Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy’s spin brilliance guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a thrilling 14-run victory over Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, with crucial wickets in the final stages sealing the win.
New Delhi: In a pulsating IPL 2025 encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 14 runs in what was a high-scoring thriller. Batting first, KKR posted a daunting total of 204/9 in their 20 overs, a score that proved just enough to defend despite a valiant chase from Delhi.
KKR Set the Stage with a Strong Start
KKR’s innings were off to a solid start with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine at the crease. The duo put on a quick-fire 48-run partnership before Gurbaz fell for a quick 26 off 15 balls. Narine, who has made a name for himself as an explosive batter, continued his fine form, contributing 27 off 16 balls. However, the early breakthroughs came thick and fast, with Ajinkya Rahane, the KKR captain, falling lbw to Axar Patel for 26 off 14.
Despite the quick fall of wickets, young Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored the middle order with a steady knock of 44 off 32 balls. Alongside him, Venkatesh Iyer (7 off 5) and Rinku Singh (36 off 25) kept the scoreboard ticking. At one point, KKR seemed to be cruising toward a big total, but Delhi’s bowlers clawed back into the game with crucial wickets. The experienced Mitchell Starc and the impressive Vipraj Nigam both found success in the final overs, with Starc picking up three wickets and Nigam contributing with two.
However, KKR’s late collapse didn’t prevent them from reaching a total of 204, thanks to valuable contributions from the middle order. Despite being restricted in the latter part of the innings, KKR’s total seemed imposing, especially with the form of their bowlers, including Sunil Narine, who had already shown his skill with the ball.
Delhi Capitals Struggle in the Chase
Chasing 205, Delhi Capitals’ innings got off to a rocky start. Abishek Porel fell early to Anukul Roy for a duck, and things got worse when Karun Nair was trapped lbw by Vaibhav Arora for 15. Faf du Plessis, however, steadied the ship with an elegant knock, scoring 62 off 45 balls. His 7 fours and 2 sixes displayed the kind of form that had propelled him to the top of the IPL charts, but with wickets falling at regular intervals, the chase became increasingly difficult.
KL Rahul, one of the form players for DC, provided some hope with a blistering knock of 50 off 35 balls. But a mix-up on the field led to his run-out, further denting Delhi’s chances. As the required rate climbed, Delhi’s middle order began to crumble. Axar Patel, who had been pivotal earlier with the ball, could not carry that form into his batting, dismissed for 43 off 23 by Narine. The loss of key wickets meant that Delhi’s chase never really gained the momentum it needed.
KKR’s Bowlers Step Up
With Narine continuing to make key breakthroughs and Varun Chakaravarthy chipping in with two crucial wickets towards the end, Delhi’s hopes of chasing down the target diminished. The pair combined to restrict Delhi’s lower order, with Narine dismissing Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs in quick succession. Varun, meanwhile, cleaned up the tail with his variations, taking the wickets of Ashutosh Sharma and Mitchell Starc.
Despite a late flurry from Vipraj Nigam (38 off 19), Delhi couldn’t recover, and the match ended with them falling short by 14 runs. KKR’s bowlers, led by Narine’s excellent figures of 3/29 and Varun’s 2/39, had successfully defended the total.
A Thrilling Encounter
This thrilling encounter showcased some brilliant individual performances, both with the bat and the ball. KKR’s total of 204 was largely built on the solid foundation provided by Raghuvanshi, Narine, and Rinku Singh. However, it was their bowlers who ultimately ensured the victory, with Narine and Varun proving to be the difference-makers. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, were left to reflect on their inconsistent middle-order performance and missed opportunities throughout the chase.
In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious by 14 runs, a well-deserved win that showcased their depth and composure under pressure.
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