Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Match 6 report - IPL 2025
De Kock’s Masterclass Leads KKR to Dominant Win Over RR!
The sixth match of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 saw a fantastic contest at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced off against Rajasthan Royals (RR), with both teams desperate for a win after losing their opening games.
KKR came out on top, securing a decisive 8-wicket victory. They comfortably chased down Rajasthan Royals’ modest total of 151/9, reaching 153/2 in just 17.3 overs with 15 balls to spare. This win gave KKR their first points of IPL 2025, moving them to sixth on the table. For Rajasthan Royals, it was their second straight defeat, leaving them at the bottom.
The match was dominated by a stunning unbeaten innings of 97 runs from KKR’s Quinton de Kock, who guided the chase beautifully. KKR’s bowlers, especially their spinners, also put in a disciplined and impactful performance. This result showed KKR’s ability to bounce back strongly, while RR will need to address some underlying issues.
The Toss & Pitch: KKR Opt to Bowl
Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain, Ajinkya Rahane, won the toss and chose to bowl first. He thought the pitch looked good and expected dew to be a factor later in the evening, which usually makes batting easier in the second innings.
The Barsapara pitch was interesting. While sometimes known as a batting paradise, on match day it was “dry and sticky,” “slightly two-paced,” and offered help to the bowlers, especially spinners. The ball wasn’t coming onto the bat easily. KKR read these conditions well, and their decision to bowl first, using their spinners effectively, proved to be a smart one.
Rajasthan Royals’ Innings: A Mixed Bag (151/9 in 20 overs)
Powerplay: Early Momentum (RR 54/1 in 6 overs)
Yashasvi Jaiswal (29 off 24 balls) and Sanju Samson (13 off 11) opened for RR. Jaiswal hit his 200th IPL four but was dropped on 19. KKR got their first wicket when Vaibhav Arora bowled Samson with a yorker, ending their 33-run opening stand. Stand-in captain Riyan Parag then came in and played a quick knock of 25 off just 15 deliveries on his home ground, including three sixes (one a memorable one-handed hit!). His cameo helped RR reach 54/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Spinners Tie Down RR: Middle-Order Collapse (From 67/1 to 82/5)
The game changed when KKR introduced their spinners, Moeen Ali (making his KKR debut for an unwell Sunil Narine) and Varun Chakaravarthy. They were devastating.
- Chakaravarthy got the dangerous-looking Parag out, caught by de Kock.
- Moeen Ali then dismissed Jaiswal.
- Chakaravarthy struck again, removing Wanindu Hasaranga (4).
- Moeen Ali bowled Nitish Rana (8). In a short period, RR lost four crucial wickets for just 15 runs, completely derailing their innings. KKR’s spinners bowled with great control on a helpful pitch.
Some Resistance & Late Runs
Amidst the collapse, Dhruv Jurel top-scored for RR with a fighting 33 off 28 balls. Shubham Dubey, who came in as an Impact Player, scored 9 before Arora dismissed him. Shimron Hetmyer (7) also couldn’t do much. Harshit Rana picked up Jurel and Hetmyer. Jofra Archer provided some late entertainment with a quick 16 off 7 balls (two sixes) before Spencer Johnson bowled him.
Rajasthan Royals finished their 20 overs at 151/9. This was considered below par, even on a tricky pitch. Riyan Parag later admitted they were “15-20 runs short” of their 170-run target. RR struggled against KKR’s spin and couldn’t build big partnerships.
RR Batting Scorecard:
| Batter | How Out | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | c Raghuvanshi b Moeen Ali | 29 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 120.83 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | b Vaibhav Arora | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Riyan Parag (c) | c de Kock b Chakaravarthy | 25 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 166.67 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Rahane b Chakaravarthy | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Nitish Rana | b Moeen Ali | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Dhruv Jurel | b Harshit Rana | 33 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 117.86 |
| Shubham Dubey (IMP) | c de Kock b Vaibhav Arora | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | c Raghuvanshi b Harshit Rana | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Jofra Archer | b Spencer Johnson | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 228.57 |
| Sandeep Sharma | not out | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | (w 4) | 4 | ||||
| Total | (For 9 wickets, 20 Overs) | 151 | 7.55 (RR) |
KKR Bowling Figures:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | NB | WD | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Johnson | 4.0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10.50 |
| Vaibhav Arora | 4.0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8.25 |
| Harshit Rana | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Moeen Ali | 4.0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.75 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4.0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.25 |
Knight Riders’ Chase: De Kock Leads a Calm Pursuit (153/2 in 17.3 overs)
Chasing 152, KKR started cautiously, knowing the pitch was a bit tricky.
Steady Start, then a Couple of Wickets
Openers Quinton de Kock and Moeen Ali (promoted up the order) built a steady foundation, reaching 40/0 in the powerplay, with de Kock on 34. RR got a small opening when Moeen Ali (5 off 12) was run out casually. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane came in and scored a quick 18 off 15 balls before Wanindu Hasaranga had him caught. KKR were 70/2 at this point.
Quinton de Kock’s Masterclass (97* off 61)
Quinton de Kock was the star of the chase, playing a magnificent Player of the Match innings of 97 not out from 61 balls (8 fours, 6 sixes). He reached his fifty in style with a six off Hasaranga, taking 35 balls. His innings was a lesson in pacing a chase. He used timing and placement beautifully, understanding the conditions and never letting the required run rate get out of hand. He mentioned playing according to the situation on a pitch that wasn’t easy for “big-hitting.” Towards the end, de Kock attacked Jofra Archer, hitting a four and two sixes to quickly seal the win.
Crucial Partnership Seals the Deal
Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi played a very important supporting role, scoring a calm 22 not out from 17 balls. His unbeaten partnership with de Kock for the third wicket was worth 83 runs from just 44 balls, guiding KKR home comfortably.
RR’s bowlers struggled to break through. Only Hasaranga (1/34) managed a wicket among the bowlers. Jofra Archer was expensive, conceding 33 runs in his 2.3 overs.
KKR reached the target of 153/2 in 17.3 overs, winning with 15 balls left. Fittingly, Quinton de Kock hit the winning runs with a six, just missing out on a century but ensuring a big win for his team. His ability to adapt to the pitch and handle RR’s bowlers was outstanding.
KKR Batting Scorecard:
| Batter | How Out | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moeen Ali | runout (R Parag / M Theekshana) | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 41.67 |
| Quinton De Kock (WK) | Not out | 97 | 61 | 8 | 6 | 159.02 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (C) | c TU Deshpande b W Hasaranga | 18 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 120.00 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Not out | 22 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 129.41 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 9) | 11 | ||||
| Total | (For 2 wickets, 17.3 Overs) | 153 | 8.74 (RR) |
RR Bowling Figures:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | NB | WD | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 2.3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13.20 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4.0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Riyan Parag | 4.0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.25 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 2.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 3.0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.33 |
| Nitish Rana | 1.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 1.0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.00 |
Star Performers of the Match
- Player of the Match: Quinton de Kock (KKR): His brilliant unbeaten 97 off 61 balls was match-winning. It was the second-highest score for KKR in successful IPL run-chases.
- The Spin Wizards: Moeen Ali & Varun Chakaravarthy (KKR): This duo was key in restricting RR.
- Moeen Ali (KKR debut): Impressive 2/23, getting Jaiswal and Rana.
- Varun Chakaravarthy: Very economical 2/17, getting Parag and Hasaranga. They bowled 18 dot balls together, which made a big difference.
- Other Key Players:
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): Important 22* supporting de Kock.
- Dhruv Jurel (RR): Top scorer for RR with a fighting 33.
- Vaibhav Arora (KKR): Took 2/33, including Samson’s early wicket.
- Harshit Rana (KKR): Bowled well at the death for 2/36, getting Jurel and Hetmyer.
Moeen Ali stepping in for the unwell Sunil Narine and performing so well showed KKR’s squad strength.
Turning Points & Tactical Insights
- RR’s Mid-Innings Collapse (67/1 to 82/5): KKR’s spinners, Moeen Ali and Varun Chakaravarthy, completely changed the game by ripping through RR’s middle order.
- Quinton de Kock’s Controlled Chase: He expertly handled RR’s spinners and then attacked Jofra Archer at the end.
- Captaincy Calls:
- Ajinkya Rahane (KKR): His decision to bowl first was spot on. His use of spinners right after the powerplay choked RR.
- Riyan Parag (RR): Admitted they were short of runs and that his plan to get de Kock out early failed. Defending a low score with dew was always going to be tough.
- Moeen Ali Filling Narine’s Shoes: Narine’s absence could have hurt KKR, but Moeen Ali was magnificent with the ball.
- Fielding Moments: De Kock’s catch to dismiss Parag was crucial. Moeen Ali’s run-out was a minor blip for KKR.
RR might need to look at their bowling strategy, especially finding a consistent new-ball partner for Jofra Archer. Once de Kock handled their spinners, RR seemed to lack other plans.
What the Key Players Said:
- Quinton de Kock (Player of the Match, KKR): “Just played the situation. It wasn’t a big-hitting pitch, so I focused on timing and placement.” He felt good after a break and happy in his new team.
- Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain): Praised his bowlers, especially the spinners and Moeen Ali’s role. Spoke about KKR’s philosophy of playing fearlessly.
- Riyan Parag (RR Captain): Admitted RR were “15-20 runs short” and he “personally rushed a little bit” in his innings. Acknowledged de Kock’s great knock. Mentioned RR is a younger team and needs to “come together for a whole match.”
Final Thoughts: KKR Dominate, Royals Have Concerns
KKR put on a clinical performance, outplaying RR in almost every department. Their win was built on disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and de Kock’s batting masterclass. Moeen Ali stepping up for Narine was a big plus. Interestingly, this was KKR’s sixth straight win when chasing in the IPL since 2024, all achieved comfortably.
Key Takeaways:
- For KKR: A big confidence boost. De Kock’s form is great news, and their spin attack looks very strong.
- For RR: Early worries after two losses. They need to fix their middle-order batting and find more consistency in their bowling.
This result sets an early tone for both teams. KKR will look to build on this, while RR are under pressure to turn things around. (It was also reported that there was a fan altercation in the stands during the match in Guwahati, which was an unfortunate incident.) For RR, not being able to close out crucial moments in matches seems to be a recurring issue.
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