KKR vs SRH IPL 2025: KKR Delivers Biggest Defeat To SRH Of 80 Runs

KKR vs SRH IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got back to winning form with a total of 200 on the board and an 80-run thrashing of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), inflicting upon them their largest-ever loss by runs in the IPL. As KKR found their destructive batting touch once again, Vaibhav Arora’s 3 quickies at the initial overs awarded him, Player Of The Match, for his stellar performance at Eden Gardens.

KKR Posts a Strong Target of 200 for 6

KKR, courtesy of a scorching 29-ball 60 by vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and an unscathed 17-ball 32 by Rinku Singh, put up a tough score of 200/6. Their innings picked up pace in the death overs, with the last five overs producing a whopping 78 runs.

Key Highlights of KKR’s Batting:

– Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54) set the tone with an 81-run third-wicket stand.
– Venkatesh Iyer’s hammering in the penultimate over from Pat Cummins (4, 6, 4, 4) laid the groundwork for the finishing flourish.
– Rinku Singh’s free-flowing cricket helped KKR reach 200 for the first time this season.

SRH’s Top Order Collapses in a Scant 13 Balls

SRH’s start was catastrophic, losing their first three batsmen

—Travis Head (0), Abhishek Sharma (2), and Ishan Kishan (2)

—within the first 13 balls. SRH’s eight runs from their top three were their second-worst start in IPL history, only behind last year’s final when they scored just 11.

Arora and KKR Pacers Run Riot:

– Vaibhav Arora sent Travis Head back cheaply, just as he did in last year’s IPL final.

– Harshit Rana sent Abhishek Sharma packing with a beautifully disguised slower ball. – Ishan Kishan was the next to go after a sharp catch at cover from Rahane that had SRH in sudden disarray at 9 for 3.

– Andre Russell and Varun Chakaravarthy pushed the SRH innings further into the depths with key middle-over wickets.

SRH’s Middle Order Battles but Shorts

Despite minor resistance from Nitish Reddy (23), Kamindu Mendis (26), and Heinrich Klaasen (33), SRH never caught up from their slow beginning. With the required run rate mounting over 15, their innings collapsed for 120, being humiliated by an 80-run margin.

KKR Bowling Masterclass:

– Both Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy bowled tight spells in the middle overs giving away only 33 runs in five overs and taking two wickets in the process.

– Vaibhav Arora returned for his second spell and took the high-profile wicket of Klaasen.

– SRH were finally dismissed for 120 in just 17 overs.

Significant Moments That Decided the Game

KKR experienced some early difficulties as Narine and de Kock made slow progress, but in the end, with a last-over attack from Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh, they tallied an incredible 78 runs in five overs to push the total above the 200 mark.

SRH’s counterattack started to unravel from almost the start, losing three wickets through the first 13 balls, and from there on it was a lost cause. KKR spinners Narine and Chakaravarthy tightened the noose during the middle overs as they almost scored well. SRH would end up folding up for 120, which was their worst loss (by runs) in IPL history.

KKR Rises, SRH Drops to the Bottom

This decisive win promoted table-toppers KKR from the eighth position to fifth in the IPL 2025 standings. Last season’s runners-up SRH plunged to the bottom, leaving everyone with grave doubts about their batting strategy.

What’s Next?

– KKR will try to maintain this momentum and strengthen their position in the playoff battle.
– SRH must pull themselves together and rethink their batting strategy if they wish to remain in the mix this season.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: Updated Points Table, Orange Cap, And Purple Cap After KKR vs SRH