Rahane’s Men Edge Past Royals by a Run in IPL Thriller

Kolkata: In one of the most nerve-wracking encounters of IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) snatched a one-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Captain Ajinkya Rahane not only guided his side to a crucial win but also etched his name in the record books, surpassing Chris Gayle to become the ninth-highest run-scorer in IPL history.

Rahane, who scored 30 off 24 deliveries, now has 4969 runs from 181 innings, overtaking Gayle’s tally of 4965 runs. While Gayle’s legacy includes six centuries and 31 fifties at a ferocious strike rate of 148.96, Rahane has quietly built his record with consistency — 33 fifties, two hundreds, and a strike rate of 124.72.

After winning the toss, Rahane chose to bat first. Though KKR lost Sunil Narine early, Rahane and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 25) steadied the innings with a key second-wicket stand. The middle overs saw a surge, thanks to a 61-run fourth-wicket partnership between youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 31) and the explosive Andre Russell. Russell’s unbeaten 57 off just 25 deliveries, laced with six sixes and four boundaries, and a late blitz from Rinku Singh (19* off 6) helped KKR post a daunting 206/4.

In response, Rajasthan had a nightmare start and were reduced to 71/5. The chase looked out of reach until skipper Riyan Parag turned the tide with a magnificent 95 off 45 balls, including eight sixes and six fours. He found an able partner in Shimron Hetmyer (29 off 23), as the duo put together a thrilling 92-run stand to bring RR back into contention.

Despite Parag’s heroics and a fiery cameo from Shubham Dubey (25* off 14), Rajasthan fell heartbreakingly short, finishing at 205/8. Needing 22 off the final over, they managed 20 — sealing a one-run win for KKR.

Kolkata’s bowlers held their nerve. Varun Chakravarthy (2/32), Harshit Rana (2/41), and Moeen Ali (2/43) shared the key wickets that prevented RR from completing a historic chase.

Speaking after the win, a delighted Rahane said, “It was really close but incredibly satisfying. When you win by one run, it feels extra special. Gurbaz and Angkrish batted beautifully, and that finish from Russell was game-changing. In the field, every run saved counts, and the guys were alert.”

With five wins from 11 matches, KKR have now climbed to sixth in the standings, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, will be left ruing missed opportunities as they gear up for their next clash against Chennai Super Kings.

Team mavderick.