Quinton de Kock did not play a beautiful 97 on a sticky barsapara-wicket and anchored the chase of Kolkata Knight Riders to perfection while on Wednesday they won a dominant eight-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL collision on Wednesday. Choose to Bowl, KKR's disciplined bowling attack, led by their spin-duo Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Meeen Ali (2/23), limited Rajasthan Royals to an under-par 151/9. In response, the Kock 97 did not stay out of 61 balls, his knock furthermore with eight four and six sixths, because KKR comfortably pursued the target in 17.3 overs.
They come from the stamp #Tataipl 2025
An extensive show with both bat and ball for the title defender @Kkriders In Guwahati
Scorecard https://t.co/lgpyvw87ir#Rrvkkr pic.twitter.com/4p2tukzlau
– Indian Premierleague (@IPL) March 26, 2025
Despite the challenging nature of the surface, the cock showed controlled aggression, making the ball beautiful timing while the chase of KKR remained on the right track.
The chase was never in trouble, with the required running speed floating around a Run-A ball.
KKR lost Ali (5) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (18) early, but De Kock held one final company and found a competent partner in the young Angrish Raghuvanshi 22 (17 balls).
The duo brought together an uninterrupted 83-run partnership that only came out 44 balls, with the first victory of the season for the title defense.
The Proteas Keeper-Batter was on its best best, and preferred foundations over air risks, but still find limits easily.
Q for quality, q for quinton
A sensational unbeaten runs to close the deal
Scorecard https://t.co/lgpyvw87ir#Tataipl | #Rrvkkr | @Kkriders pic.twitter.com/kbjy1vbjnl
– Indian Premierleague (@IPL) March 26, 2025
He took calculated risks, fully aware of the modest target.
He took the attack to Jofra Archer and skipped him for a four and a six in the same.
He brought up his half century in just 35 balls and wiped Wanindu Hasaranga for a towering six over the wide-length third of the innings.
The royals may have over played their spin options, so KKR's batters can settle in a rhythm.
Hasaranga, who had fired the Kock twice in the past, was dominated in this matchup.
A more aggressive approach – bringing in Jofra Archer during the middle exaggerated – could have added pressure, but the English Speedster was brought so late in 18th place with KKR that only needed 17 runs of 18 balls.
It was just a formality when De Kock welcomed him with a border before he launched him two sixes to wrap it in a canter.
Previously, Chakravarthy and Ali dismantled the middle order of the royals and each picked up two wickets in successive overs immediately after the powerplay, which shifted the momentum in favor of KKR.
Spinners throw their magic
First Varun Chakravarthy and then Ali
Updates https://t.co/lgpyvw7ztj#Tataipl | #Rrvkkr | @Kkriders pic.twitter.com/efwc2ilvix
– Indian Premierleague (@IPL) March 26, 2025
Seamer Vaibhav Arora (2/33) was expensive but was demolished with two crucial wickets – regular Royals skipper Sanju Samson (13 out of 11) with a Yorker in the PowerPlay before the impact replaces Shubham Dubey (9) cheap.
Harshit Rana (2/36) played an important role in death and broke the promising innings of Dhruv Jurget of 33 (28) and removed the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer for only 7, both in the crucial penultimate.
A Quickfire Cameo 16 of 7 balls from Jofra Archer made sure they reached 150 markets, but he fell on Spencer Johnson (1/42) in the penultimate ball of their innings.
ICYMI
In
And sentHow crucial these hits are for #Rr?
Scorecard https://t.co/lgpyvw87ir#Tataipl | #Rrvkkr | @Rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/sbnsvtrbuy
– Indian Premierleague (@IPL) March 26, 2025
RR had searched for a large total at 54 for 1, with a well -set Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 out of 24) and local Lad Riyan Parag (25 out of 15) at the fold.
Riyan, who led the royals for the first time in his home country, started intention and dismissed Harshit Rana for a six over square leg, just the third ball with which he was confronted.
Riyan, who knows the Barsapara field, like the back of his hand, played the shot of the innings in the next over – a beautifully timed lofted drive of Vaibhav Arora, who sends the ball straight through the ground.
Jaiswal, fell at 19, the powerplay closed with a six when RR finished the first six overs strongly at 54/1.
KKR, however, immediately hit back. Chakravarthy, their mysterious spinner, led to the collapse in the seventh, whereby the dangerous-looking parag was rejected with a well-mentioned 113 kmph delivery.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
