akshat panchal 
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is off to a thrilling start, and yesterday’s clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, 2025, was a testament to the electrifying drama this tournament consistently delivers. Played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, the sixth match of the season saw two teams desperate to shake off their opening losses and claim their first points of the campaign. With both sides boasting revamped squads post the mega auction, anticipation was high. So, who won yesterday’s IPL 2025 match? Let’s dive into the match report and unpack the action.
Pre-Match Build-Up: A Clash of Redemption
Heading into the game, both Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders were licking their wounds from opening-round defeats. RR had been outplayed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), conceding a mammoth 286 runs and falling short at 242 despite a spirited batting effort. KKR, the defending champions, had stumbled against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), managing just 174 before being overhauled with ease. The pressure was palpable—RR needed to prove their bowling could hold up, while KKR sought to reignite their title defense with a cohesive performance.
The Guwahati pitch, known for favoring batsmen but offering some assistance to spinners as the game progresses, promised an intriguing battle. RR, led by stand-in captain Riyan Parag in the absence of an injured Sanju Samson (who was available only as a batter), opted to stick with their core while introducing Wanindu Hasaranga for Fazalhaq Farooqi. KKR, meanwhile, were forced to adjust as Sunil Narine was sidelined by illness, paving the way for Moeen Ali to make his debut for the franchise. Captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bowl, banking on the dew factor to aid their chase later in the evening.
First Innings: Rajasthan Royals Struggle Against KKR’s Spin Web
Rajasthan Royals opened with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, hoping to set a solid platform. The innings started brightly, with Jaiswal flicking Spencer Johnson for a boundary off the first ball. The left-hander looked in fine touch, smashing a six and a four in Johnson’s second over to take RR to 26/0 after three overs. Samson, playing purely as a batter due to his Sanju Samson injury update, supported with a crisp boundary, but the early momentum was soon stifled.
KKR’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, tightened the screws after the powerplay. Arora struck the first blow in the fifth over, deceiving Samson (13 off 11) with a slower yorker that crashed into the stumps. The crowd’s hopes then shifted to local hero Riyan Parag, who ignited the stands with a stunning one-handed six off Rana. However, his aggression was short-lived. Varun Chakravarthy, KKR’s spin maestro, entered the attack and immediately made an impact, enticing Parag (25 off 15) into a lofted shot that found Quinton de Kock’s safe hands.
The introduction of Moeen Ali proved to be a masterstroke. The English all-rounder, stepping in for Narine, bowled with guile on a surface that began to grip. In his second over, he lured Jaiswal (29 off 24) down the track, only for the southpaw to miscue a lofted shot to long-on. RR’s slide deepened when Chakravarthy dismissed Hasaranga (4 off 4) in the 10th over, reducing them to 82/5. The experiment of promoting the Sri Lankan all-rounder up the order backfired, exposing RR’s middle order prematurely.
Dhruv Jurel emerged as the lone warrior, anchoring the innings with a composed 33 off 28 balls. His partnership with Shimron Hetmyer (15 off 12) offered brief respite, but KKR’s spinners kept the pressure on. Moeen struck again, removing Hetmyer, while Rana and Arora returned to clean up the tail. Jofra Archer chipped in with a late cameo (15 off 8), but RR limped to 151/9 in their 20 overs. Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen (2/23) were the stars, ably supported by Arora (2/33) and Rana (2/31). The total felt under-par on a pitch that, while not a batting paradise, had enough in it for a competitive score closer to 170.
The Chase: Quinton de Kock’s Masterclass Seals the Deal
Chasing 152, KKR opened with Quinton de Kock and Venkatesh Iyer, but the latter fell early for 4, caught off Tushar Deshpande in the second over. Ajinkya Rahane joined de Kock, and the duo steadied the ship with a 40-run stand. Rahane (18 off 15) looked to accelerate but perished to Hasaranga’s wrong’un, miscuing a sweep to square leg. At 44/2 after seven overs, RR sensed an opening, especially with Moeen struggling against Archer’s pace, managing just 5 off 11 before a mix-up led to his run-out.
However, any hopes of a Rajasthan comeback were swiftly dashed by de Kock’s brilliance. The South African wicketkeeper-batter, under scrutiny after a quiet debut against RCB, found his rhythm with a barrage of boundaries off Archer and Maheesh Theekshana. He reached his fifty off 36 balls with a towering six off Hasaranga, celebrating the milestone with another maximum off Parag in the next over. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, introduced as an Impact Player, played the perfect foil, rotating the strike and chipping in with a classy boundary.
As dew settled in, RR’s bowlers lost their grip. De Kock unleashed his full repertoire—pulls, drives, and lofted shots—racing into the 90s with a monstrous six off Archer. With 17 needed off the last three overs, he sealed the game in style, smashing a full delivery over long-on for six to finish unbeaten on 97 off 61 balls (8 fours, 6 sixes). KKR cruised to 153/2 in 17.3 overs, winning by 8 wickets with 15 balls to spare. Raghuvanshi remained not out on 15, but the night belonged to de Kock.
Post-Match Reflections
Ajinkya Rahane lauded his bowlers for their discipline and singled out de Kock’s innings as the difference-maker. “Our spinners set the tone, and Quinton finished it brilliantly,” he said. Riyan Parag, meanwhile, admitted RR fell short by 20 runs and struggled to contain de Kock in the middle overs. “We’re a young side; it’ll take one good game to click,” he added, remaining optimistic despite the loss.
What’s Next?
KKR vs RR match highlights dominated cricket discussions as KKR’s convincing win propelled them up the points table, boosting their net run rate and confidence ahead of their next clash against Mumbai Indians on March 31. RR, now 0-2, face a stern test against Chennai Super Kings on March 30, needing urgent answers to their bowling woes and batting frailties.
Conclusion
March 26, 2025, will be remembered as the night KKR roared back into Indian Premier League 2025 contention, powered by Quinton de Kock’s heroics and a disciplined bowling effort. For RR, it’s back to the drawing board as they seek their first win. The RR vs KKR 2025 showdown was a thrilling spectacle, and with the tournament heating up, fans eagerly await the next big clash!
