Venkatesh Iyer’s Blitzkrieg and Clinical Bowling Seal Emphatic Win
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) put on a masterclass in power-hitting and disciplined bowling, crushing the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 80 runs in a one-sided IPL 2025 encounter at the Eden Gardens.
KKR’s Batting Onslaught
After being put in to bat, KKR suffered early setbacks as Sunil Narine (6) and Quinton de Kock (1) fell cheaply. However, Ajinkya Rahane (38 off 27) and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50 off 32) steadied the ship with a composed partnership.
The game turned on its head when Venkatesh Iyer unleashed a brutal assault, smashing 60 off just 29 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes). His fiery knock included a 21-run over off SRH skipper Pat Cummins, where he hammered 4, 6, 4, 4 in consecutive deliveries. Rinku Singh (23 off 15) provided the finishing touches, ensuring KKR posted a daunting 200/6.
SRH’s Chase Implodes Early
SRH’s chase never got going as Vaibhav Arora (3/20) and Harshit Rana (2/23) wreaked havoc in the Powerplay:
- Travis Head (4) – Caught at mid-off off Arora.
- Abhishek Sharma (2) – Edged to slip off Rana.
- Ishan Kishan (2) – Fell to a sharp catch by Rahane.
Heinrich Klaasen (33 off 21) tried to counterattack, but Varun Chakaravarthy (3/12) and Andre Russell (2/8) wrapped up the innings in just 16.4 overs, bowling SRH out for 120.
Turning Points
✔ Venkatesh Iyer’s Carnage – Shifted momentum with a 25-ball fifty.
✔ Vaibhav Arora’s Dream Spell – Removed Head and Kishan in a match-defining burst.
✔ SRH’s Fielding Blunders – Dropped catches and misfields cost them dearly.
Post-Match Reactions
🎤 Venkatesh Iyer (KKR, 60 off 29):
“The pitch was tricky early on, but once I got my rhythm, I backed my strengths. Credit to Rahane and Raghuvanshi for setting it up.”
🎤 Vaibhav Arora (Player of the Match, 3/20):
“I was prepared as the Impact Sub. Focused on hitting the right lengths, and the yorkers worked well.”
🎤 Pat Cummins (SRH Captain):
“We left too many runs in the field. Need to reassess our aggressive approach—sometimes we need to adapt.”
What’s Next?
- KKR move up the table with a big Net Run Rate boost.
- SRH face questions after three straight losses—their batting approach under scrutiny.
Final Scorecard
KKR – 200/6 (20) | Iyer 60, Raghuvanshi 50 | Cummins 1/39
SRH – 120 (16.4) | Klaasen 33 | Arora 3/20, Varun 3/12
Result: KKR win by 80 runs
🔥 Key Stat: This was SRH’s biggest defeat (by runs) in IPL 2025 so far.
