Key Points:
- KKR secures first win of IPL 2025, defeating Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets in Guwahati.
- Quinton de Kock shines with an unbeaten 97 off 61 balls, leading the chase of 152 in just 17.3 overs.
- Rajasthan Royals suffer their second consecutive loss and remain at the bottom of the points table.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad tops the standings with the best net run rate (+2.200).
Guwahati: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first victory of IPL 2025 with a commanding eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 6 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday. The star of the night was South African opener Quinton de Kock, who delivered a scintillating unbeaten knock of 97 runs off 61 balls, ensuring KKR chased down a modest target of 152 with ease.
Match Highlights
After being put to bat, Rajasthan Royals struggled against KKR’s disciplined bowling attack and managed only 151/9 in 20 overs. Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen Ali (2/23) led the charge for KKR, stifling RR’s batting lineup during the middle overs. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana also chipped in with two wickets each, while Spencer Johnson claimed one.
For Rajasthan, Dhruv Jurel (33 off 24) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 off 25) were the only batters to show some resistance. However, their efforts fell short as RR failed to accelerate in the death overs.
In response, KKR’s chase was anchored by Quinton de Kock, who smashed eight fours and six sixes in his innings. Despite losing Moeen Ali (5 off 12) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (18 off 15) early, de Kock remained unfazed. He found support from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who contributed an unbeaten 22 off 17 balls, as they stitched together an unbroken partnership of 83 runs to seal the win in just 17.3 overs.
De Kock’s innings ended on a high note as he smashed a six off Jofra Archer to finish the game with 15 balls to spare.
Points Table Update
With this victory, defending champions KKR climbed to sixth place on the points table, improving their net run rate to -0.308. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals remain rooted at the bottom with two consecutive losses and a dismal net run rate of -1.882.
At the top of the table are Sunrisers Hyderabad, who lead thanks to their superior net run rate (+2.200), followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (+2.137) and Punjab Kings (+0.550).
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2.200 |
| 2 | Royal Challengers BLR | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2.137 |
| 3 | Punjab Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.550 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 10 | Rajasthan Royals | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.882 |
Post-Match Reactions
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane praised his team’s all-round effort: “Our bowlers were exceptional in controlling the game early on, and Quinton’s knock was simply world-class.” Moeen Ali also received special mention for his impactful bowling performance despite failing with the bat.
In contrast, Rajasthan Royals’ struggles continued as they failed to find balance in their playing XI after a major revamp during the mega auction. Stand-in captain Riyan Parag has faced criticism for his leadership as regular skipper Sanju Samson remains unavailable due to injury.
What’s Next?
KKR will look to build momentum when they face Lucknow Super Giants next, while Rajasthan Royals will aim for redemption against Mumbai Indians in their upcoming match.
Quinton de Kock’s sensational innings not only revived KKR’s campaign but also exposed Rajasthan Royals’ glaring weaknesses early in the tournament. With several teams already making strong starts, RR will need quick fixes to avoid falling further behind in IPL 2025.
