Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) narrowly edged out Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 1 run in a last-ball thriller at the Eden Gardens in Bengaluru. It was the 52nd match of IPL 2025.

Despite the early loss of Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ajinkya Rahane gave KKR a flying start. A sensible knock by Angkrish Raghuvanshi, a blazing half-century from Andre Russell, and a quickfire cameo by Rinku Singh helped KKR post 206/4 on the scoreboard.

In reply, Rajasthan lost half their side within 10 overs. However, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer counter-attacked and brought Royals back into the game by the 15th over. Parag smashed five sixes in a row in the 13th over bowled by Moeen Ali. But the momentum shifted again as Harshit Rana dismissed Hetmyer and Parag in the 16th and 18th overs, respectively. In the final over, Rajasthan needed 21 runs to win. Shivam Dube brought the Royals close to victory but could score only 1 run off the last ball, with 3 needed. Rajasthan lost the match by just 1 run.

Early Blow to KKR but Rahane and Gurbaz Steady the Innings

Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and chose to bat first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine opened the innings. Jofra Archer bowled a tight first over, conceding just 2 runs. Yudhvir Singh delivered the second over. Narine smashed a six and a four but got out on the last ball. He made 11 runs off 9 balls. KKR were 13/1 after two overs.

Ajinkya Rahane joined Gurbaz at the crease. Archer bowled another economical over, giving only 4 runs. In the fourth over, Gurbaz hit two fours and Rahane cleared the boundary with a six. KKR reached 32/1 after 4 overs.

KKR Picks Up the Pace

Maheesh Theekshana bowled the fifth over, and Gurbaz struck a six. KKR added 11 runs from the over. Akash Madhwal came in next. Rahane hit a six and a four to push the score. After six overs, KKR stood at 56/1. Gurbaz was on 24 off 19 balls, while Rahane had 18 off 8.

Wanindu Hasaranga bowled the seventh over. Gurbaz hit two boundaries, completing a 50-run partnership with Rahane. However, Theekshana dismissed Gurbaz in the eighth over for 35 runs off 25 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi came in next. KKR moved to 72/2 after eight overs.

Riyan Parag bowled the ninth and gave only 6 runs. Hasaranga followed, and Raghuvanshi found the boundary. KKR were 86/2 after 10 overs. Raghuvanshi had 11 off 8, and Rahane was on 24 off 18.

Parag’s next over went for 11 runs. In the 12th over by Hasaranga, Raghuvanshi hit a four and KKR crossed the 100-run mark. KKR reached 107/2 after 12 overs.

Rahane Falls, Russell Joins the Attack

In the 13th over, Parag dismissed Rahane for 30 off 24 balls. Andre Russell walked in next. The over yielded only 4 runs. Theekshana bowled the 14th over tightly, giving away just 2 runs. In the 15th over, Raghuvanshi hit a four and added 8 runs to the total. KKR were 121/3 after 15 overs.

Russell attacked Madhwal in the 16th over, smashing two fours and a six. Archer returned in the 17th over, but Russell hit another four and a six. KKR climbed to 149/3.

In the 18th over, Russell reached his fifty in style with a four and three consecutive sixes off Theekshana. KKR also completed a 50-run partnership between Russell and Raghuvanshi. The score rose to 172/3.

Final Overs

Archer dismissed Raghuvanshi on the first ball of the 19th over. He scored 44 off 31 balls. Rinku Singh came in. Russell hit a six and a four to reach 57* off 25 balls.

In the 20th over, Madhwal bowled three wides. Rinku Singh then hammered a four and two sixes. KKR finished at 206/4. Rinku remained unbeaten on 19 off 6 balls.

RR Begin the Chase with Early Setbacks

Chasing 207, Vaibhav Suryawanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened for RR. Vaibhav Arora bowled the first over. Suryawanshi hit a four but got out on the next ball for 4. Kunal Rathore came next but fell to Moeen Ali in the second over. RR slipped to 9/2.

In the third over, Parag and Jaiswal each hit a six. RR moved to 22/2. Parag continued the assault with two fours and a six in the fourth over by Harshit Rana. Chakravarthy bowled the fifth, and Jaiswal hit two consecutive boundaries. Jaiswal then hit three more fours in the sixth over. The pair completed a 50-run stand as RR reached 59/2.

Moeen Ali struck again in the seventh over, removing Jaiswal for 34 off 21 balls. Dhruv Jurel came in. Chakravarthy dismissed Jurel and then Hasaranga in the eighth over. RR slumped to 72/5.

Middle Overs Slow the Chase

Narine bowled a tight ninth over, conceding just 3 runs. Chakravarthy followed with a 7-run over. RR were at 82/5 after 10 overs. Parag was on 34 and Hetmyer on 8.

Hetmyer began the 11th over with a boundary off Narine. In the 12th, Parag hit two fours and Russell’s double brought RR to 100. Moeen bowled the 13th, and Parag completed his fifty in 27 balls with a six. He hit four more sixes in the over. Parag and Hetmyer also completed a 50-run partnership. RR reached 134/5.

Parag Keeps Hope Alive

Parag hit another six in the 14th over by Chakravarthy. In the 15th, Hetmyer cleared the ropes, and RR moved to 155/5. Rana bowled the 16th and removed Hetmyer for 29. Shubham Dubey came in next. The over ended with 9 runs and a wicket.

Late Drama Unfolds

Narine bowled a tight 17th over, giving away only 5 runs. In the 18th, Rana removed Parag for 95 off 45 balls. Archer came in next. Russell bowled the 19th, and Archer hit a four. RR needed 21 off the final over.

Vaibhav Arora bowled the last over. Dubey smashed a six, four, and another six. With 3 runs needed on the final ball, Dubey took only one run, and Archer was run out. RR finished on 205/8.

Brief Scorecard