Kolkata Knight Riders Annihilate Sunrisers Hyderabad by 80 Runs in IPL 2025 Clash

Eden Gardens, Kolkata – April 3, 2025:
In a match that displayed the perfect blend of power-hitting and disciplined bowling, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stormed past Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a convincing 80-run victory in Match 15 of the IPL 2025 season. The Eden Gardens crowd witnessed a dominant home performance as KKR outclassed their opponents in every department.

Venkatesh Iyer & Angkrish Raghuvanshi Set the Tone with the Bat

KKR, after losing the toss, were put in to bat first. The start wasn't ideal with early dismissals of openers Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock. However, a vital partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi brought calm to the KKR innings. Raghuvanshi’s quick-fire fifty showcased maturity beyond his years and stabilized the innings.

Post powerplay, Venkatesh Iyer took charge, shifting the momentum in KKR's favor. His half-century, laced with powerful drives and well-timed sixes, anchored the middle overs beautifully. Rinku Singh’s cameo further pushed the total as KKR posted an imposing 200/6 in 20 overs.

SRH's Chase Derails Early Against KKR’s Fiery Bowling Attack

Chasing 201 on a slightly two-paced wicket was always going to be challenging. But no one anticipated the collapse that followed. Within the first three overs, SRH lost their top guns — Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan — to a scintillating spell from Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana.

The SRH batting lineup never recovered from the early jolts. Despite a few boundaries in the middle overs, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. The KKR bowlers maintained consistent pressure with a mix of pace variations and tight lines.

Captain’s Call: Ajinkya Rahane Reflects on Strategy and Execution

Speaking after the match, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane emphasized the team’s learning from past matches:

“This win was crucial for us. We lost two quick wickets, but we decided to build from there. The idea was to stay in control until the 15th over and then accelerate. The bowlers executed the plan perfectly.”

He praised the contribution of youngsters and hinted at a stronger, more confident KKR squad moving forward.

SRH’s Struggles Continue – Pat Cummins Calls for a Reset

SRH captain Pat Cummins admitted the team wasn’t up to the mark.

“It was a gettable total, but we let too many runs leak in the field and our chase never got going. We have to reassess some decisions, especially in the fielding department,” Cummins said post-match.

He acknowledged missed opportunities and hinted at possible changes going forward to turn their campaign around.

Match Summary:

  • Kolkata Knight Riders: 200/6 (Venkatesh Iyer 63, Raghuvanshi 54, Rinku 28)

  • Sunrisers Hyderabad: 120 all out in 16.4 overs (Vaibhav Arora 3/18, Harshit Rana 2/24)

  • Result: KKR won by 80 runs

  • Player of the Match: Vaibhav Arora

Takeaways:

  • KKR’s Young Core Shines: Raghuvanshi and Arora stepped up when it mattered, showing KKR’s strength beyond their stars.

  • Bowling Depth: KKR's bench strength, especially in pace, gives them a clear edge.

  • SRH’s Batting Woes: With three back-to-back losses, questions loom over SRH’s middle-order stability.

What’s Next?

KKR will carry this momentum into their next clash, while SRH needs to regroup quickly. With the IPL 2025 league phase heating up, every match becomes crucial for playoff qualification.