On April 3, 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in an IPL thriller at Eden Gardens. KKR’s batters lit up the night, scoring 200 for 6. Venkatesh Iyer smashed 60 off 29 balls, leading the charge. SRH faltered, managing just 120 in reply. It became SRH’s biggest IPL defeat by runs—80! As per ESPN Cricinfo, KKR’s bowling and batting stunned everyone. Vaibhav Arora grabbed 3 wickets, crushing SRH early. According to Cricbuzz, KKR climbed to fifth in the standings, while SRH hit rock bottom.
Imagine a superhero squad taking down a weaker team—that’s KKR here! SRH’s top order collapsed in just 13 balls, showing their struggles. Kids, this match was like a rollercoaster—fun and fast! We’ll break it into seven simple points. You’ll see how KKR ruled and SRH sank like India sanked after a loss to Zimbabwe in Harare. With big hits, tight bowling, and sloppy fielding, this game had it all. Let’s dive into the action and explore what happened!
KKR’s Shaky Start
KKR’s innings kicked off poorly at Eden Gardens. Sunil Narine edged Mohammed Shami’s yorker for 7. Quinton de Kock fell for 1, pulling Cummins to deep square leg. After three overs, KKR stumbled to 17 for 2. As per BBC Sports, SRH’s bowlers hit hard in the powerplay. The pitch offered no wild bounce or swing. Still, SRH made KKR’s openers sweat. Narine and de Kock looked out of sync.
Fans grew nervous with this weak start. But KKR’s middle order stayed calm. According to Wikipedia, their deep batting saved them. SRH thought they’d dominate early on. They didn’t expect KKR’s fightback. The score crept up slowly at first. This set the stage for a big turnaround.
Rahane and Raghuvanshi Rally
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi pulled KKR back from trouble. They stitched an 81-run stand for the third wicket. Rahane blasted 38 off 27, including three sixes. Raghuvanshi scored a steady 50 off 32 balls. As per ESPN Cricinfo, this duo shifted momentum. KKR hit 53 for 2 by powerplay’s end. Rahane’s leg-side sixes fired up the crowd. Raghuvanshi kept the runs flowing smoothly. SRH’s fielders slipped up, dropping catches. According to Cricbuzz, this partnership flipped the game. They attacked with boldness and skill. The flat pitch helped them settle in. KKR’s run rate picked up nicely. This stand laid a strong foundation.
Late Surge to 200
Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh powered KKR to 200 for 6. Venkatesh smashed 60 off 29 with seven fours. Rinku stayed unbeaten on 32 off 17 balls. They plundered 78 runs in the last five overs. As per Aajtak Sports, their hitting was relentless. Venkatesh smashed boundaries in the 19th over. Rinku cracked three fours off Harshal Patel. Cummins’ slower balls failed to stop them. According to ESPN Cricinfo, it was KKR’s first 200 this season. SRH’s bowlers crumbled under pressure. Venkatesh’s fifty came in 25 balls. Rinku’s massive six wowed the fans. This blitz set a daunting target.
Match Scorecard and Key Moments
Section |
Details |
|---|---|
Match Result |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 200/6 (20 ov) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 120 (16.4 ov) by 80 runs |
Date & Venue |
April 3, 2025, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, IPL 2025, 15th Match (Night) |
Player of the Match |
Vaibhav Arora (KKR) – 3/29 |
KKR Batting |
Quinton de Kock 1 (6), Sunil Narine 7 (7), Ajinkya Rahane 38 (27), Angkrish Raghuvanshi 50 (32), Venkatesh Iyer 60 (29), Rinku Singh 32* (17), Andre Russell 1 (2) |
Extras |
11 (lb 8, w 3) |
Total |
200/6 in 20 overs (RR: 10.00) |
Fall of Wickets (KKR) |
1-14 (de Kock, 1.5), 2-16 (Narine, 2.3), 3-97 (Rahane, 10.6), 4-106 (Raghuvanshi, 12.4), 5-197 (Iyer, 19.3), 6-200 (Russell, 19.6) |
SRH Bowling |
Mohammed Shami 1/29, Pat Cummins 1/44, Simarjeet Singh 0/47, Zeeshan Ansari 1/25, Harshal Patel 1/43, Kamindu Mendis 1/4 |
SRH Batting |
Travis Head 4 (2), Abhishek Sharma 2 (6), Ishan Kishan 2 (5), Nitish Reddy 19 (15), Kamindu Mendis 27 (20), Heinrich Klaasen 33 (21), Aniket Verma 6 (6), Pat Cummins 14 (15), Harshal Patel 3 (5), Simarjeet Singh 0 (1), Mohammed Shami 2* (4) |
Extras |
8 (lb 3, w 5) |
Total |
120 in 16.4 overs (RR: 7.20) |
Fall of Wickets (SRH) |
1-4 (Head, 0.2), 2-9 (Sharma, 1.6), 3-9 (Kishan, 2.1), 4-44 (Reddy, 6.4), 5-66 (Mendis, 9.3), 6-75 (Verma, 10.4), 7-112 (Klaasen, 14.4), 8-114 (Cummins, 15.1), 9-114 (Singh, 15.2), 10-120 (Patel, 16.4) |
KKR Bowling |
Vaibhav Arora 3/29, Harshit Rana 1/15, Varun Chakravarthy 3/22, Andre Russell 2/21, Sunil Narine 1/30 |
Match Flow – KKR Innings |
Powerplay (0.1-6.0): 53/2; 50 runs in 5.6 ov; Strategic Timeout (7 ov): 61/2; 100 runs in 11.4 ov; Raghuvanshi 50 off 30; 150 runs in 17.1 ov; Iyer 50 off 25; 200 runs in 19.5 ov |
Match Flow – SRH Innings |
Powerplay (0.1-6.0): 33/3; 50 runs in 6.6 ov; Strategic Timeout (9 ov): 63/4; 100 runs in 13.2 ov; Strategic Timeout (14 ov): 106/6 |
Impact Subs |
KKR: Vaibhav Arora for Raghuvanshi (19.6 ov); SRH: Travis Head for Zeeshan Ansari (19.6 ov) |
Notable Moments |
Kamindu Mendis bowled ambidextrously (left and right-arm) in 13th over, taking Raghuvanshi’s wicket |
SRH’s Top Order Crumbles
SRH’s chase turned into a disaster at 9 for 3. Travis Head skied Vaibhav Arora’s second ball for 4. Abhishek Sharma edged Harshit Rana for 2. Ishan Kishan fell to Arora for 2 at cover. As per BBC Sports, KKR’s pacers struck fast. They bowled tight lines on a flat pitch. SRH’s big guns flopped in 13 balls. According to Cricbuzz, it was their second-worst IPL start. The top three scored just 8 runs. Rahane’s sharp catch sent Kishan packing. Fans gasped at the early collapse. KKR’s bowlers took charge quickly. SRH’s hopes faded in minutes like Pakistan hopes faded against New Zealand in their matches.
Arora’s Three Wickets Seal It
Vaibhav Arora shone with 3 for 29 for KKR. He dismissed Travis Head for a duck early. Later, he got Heinrich Klaasen for 33. His opening spell wrecked SRH’s top order. As per ESPN Cricinfo, Arora’s pace rattled them. A dropped catch denied him a fourth scalp. According to Aajtak Sports, Klaasen’s exit crushed SRH. Arora bowled cleverly in his second spell. SRH slumped to 66 for 5 after his strikes. Fans cheered his every delivery. His figures turned the match KKR’s way. He handled pressure like a pro. SRH couldn’t cope with his skill.
SRH’s Middle Order Flops
SRH’s middle order failed to fight back after the top fell. Nitish Reddy hit 19 with some flair. Kamindu Mendis smashed two sixes off Russell. Heinrich Klaasen scored 33 before Arora got him. Still, SRH managed only 120. As per Cricbuzz, Varun Chakravarthy took 3 for 22. Sunil Narine kept it tight too. According to Wikipedia, SRH lost by 80 runs. Their batting plan looked weak again. The run rate soared beyond reach. Rahane’s fielding choked their flow. Varun nearly bagged a hat-trick. KKR bowled SRH out easily.
KKR Rise, SRH Fall
KKR’s huge win shook up the IPL 2025 standings. They leaped from last to fifth place. SRH dropped to the bottom after three losses. As per BBC Sports, KKR rediscovered their batting spark. The 80-run margin was SRH’s worst ever.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, SRH faded after a 286-run start. KKR’s 200 for 6 overwhelmed them. Venkatesh’s 60 won him fans. Arora’s 3 wickets hurt SRH early. SRH’s fielding errors cost them dearly. KKR fans celebrated the turnaround. SRH’s title dreams dimmed fast.
Conclusion
KKR smashed SRH by 80 runs on April 3, 2025, at Eden Gardens. Venkatesh Iyer’s 60 and Rinku Singh’s 32 lifted KKR to 200 for 6. SRH collapsed to 120, their biggest IPL loss. Vaibhav Arora’s 3 wickets crushed their top order fast.
As per ESPN Cricinfo, KKR’s power shone bright. They climbed to fifth, while SRH sank to last. Kids, picture KKR as a superhero team winning big! SRH’s sloppy fielding and weak batting failed them. According to Cricbuzz, KKR’s deep lineup ruled the day. Head, Sharma, and Kishan flopped badly. Fans loved KKR’s big hits and tight bowling. SRH must fix their game soon or they’re done. KKR showed why they’re champs. This match was a wild ride—easy to see who won!
