Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their first IPL 2025 victory in a stunning fashion, defeating Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets. Quinton de Kock emerged as the match hero for KKR.
Sports News: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally registered their first win in IPL 2025. They achieved a resounding 8-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The hero of this win was Quinton de Kock, who spearheaded the chase with a whirlwind 97 runs, propelling his team to victory. His innings created history, setting a new record for the highest individual score in a successful run chase for KKR.
De Kock's Explosive Performance
Quinton de Kock mercilessly punished the Rajasthan Royals bowlers, smashing 97 runs off just 61 balls. His innings included 8 fours and 6 towering sixes. This performance shattered the previous record for the highest run chase score for KKR, a record held by Manish Pandey for 11 years. Pandey scored 94 runs against Punjab Kings in 2014, but de Kock has now surpassed this achievement.
Highest Run Chase Scores for KKR
Quinton de Kock - 97 runs (2025)
Manish Pandey - 94 runs (2014)
Chris Lynn - 93 runs (2017)
Manvinder Bisla - 92 runs (2013)
Gautam Gambhir - 90 runs (2016)
KKR's Bowlers Shine
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that proved entirely correct. Rajasthan Royals managed only 151 runs in their 20 overs. Dhruv Jurel top-scored for the team with 33 runs, while Riyan Parag contributed 25 and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 29.
KKR's bowlers delivered a stellar performance. Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets each, while Sunil Narine chipped in with a wicket, showcasing his all-round abilities. Rajasthan's batting looked extremely lackluster, with their star batsmen failing to post substantial scores.
KKR's First Win
This victory marked Kolkata Knight Riders' first win in IPL 2025. Previously, the team had suffered a defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This win earned KKR two points, propelling them to sixth place in the points table. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals suffered their second consecutive defeat, making their road ahead more challenging.
For his memorable performance, Quinton de Kock was awarded the 'Man of the Match' title. After his innings, he stated that he enjoys taking on such responsibility and that this win would boost the team's morale. His innings has filled KKR fans with immense excitement, and the team will now aim to maintain this form in the upcoming matches.
