Kkr vs rr highlights matches

Toss and Team Composition

KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision influenced by the batting-friendly conditions at Eden Gardens. KKR fielded a strong lineup, including Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Moeen Ali and Ramandeep Singh were notable inclusions, while Nitish Rana was sidelined due to a niggle. RR, captained by Riyan Parag, brought in Wanindu Hasaranga, Yudhvir Singh, and Kunal Singh, with Jofra Archer leading their pace attack alongside Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, and Sandeep Sharma. Their batting relied on Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Rana, Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer.

KKR’s Batting: A Power-Packed Innings

KKR’s innings started steadily, with openers Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz laying a solid foundation. Narine, known for his aggressive strokeplay, scored a quick 35 off 25 balls, while Gurbaz contributed 35 off 25, ensuring a strong powerplay. The duo’s 60-plus run stand set the tone, but RR’s bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer, struck back, dismissing both openers. Archer’s disciplined spell yielded 1/30, keeping the scoring in check temporarily.

Ajinkya Rahane (30 off 24) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 31) then stabilized the innings, rotating the strike and finding occasional boundaries. Their partnership was crucial in navigating the middle overs, where RR’s spinners, Hasaranga and Theekshana, applied pressure. Rahane’s composed approach complemented Raghuvanshi’s flair, but both fell before they could convert their starts into big scores.

The real fireworks came in the final five overs, where KKR hammered 85 runs, largely due to Andre Russell’s blistering 57 not out off 25 balls. Russell was in beast mode, smashing sixes at will, including three in a single over against Theekshana, who leaked 16 runs in one of his overs. Rinku Singh played a perfect cameo, scoring 19 not out off 9 balls, with a couple of audacious shots that electrified the Eden Gardens crowd. Their late onslaught propelled KKR to a formidable 206/4 in 20 overs, setting RR a daunting target of 207. RR’s bowlers, except for Archer, struggled in the death overs, with Hasaranga and Madhwal being expensive despite picking up a wicket each.

RR’s Chase: Parag’s Heroics and a Dramatic Collapse

Chasing 207, RR needed a strong start, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (25) and Sanju Samson (20) provided just that, racing to 54/1 in the powerplay. However, Vaibhav Arora’s early breakthrough, dismissing Samson, gave KKR hope. Riyan Parag, the RR captain, walked in and played a sensational knock, scoring 94 off 48 balls. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring five sixes in a single Moeen Ali over, which yielded 32 runs. Parag’s reverse slog sweeps and lofted cover drives kept RR in the hunt, and with Dhruv Jurel (30), he forged a 70-run stand that brought the equation to 46 off the last three overs.

KKR’s spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Moeen Ali, turned the game with tight bowling in the middle overs. Chakaravarthy’s variations and Ali’s guile saw RR slump from 130/2 to 160/5, as Jurel, Hetmyer, and Shubham Dubey fell in quick succession. Parag, however, kept fighting, smashing boundaries and sixes to keep RR’s hopes alive. By the 19th over, bowled by Harshit Rana, RR needed 22 runs off the final six balls.

The Thrilling Final Over

Andre Russell was entrusted with the last over, and what followed was pure drama. The over started with a couple of runs, followed by a single, leaving RR needing 19 off 4 balls. Jofra Archer then smashed a six over long-off, reducing the equation to 13 off 3. A beautifully timed cover drive for four brought it down to 9 off 2, and another six over midwicket made it 3 off the final ball. With the crowd roaring, Russell delivered a low full toss, and Archer could only manage a single, as Rinku Singh’s sharp throw to Gurbaz effected a run-out on the second run attempt. KKR won by 1 run, with RR finishing at 205/6. The final over read: 2, 1, 6, 4, 6, 1W, encapsulating the match’s intensity.

Key Performances and Post-Match Reactions

Andre Russell was named Player of the Match for his explosive 57* and crucial bowling in the final over. Riyan Parag’s 94 earned him praise, but he admitted to a “miscalculation” in the 16th and 17th overs, where RR failed to score freely. Ajinkya Rahane lauded his team’s fielding, particularly Rinku’s efforts, which saved crucial runs. RR’s bowlers, barring Archer, were taken apart, while KKR’s spinners and death bowling proved decisive.

Impact on IPL 2025 Standings

The victory moved KKR to sixth in the points table, keeping their playoff hopes alive, while RR remained eighth, out of the playoff race. The match highlighted KKR’s depth and RR’s reliance on Parag, setting the stage for intriguing battles in the remaining fixtures.