KKR register first win as De Kock’s 97, spinners dismantle RR: Kolkata Knight Riders delivered a clinical performance to defeat Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets in Match 6 of IPL 2025 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, KKR restricted RR to 151/9 before chasing down the target with 15 balls to spare, despite missing their key spinner Sunil Narine due to injury.
The match turned on KKR’s spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen Ali (2/23), who triggered a dramatic RR collapse after a promising start. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (29) and local favorite Riyan Parag (25) had taken RR to 54/1, but Chakravarthy’s dismissal of Parag sparked a middle-order meltdown. Ali compounded RR’s troubles by removing Jaiswal and Wanindu Hasaranga (4) in quick succession, reducing them to 69/5. Though Dhruv Jurel (33) and Jofra Archer (16 off 7) provided late resistance, RR fell well short of a competitive total.
KKR’s chase was anchored by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 97, a masterclass in controlled aggression. The South African opener carried his bat through the innings, receiving support from young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (22*) after minor hiccups involving Moeen Ali’s run-out and Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal. The defending champions cruised home with ease, exposing RR’s bowling frailties for the second consecutive match.
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For Rajasthan, the defeat highlighted growing concerns about their middle-order consistency and bowling penetration. While their batsmen faltered after a bright start, the bowlers failed to create sufficient pressure, allowing KKR to canter to victory. The Royals will need urgent solutions as they seek to revive their campaign, while KKR’s ability to adapt without Narine signals their depth and tactical flexibility early in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Rajasthan Royals 151/9 in 20 overs (Jurel 33, Jaiswal 29; Chakravarthy 2/17, Ali 2/23) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 155/2 in 17.3 overs (De Kock 97*, Raghuvanshi 22*) by 8 wickets.
Player of the Match: Quinton de Kock.
