana. Their combined figures of 4-40 in eight overs, along with two wickets each from Arora and Harshit Rana, helped restrict RR to a modest 151/9.

De Kock’s Masterclass Leads the Chase

Needing 152 for victory, KKR started cautiously, reaching 40/0 after the powerplay. RR’s spinners slowed down the scoring, and KKR lost Moeen Ali (5 off 12) and captain Ajinkya Rahane (18 off 15) early. But De Kock remained unfazed.

The South African wicketkeeper-batsman unleashed his power, reaching a 35-ball fifty with a towering six off Hasaranga. He followed it up with another maximum off Parag, guiding KKR to 90/2 in 12 overs. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided solid support with a composed 22 off 17 balls, ensuring no further hiccups.

With just 17 runs needed from the last three overs, De Kock finished in style, smashing a four and two consecutive sixes off Jofra Archer. His sensational 97* off 61 balls, studded with eight fours and six sixes, sealed a statement win for KKR with 15 balls to spare.

KKR’s emphatic victory not only secured their first points of the season but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league.