Since the DC match, KKR has to win every game. They may be able to get 17 points—possibly enough to earn a spot in the playoffs—if they win their remaining games.
In yet another must-win game, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) managed a spectacular one-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The outcome maintains their playoff aspirations in the IPL 2025. Batting first, KKR scored a respectable 206/4 in 20 overs. The home audience finally witnessed the intent they had been waiting for.
The ball was coming on a little slow, so the pitch didn’t look that simple to bat on. KKR’s batters nevertheless rose up. The star of the innings was Andre Russell. The muscular all-rounder hammered his first half-century of the season. He struck an unbeaten 57 off just 25 balls, with a strike rate of 228.00. His hitting made a major difference and gave KKR a good total.
Russell has frequently come under fire for his batting position. In previous games, many thought he was sent off too late. However, he arrived earlier on Sunday, and the relocation went flawlessly. One of the few wise decisions made by the KKR management was this modification. However, several of the other encouraging developments that supporters witnessed during their most recent game against the Delhi Capitals were once again absent.
KKR were put to the test with the ball. Riyan Parag, the captain of RR, scored an incredible 95 off 45 balls. Additionally, Shubham Dubey contributed with a rapid, undefeated 25 off 14. However, the bowlers for KKR remained composed and won the game by the narrowest of margins.
Every game is a must-win for KKR since that DC match. They could achieve 17 points, which might be sufficient to earn a spot in the playoffs, if they win their remaining games. However, the issue still stands: did they begin too late?
KKR often made the same errors earlier in the season. It appeared that the team management was hesitant to implement the necessary adjustments. However, things began to go better in the match versus Delhi. Rahmatullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine demonstrated a great deal of intent on the powerplay in that encounter. DC scored 58/2 against KKR’s 79/1. Gurbaz scored 35 runs at a strike rate of 140.00 against RR, even though Narine was out early.
This season, the spinners weren’t always accurate. This was in opposition to KKR. On the other hand, Varun Chakravarthy and Narine both bowled effectively against Delhi, claiming significant wickets at pivotal times. The momentum changed in their favor as a result. Moeen Ali, Varun, and Narine got four wickets for 111 runs in 11 overs on Sunday. Despite going wicketless, Narine was frugal, giving up just 27 runs in his four overs.
KKR appears to be a difficult team to defeat when the top order gets off to a solid start, spinners take wickets, and Russell performs well. Earlier in the season, these items were absent. However, they appear to have settled into a rhythm in the last two games. KKR is still in the game with 11 points from 11 games. However, the crucial query is — can they keep winning? Or is it too little, too late?
