IPL 2025 Thriller: KKR Hold Their Nerve to Edge Out RR by 1 Run at Eden Gardens

First Innings: KKR’s Power Surge Propels Them to 206/4

The Kolkata Knight Riders set the Eden Gardens alight with a power-packed batting performance, finishing their innings at 206/4, thanks to blazing cameos by Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and the impressive youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Powerplay Fireworks: Rahane & Narine Go Hard

The opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine got KKR off to a flying start.
Narine smacked a six over backward square leg and followed it up with a boundary off Yudhvir Singh before falling for 11(9), bowled by a clever slower delivery.
Rahane, meanwhile, looked in sublime touch, driving straight down the ground and flicking a 141 kmph delivery over mid-wicket for a majestic six.

KKR were 60/1 at the end of the Powerplay, with Rahane and Gurbaz laying a solid platform.

Middle Overs Momentum: Raghuvanshi Rises, Gurbaz Falls

Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a counter-attacking knock, hitting 35 off 25 with four boundaries and a six before falling to Theekshana’s fuller delivery, caught at deep mid-wicket.
Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi showed great composure, launching a sequence of boundaries including a crisp pull off Hasaranga and a leading-edge four that took KKR past 150.

However, just when Raghuvanshi was looking set for a fifty, he mistimed a slower one from Archer and was caught for a fluent 44 off 31.

Death Overs Explosion: Russell and Rinku Unleashed

Andre Russell turned up the heat in the 16th over with a string of brutal strikes:

He smoked Archer and Theekshana for six sixes and Four fours in a breathtaking display of power.
He brought up his first fifty of IPL 2025 with a flicked six and reached the 1000-run mark at Eden for KKR.
In the final over, Rinku Singh joined the party:
- He smashed 19 runs off the last 3 balls of the innings – two monstrous sixes and a boundary – to take KKR past the 200-run mark.

🔁 Second Innings: Royals’ Chase Ends in Last-Ball Run-Out Drama

Rajasthan Royals came agonizingly close to chasing down the daunting target but fell short by just 1 run, finishing at 205/8, in what will go down as one of the most thrilling finishes of IPL 2025.

Explosive Start: Jaiswal & Vaibhav Suryavanshi Launch Early Assault

The Royals came out with intent as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi took on KKR’s pacers in the Powerplay.
Jaiswal smashed boundaries on both sides of the wicket, while Moeen lofted spinners over long-on with ease.

They raced to 56/0 in 5 overs, setting up the chase beautifully.

Middle Overs Pressure: KKR Fight Back with Wickets

KKR players celebrate a thrilling Wickets. — Joy erupts at Eden Gardens as KKR clinch a memorable win over RR in a high-stakes

KKR struck back with clever bowling changes:
- Varun Chakravarthy trapped LBW with a quicker one.
- Jaiswal was caught on the boundary trying to clear long-on.
Riyan Parag and Hetmyer steadied the ship with singles and twos but were unable to find the boundary consistently as the required rate started to creep up.

With 75 needed off the last 6 overs, RR needed a big finish.

Final Overs Frenzy: Dubey’s Heroics and Archer’s Run-Out

Shubham Dubey switched gears in the 18th over, smashing a six and a four off Jofra Archer.
The 19th over saw 16 runs, with Dubey hitting Vaibhav Arora for a towering six and a crisp boundary.
With 10 required off the last 2 balls, Dubey launched one into the stands again, bringing it down to 3 needed off 1.
However, in a heart-stopping moment, Dubey pushed for two, but Rinku Singh’s throw from the deep was sharp, and Arora whipped off the bails with Jofra Archer inches short of his crease.

Turning Points

Russell’s death over onslaught (17th and 18th overs) added 60+ runs in 4 overs.
Rinku Singh’s last-over blitz took KKR from 181 to 200.
Varun Chakravarthy’s double-wicket spell pegged RR back in the middle overs.
Last-ball run-out of Harshit Rana sealed the win.

🏆 Player of the Match: Andre Russell

With a scintillating unbeaten 61 off just 25 balls, Russell was the clear game-changer, lifting KKR to a match-winning total and contributing crucial runs at the death.