HIGHLIGHTS KKR vs RR IPL 2025 Match 53 - Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for RR's response with the bat. The umpires and players make their way out to the middle. After a brief huddle talk, Kolkata Knight Riders spread out to the field. KKR use Harshit Rana as their Impact Sub, as he is swapped in for Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Next, out walks the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for Rajasthan Royals. And it will be Vaibhav Arora to open the attack for KKR with the new ball. Off we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

So, another 200-plus target to chase for Rajasthan Royals then. They brought in the control with spin, but certainly the pacers didn't support much. Now then, their openers are again tasked to provide a whirlwind start for the men in pink, as this doesn't look like an easy track to bat on, especially when the ball is tossed to the spinners. The likes of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine must be licking their lips to operate on this surface, and against an already vulnerable RR middle order. Let's see how the RR batters, particularly the middle order, bat against them. Stay tuned, run chase up in a bit.

The man of the moment, Andre Russell of KKR, is up for a chat. He says that age is just a number and he still feels like 27. Adds that he is very happy with the performance and they know how important this game is for them. Mentions that it is a good total but they still have to be smart and execute their plans with the ball. Says that he was 2 off 8 balls, but the pitch was a bit slow and their spinners were bowling good lengths, so he did not want to risk at that time. Further adds that, his strong point is to get the spinners away, but he couldn't in this game. However, he knows what he can do at the back end and is happy that it worked out.

With a streak of fours and sixes, Russell got off to his fifty very quickly and provided much-needed propulsion for KKR, with Rinku too joining in the party with a few lusty blows. With this six-hitting spree, KKR sprang from 113/3 in 14 overs to 206/4, with 85 runs coming in the last 5 overs. All the pacers took a beating, with Akash Madhwal alone going for his half century with the ball, conceding 50 runs in his three overs.

Rahane's promising innings was cut short after an untimely cramp struck him, which further derailed the momentum once again. While young Raghuvanshi held his ground at one end, Russell initially floundered against the spinners, but once pace was brought on, he didn't spare any loose deliveries thrown at him. And once he started to find the middle of the bat, there was no stopping him as he carted RR's bowling attack, making them travel across the park in the death overs.

Just as momentum seemed to be swinging firmly in Kolkata's favor, with the Rahane-Gurbaz stand crossing the 50-run mark, another wicket tilted the scales back toward equilibrium. Rajasthan's spin triumvirate seized control on the increasingly sluggish surface, applying the brakes magnificently. The Knight Riders' middle-overs struggle was evident as they managed a mere 57 runs between overs 7 and 14, with the aging ball finding grip on the deteriorating pitch.

KKR's innings began with an early setback as the dynamic Sunil Narine fell cheaply within the first three overs, leaving them searching for stability. Rahane and Gurbaz rose to the occasion, navigating the tricky variable bounce with calculated aggression and timely boundaries. Their partnership laid a solid foundation, propelling KKR to a respectable 56/1 by the end of the Powerplay.

Finally, the Eden Gardens was treated with the DRE RUSS SHOW! A long drought with the bat for him came to an end, and to be very fair to him, he just hasn't got enough balls to play in this season. But, today was the opportunity for him and he didn't waste it at all. The spinners weaved a web around the KKR batters in the mid overs, but RR certainly lost their momentum coming towards the backend. A painful recurring problem for them has been the death bowling and the bowlers were carted right, left and centre.

Akash Madhwal to Rinku Singh, An anti-climactic end to the innings! Akash Madhwal bangs in a good bouncer, on middle, Rinku Singh swings at it but misses. Kolkata Knight Riders finish on 206/4!

Akash Madhwal to Rinku Singh, SIX! TWO IN TWO FOR RINKU! Akash Madhwal misses the yorker and bowls another low full toss, on middle. Rinku Singh goes down on one knee and flicks it away to the deep square leg fence where it lands directly on the boundary cushions for a six.

Akash Madhwal to Rinku Singh, SIX! Rinku Singh joins the party now! A low full toss, on middle, Rinku crouches low and deposits it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. 200 up for KKR now!

Akash Madhwal to Rinku Singh, FOUR! Good shot! Akash Madhwal bangs this one into the pitch, on middle, Rinku Singh cannot quite get over the bounce but muscles it away between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

Akash Madhwal to Rinku Singh, Short of a length and on middle, Rinku Singh looks to pull but miscues it over the bowler's head and comes back for the second run.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, In the air...safe! Pitched up, outside off, takes pace off, Andre Russell throws his bat at it but gets a top edge. However, it lands between the long off and extra covers fielder. A single is taken.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, A slower one, full but again outside the guideline, Andre Russell offers no shot at it. Three wides in a row now.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, Again misses the wide yorker, way outside off, Andre Russell lets it go. Wided again.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, Fuller one but well outside off, Andre Russell leaves it alone. Wided.

Akash Madhwal to wrap up the first innings with the last over. His figures read 2-0-29-0 so far.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, DROPPED! A very tough chance though! A low full toss, on off, Andre Russell lofts it hard and wide of long off. Riyan Parag runs to his right quickly and dives, gets his hands on it, but it just does not stick in and parries the ball to the converging long on fielder. They cross for a single.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, FOUR! Nicely played! Change of pace, short of a length and on middle, Andre Russell reads it early, gets on top of it and pulls it wide of deep square leg for a boundary.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, SIX! FIFTY FOR DRE RUSS! Everyone at the Eden Gardens is applauding this stellar knock and KKR needed this badly. Jofra Archer misses his length and bowls a full toss, on the body of the batter. Andre Russell just uses the pace of the ball and whips it flat over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. 12th IPL fifty for Andre Russell and his job ain't over yet!

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, Jofra Archer nails the yorker this time, on middle, angling in, Andre Russell digs it back to the bowler.

Jofra Archer to Rinku Singh, Slower one again, back of a length and on off, Rinku Singh swipes it through mid-wicket for a single.

Rinku Singh is in at number 6.

Jofra Archer to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, OUT! TAKEN! Jofra Archer strikes! He bowls the back-of-the-hand slower one, on a length and around leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi looks to hook it over short fine but gets a bit of a top edge. The ball flies high towards deep square leg. Ashok Sharma (Sub) runs to his right, settles under it, and takes a good catch. Raghuvanshi departs for a well-made 44 off 31, and KKR are 172/4!

Jofra Archer (3-0-18-0) to bowl the penultimate over.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, SIX MORE! Make that three in a row! Dre Russ doing what he does best here. Maheesh Theekshana goes around the wicket and fires this one full, outside off. Andre Russell has his eyes set now and swats it over the long off fence for half a dozen more. 23 runs off the over, 36 in the last 2!

Looks like the ball is lost in the crowd. The fourth umpire is out with the briefcase of replacement balls. A new ball has been selected and we are good to go.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, SIX! Wow...that's huge! Tossed up, full and on middle and off. Dre Russ gets underneath the ball and launches it high and handsomely way over the bowler's head for another six. 94 METERS! The crowd has come alive at the Gardens now.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, SIX! Into the stands! Maheesh Theekshana drags his length back a bit and around off. Andre Russell swings through the line and whacks it over the wide long on fence for a biggie.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Uppish but safe! Flighted, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes for the big short again but gets a top edge that lands well in front of long off. They cross.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Just short! Floated, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tries to loft it away but slices it towards long off. Riyan Parag runs forward from long off, but slightly misjudges the trajectory of the ball, dipping in front of him. He goes to take the catch sideways, and dives but fails to reach it as the ball swerves away from him and to the boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Swing and a miss!, Flatter, full and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down across to swipe it away but misses.

Maheesh Theekshana is back into the attack. He is 3-0-18-1 so far and replaces Akash Madhwal.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, A slower bouncer now, on middle, Andre Russell ducks under it.

Jofra Archer to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slower again, on a length and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi taps it to the off side for a quick one.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, Takes pace off, back of a length and on middle, Andre Russell heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, FOUR! SMACKED! Pitched up and around middle this time, Andre Russell gets right under it and smashes it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Jofra Archer to Andre Russell, SIX! Clears the fence! Jofra Archer just misses the yorker and serves a low full toss, on middle. Andre Russell slogs it hard but does not get it from the middle of the bat. It goes off the toe-end but clears long on with ease for a biggie.

Jofra Archer to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slower one, full and on leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, Bangs in a bouncer, on middle, Andre Russell tries to ramp it away but misses. However, Andre Russell takes the review for a wide call. Ball Tracking comes up and shows that it is under the head of the batter. A dot, but 15 runs off the over!

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, FOUR! Put away! Akash Madhwal takes pace off, full and well outside off Andre Russell does really well to reach out for it and thumps it through extra covers for four more runs.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, SIX! BANG! Dre Russ goes big now! Pitched up and on middle and leg, in the slot as well. Andre Russell clears his front leg away and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, FOUR! Not where he intended it to go, but gets the result! Fuller one and on middle, angling in. Andre Russell swings hard across the line but gets it from the inside half of the bat as the ball races wide of deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Akash Madhwal to Andre Russell, A slower bouncer around off, Andre Russell lets it go. The umpire gives it one for the over.

Akash Madhwal to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, A high full toss, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi punches it towards covers for a single.

Akash Madhwal is back on.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Andre Russell, Watchfully blocked! You don't often see Andre Russell doing that. A googly dished out on a fuller length, Andre Russell lunges forward and defends it under the eyes. 8 off this over and Wanindu Hasaranga finishes his spell, with figures of 4-0-35-0.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Length ball, on the stumps, dragged to the long on region for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! SMASHED AWAY! First boundary in 16 balls for KKR. Pitched on middle, too full, Angkrish Raghuvanshi carves it out and drills it to the left of long on for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Nice and full, on off, pushed back to the bowler.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Touch short and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi hangs back and pulls it to the right fo long on. Jofra Archer does well to run across and stop the ball, right on one of those practice pitches before the ropes. Two taken.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Andre Russell, Closer to the middle and leg stumps, on a length, Andre Russell goes deep in the crease and nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic Break! Rajasthan Royals have pulled things back nicely in the last few overs courtesy of their spinners. The ball is gripping and turning, and scoring runs is not easy, at least for the new batters. They will hope to build on this and pick up a couple of more wickets to restrict the hosts to a low score here. Kolkata Knight Riders needs to get a move on here, and they have promoted Dre Russ to do that, and with a lot of firepower still left in the tank, they will hope they can accelerate in the last six overs and get to a goof total.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, Drags the length back, wide of off, Andre Russell stands tall and cuts it away to deep point for a single. An outstanding over from Maheesh Theekshana this, just a couple of singles off it.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, JAFFA! Drifts in towards off, lands and then bites away from the batter, on a fuller length. Andre Russell lunges forward to block, but plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, First slip goes back to short third. Full, flat, quick and outside off, Andre Russell doesn't read the carrom ball and tries to slash but misses.

Maheesh Theekshana to Andre Russell, A slip comes in now. On a tight line, on middle, Andre Russell gets inside the line and blocks it out.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Pitched fuller, just around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi leans on and drivres it to deep cover for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flat and quick, full on the stumps, blocked back to the bowler.

Riyan Parag to Andre Russell, Swings, but misses! Stays around the stumps, does Parag, full and outside off, Andre Russell swings with all his might to find the hills, but connects only thin air.

Riyan Parag to Andre Russell, Nice and full, on middle, Dre Russ respects it and blocks it forward.

Andre Russell is the next man in.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ajinkya Rahane was struggling after that cramp and just couldn't get going! A round-arm delivery, drifted outside the off stump, from around the stumps, on a fuller length. Ajinkya Rahane premeditates it and crouches a bit to play the sweep shot. Doesn't fully go down on his knee to play the shot and gets a faint leading edge of the bat. Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps takes a sharp catch. Parag strikes and breaks the 42-run stand. KKR are 111/3 now.

The pitch is slowing down as the game progresses and batting is becoming more and more difficult.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, WIDE! Angled a bit too across the tramline on the off side, from around the stumps. Left alone. Wide given.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Drops it full and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives it through cover for one more.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Floated fuller and on the leg stump, Ajinkya Rahane chips it over the vacant mid on region for a single.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Landed on a length, around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi rocks back and punches across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Goes fuller and slides it on middle and leg, a googly, Angkrish Raghuvanshi sweeps it to deep square leg for a single. 10 from this over, and 21 off the last 2 for KKR.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Pierced the gap to perfection! Marginally short from Wanindu, on the stumps, Angkrish Raghuvanshi hangs back, picks the length well and just pulls it between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, Flighted delivery, full and on off, Ajinkya Rahane sweeps it off the inside edge towards deep fine leg for a single.

Halt! Ajinkya Rahane is struggling with cramps here and the physio is in to check on him. He is good to continue now.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, WIDE! Sprayed down the leg stump, too full. Rahane sits to sweep, but misses. Jurel collects behind the wickets, wide called.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated up, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi leans on and eases it through the cover-point region for a single. The 100 is up for KKR in 11.3 overs.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, Slower through the air, at 88.4 kph, Ajinkya Rahane drags his pull shot to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Some turn, around off, full in length, spinning away. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hangs back and tucks it across and between the square leg and mid-wicket region for a single.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Another one on a dragged length, this is pulled from the off side to deep square leg. Shimron Hetmyer runs across to his right and stops it with a dive. Two taken.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Length on middle and leg. Raghuvanshi goes deep in the crease and steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Pure timing! Poor line and length, across off on a fuller length, too wide, Angkrish Raghuvanshi expands his arms and cracks the cover drive through the in-field for a boundary.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flatter through the air, outside off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi lofts this full ball over mid off. Yashasvi Jaiswal from long off runs to his left and stops it on a couple of bounces. Two taken.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Nice loop on it, too full and across off, Ajinkya Rahane sweeps it to deep square leg for one more.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Dragged length, on the leg stump, from around the stumps, Angkrish Raghuvanshi rocks back and nudges it through square leg for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, A big shout for LBW, but turned down! Looped up, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steps across to sweep but misses as the ball goes off his pads to the off side. A leg bye is taken.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! A bit sloppy in the field! Flighted, full and on middle, turns away, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down and sweeps it well and wide of deep square leg. Yudhvir Singh runs to his left and dives, but the ball spins off the practice pitches, hits his body and goes away for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, A bit of a mix-up but no harm done! Flatter, full and on off, turns away with bounce. Ajinkya Rahane gets bamboozeled and misses as the keeper also parries it to short fine. Rahane is a bit late to react but sets off for the run. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. A direct hit would have had Rahane.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Tossed up, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi sweeps it through square leg for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slows it up, short again and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi punches it to covers.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, Floated, short and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane moves back but mistimes his pull towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Just when that second wicket stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ajinkya Rahane was shaping up nicely, crossing 50 runs, RR got another breakthrough which has slightly halted KKR's momentum. The last two overs have gone for just 11 runs, but the Knight Riders would aim to keep the scorecard ticking along and not get too much bogged down by it. It is a crucial middle over phase and another quick couple of wickets will bring the tourists on top. Wanindu Hasaranga to continue after the break.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Six singles in the over! Half-tracker, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane pulls it on the bounce to deep square leg for a run.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flighted, full and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down across and paddles it to short fine for one more. That is a brave shot, as if he missed that, it would have been plumb.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Drags his length back, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it through point for one.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flatter, full and on leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Short again and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stays back and flicks it to deep square leg for a run.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated, short and on leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi clips it through square leg for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Quicker, full and around off, Ajinkya Rahane guides it to short third.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Flatter, short and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stabs it back to the bowler.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Buzzers! Flighted, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steers it through point and comes back for the second run. The throw from the deep is not a good one, and the keeper, Dhruv Jurel tries to do something adventurous, looking to flick the ball back on the stumps, but fails to do so and the ball rolls past the stumps, allowing the batters the third run.

One of KKR's most consistent batters this season, Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in at number 4.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Maheesh Theekshana strikes! He gets Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the 5th time in T20s. Floated, full and on off. Gurbaz goes down for the slog sweep but has to drag it a bit and ends up hitting it much flatter. The ball flies straight towards deep mid-wicket, where Shimron Hetmyer takes a good catch. Gurbaz departs after a quick-fire 35 off 25, and KKR are two down now!

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Short again, on leg, Ajinkya Rahane clips it through square leg for a run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz heaves it to deep square leg for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, A massive shout for LBW, but turned down! A googly, full and on middle and leg, turns in. Ajinkya Rahane gets stuck on his crease as he looks to work it away. The ball goes past the bat and hits him on the pads. Riyan Parag has a chat with his players but does not take the review. Turns out to be a good decision as UltraEdge shows there was some bat involved.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Goes short again, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Fine shot! Tossed up, full and around middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz sits down on one knee and nails the sweep shot to the deep square leg fence for another boundary. That also brings up the 50-run partnership between these two batters. Surprisingly, that is the first one for any wicket for KKR this season.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, Flighted, full and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane eases it to long on for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Gets it away! Floated, full and on leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes down and just gets enough bat on that to paddle it away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga is introduced into the attack now. Also, since Kunal Singh Rathore is off the field, Ashok Sharma is in as the substitute fielder for RR.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Excellent shot! A low full toss, on the pads, Ajinkya Rahane brings his wrists into play and flicks it with sublime timing. There is a deep square leg in place but he has no chance of stopping that as the ball races to the fence for a boundary.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Classy and effortless! Fuller in length and angling into the leg side. Ajinkya Rahane backs away a bit, presents the full face of the bat and dispatches it over the bowler's head for a biggie. 50 up for KKR!

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hard length and around leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz steps across to pull it away but gloves it onto his thigh pads as the ball rolls towards short fine. They cross.

Oh, the debutant, Kunal Singh Rathore, looks in some pain and the physio is out to tend to him. The ball stung on his finger at mid on, but wait, he is holding his right wrist. Probably split the webbing and is walking off the field.

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Just short! Akash Madhwal sees the batter back away and serves this full, angling into leg. Rahmanullah Gurbaz swipes it off the inner half of the bat towards mid on. Kunal Singh Rathore dives, but the ball hits his fingers on the bounce. Saves runs for his team but looks in a bit of pain.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, Bowls a good yorker, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane digs it out towards mid on for a run.

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Back of a length and on leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz heaves it away but straight to short fine. A bit to on either side and it would have been a boundary. A single taken in the end.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Darted on a fuller length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane shovels it out to the short third region. A sharp 'No' call from Gurbaz and Rahane stays in the crease. 11 from Theekshana's opening over, 26 off the last two for KKR.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Around off, pushed in front of mid off for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, TOP EDGE, GOES ALL THE WAY! SIX! Pitched quite fuller, just behind those dark patches on the fuller length, around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz sits down to sweep, but gets a thick top edge. The ball flies and sails behind deep fine leg for a six.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Drifting outside the leg stump, on a length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it across to the deep mid-wicket region for a quick couple of runs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, On middle and a bit overpitched, Ajinkya Rahane clips it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Over the stumps, flat and full, but wide of off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz covers the off stump and swats it off the toe end of the bat to long on for a single.

Change? Yes, time for some spin as Maheesh Theekshana comes into the attack now.

Yudhvir Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Wonderful pick-up shot from Jinx! Into the wheelhouse, a bit too full and just on off, Ajinkya Rahane picks up and whips it over deep mid-wicket for a cracking six. 15 off the over, and 19 from the last two for KKR.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Too short and wide of off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz stands tall and punches it to the right of cover for a single.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Excellent shot! Hard length from Yudhvir, nibbling away from outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shuffles outside off, and drags the pull shot over mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pitched fuller and on off, slapped to down the ground, but cannot pierce mid off.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, TOP EDGE, FOUR! Back of a length, just outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shuffles across off, looks to pull, but gets a little too close to the ball and gets a top edge. The ball flies over the keeper for a boundary.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On the top of off, at 139.5 kph, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls it straight to mid-wicket.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Takes the pace off, full and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz lets the ball arrive and taps it with soft hands to the point region for a single. Another excellent over from Archer. Just 4 off it. His figures read 2-0-5-0 so far.

Jofra Archer to Ajinkya Rahane, Strayed onto the pads, Ajinkya Rahane misses to tuck it across and the ball rolls off the front pad to the leg side. They get a leg bye.

Jofra Archer to Ajinkya Rahane, Extra bounce on that one. And a polite enquiry from Archer for caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved. At 144.7 kph, he bowls it into the pitch, with an extra lift off the deck, Ajinkya Rahane tries to play the ramp but misses.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Speared onto the leg stump line, full in length, whipped away to deep fine leg for a single.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, WIDE! An effort ball, too short and going down the leg stump. Wide called.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Slower one, on the stumps, defended back to the bowler.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angling into the batter, Gurbaz misses the flick and is struck on the pad off the inside edge.

Ajinkya Rahane walks out to bat at number 3.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, OUT! BOWLED'EM! KNOCKED HIM OVER! An early wicket for RR as the dangerous Sunil Narine departs cheaply! A length-delivery from Yudhvir, this is the off-cutter that grips on the surface, nipping slightly away. Sunil Narine opens his stance and shapes to pull, but plays all over the wrong line and very early too. Also, due to the lack of bounce, the ball beats the inside edge and clips into the top of middle. Sunil Narine departs on 11 (9). KKR are 13/1.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, SIX! Poor and punished! The first six of the match! Fuller and just strayed down leg, Sunil Narine whips it aerially and parks it behind deep backward square leg for a six.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, WIDE! An over-the-head bumper, on top of the stumps, Sunil Narine leans back to leave it alone. Wide signalled.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Just over! Length-delivery, but angling into the pads, staying a bit low, Sunil Narine helps it with the pace and pulls it just over the leaping Jofra Archer at short fine leg for a boundary.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, A steep bounce from Yudhvir, around off, springing off the deck. Narine gets himself away from the line to let it be.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, Nagging length, around the off stump, Sunil Narine moves his front leg away and mistimes the pull shot to mid-wicket.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, On the back of a length, on top of middle, Sunil Narine shapes up for the pull shot but misses to connect. That stays a tad low on the bounce by the looks of it.

Yudhvir Singh to share the attack.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Touch fuller and around off, knocked into the off side.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Express pace! Bumper on the middle stump, lifting off the deck and nipping into the batter. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tries to play the aggressive pull shot by charging ahead, but sways away from the line.

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Fuller and at the pads. Narine steers it away to deep square leg for a single.

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Short of a length and just around off, Sunil Narine lets it go to the keeper.

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Fuller again and on middle, Sunil Narine blocks it out.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kolkata Knight Riders are underway straightaway! Jofra Archer starts with a full delivery, on middle, shaping in sharply. Gurbaz drills it to mid off for a single.

All in readiness at the Eden Gardens as Shane Bond, the bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals, rings the gong. We can see the RR players spread out and take their respective field positions. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine are the two openers for Kolkata Knight Riders. Jofra Archer has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

The captain of Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag, says he hoped to lose the toss as he was quite unsure of what to do. Says it has been challenging and they need to be professional on the field. Adds they will play for pride and bring more energy on to the field, with a collective effort. Informs three changes - Nitish Rana has a niggle so he misses out and Kunal Singh Rathore makes his debut for them. Also adds that Wanindu Hasaranga and Yudhvir Singh are back in the side as well.

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Ajinkya Rahane, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks a little dry and he is not sure whether it will change much in the second innings so they want to put runs on the board. Adds that they want to take one game at a time and it was a great last game and every chipped in well. Mentions that playing in the domestic circuit has helped him massively and he is enjoying his cricket. Informs that there are a couple of changes as Moeen Ali and Ramandeep Singh comes in the team.

Impact Players nominated by Rajasthan Royals - Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma, Kwena Maphaka.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore (On debut and in for Nitish Rana), Riyan Parag (C), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga (In for Fazalhaq Farooqi), Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh (In for Kumar Kartikeya), Akash Madhwal.

Impact Players nominated by Kolkata Knight Riders - Manish Pandey, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh (In for Anukul Roy), Moeen Ali (In for Rovman Powell), Vaibhav Arora (In for Harshit Rana), Varun Chakaravarthy.

TOSS UPDATE - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Kolkata Knight Riders and Ajinkya Rahane elects to BAT first.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta and Eoin Morgan are pitchside. Deep begins by informing about the dimensions. Says it is 66 meters and 60 meters respectively at the squares, with a 74-meter hit down the ground. Morgan joins in and observes a good covering of grass, barring those few dry patches. Mentions that the ground staff have been trying to keep the moisture in this surface and says it looks really dark and dry. Feels that it won't break up and will stick together quite nicely. Deep now adds his assessment and says it might slow down a little bit in the first innings and help the spinners as well. Also points out that Kolkata is on the eastern side and the sunsets happen very early here, but you still want to chase here as he reckons that the wicket will get better in the second innings.

Despite their mixed campaign, Rajasthan can take heart from their remarkable Eden Gardens record, where they've remained undefeated against KKR since 2018. Meanwhile, Knight Riders have a clear intent, looking to complete a season sweep over the Royals and further strengthen their position with a win. Let’s hope that the overhead conditions stay bright and sunny, and we get a full game. For RR, a win will only add trouble to KKR, who desperately craves two more crucial points. Stay tuned for the toss and the team updates.

It’s been a very forgettable campaign for Rajasthan Royals, not because they have lost too many games, but specifically, the way they have lost games from dominant positions. Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to be their batting cornerstone, delivering four half-centuries in his last six appearances, while young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has brilliantly filled Samson's void, already notching an impressive century. Nevertheless, some critical weaknesses have recurred. A persistent inability to close out matches with the bat, particularly during run chases, coupled with a bowling attack that has lacked conviction and killer instinct in the fielding department.

Adding to their challenges is a shockingly poor home record at Eden Gardens, managing just one win from five outings this season, including a washout. Their spin department has struggled to capture wickets on home turf despite maintaining respectable economy rates. The pace attack featuring Rana and Vaibhav offers a silver lining, while KKR continues banking on Sunil Narine's all-round brilliance – the X-factor that has repeatedly rescued them from precarious situations. And if the mighty Dre Russ shows his muscle, it will be the cherry on the cake for them.

One of KKR’s biggest worries has been its lackadaisical middle order performances. They are heavily dependent on their top order to fire, and if they fail, the team’s momentum dwarfs massively. While Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi have delivered consistently, Rinku Singh only recently rediscovered form against DC. Most concerning, though, is Venkatesh Iyer's prolonged batting slump, leaving him to find form at the most crucial juncture in the season.

In the first clash, it’s a do-or-die situation for Kolkata Knight Riders. They are currently stacked in the seventh spot with 9 points, and are coming off a morale-boosting win against DC. They can still reach a max of 17 points if they win all four games from here. Whereas, for the Royals, their season is done and dusted, and they might try out new combinations and also play a spoiler's role in KKR’s journey. Because one more defeat, and the Knight Riders’ chances will be enormously dented.

Hello, everyone! As we gear up for another electrifying Sunday double header in the Indian Premier League 2025, a very warm welcome to our coverage. The afternoon clash features Kolkata Knight Riders taking on the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, while the evening rivalry sees the debut of the scenic city of Dharamsala this season, with Punjab Kings hosting Lucknow Super Giants. So, sit back and relax as both games promise to be absolute belters.

... MATCH DAY ...

Getting ready for some weekend cricket drama as the famous Eden Gardens is about to light up with Kolkata Knight Riders squaring off against Rajasthan Royals in what promises to be an exciting clash, as IPL 2025 heads into crunch time. When these two first clashed in Guwahati, both were nursing opening day wounds, but KKR walked away with the win. Since then? It's been tough sledding all around. The Knight Riders have been playing hot-cold cricket, never being able to string together momentum when they needed it most. The Royals' story is even more painful as they've mastered the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Yes, you read it correctly. Those squandered opportunities from winning positions, have cost them enormously, and now they join CSK as the second team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention. With just three games left on the roster, RR's playoff hopes are dead in the water, and even a perfect finish would leave them at 12 points, nowhere near what's needed to qualify. KKR, though, still have a flicker of hope, despite that frustrating washout that left them with just a single point. Win out, and they could hit 17 points. Not impossible, but certainly a steep climb. Signs of life are appearing for KKR as their batting lineup seems to be finding its shape. The top order's contributing steadily if not spectacularly, and the middle order's showing glimpses of form. But Venkatesh Iyer has been a major disappointment, managing just 142 runs across 10 matches with only one fifty to show for his hefty price tag. Curiously, no KKR batter has broken the 300-run barrier yet. Captain Ajinkya Rahane leads the charge with 297 runs, followed by young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who's impressed everyone with his level-headed approach. Now's the time for Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell, to step up and deliver when it matters most. Amid the inconsistency, Sunil Narine remains KKR's most valuable asset. His all-round brilliance was on full display in their recent win against DC, continuing his trend of clutch performances. On the bowling front, Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have handled pace duties admirably, while Varun Chakaravarthy carries the weight of massive expectations in the spin department. Rajasthan Royals have shown tantalizing glimpses of what could have been, but just can't seem to string together winning performances this season. Yashasvi Jaiswal remains their batting pillar as the only Royal to break the 400-run barrier, with five fifties to his name and ranking fourth in the tournament's six-hitting charts. Alongside him, young gun Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has defied both expectations and his age, already boasting a scorching century. Their powerplay dominance leads the league across 11 games, but there's a frustrating pattern of electric starts followed by dramatic slowdowns, with their middle order consistently failing to maintain momentum. The bowling attack tells a similar story of unfulfilled potential, as not a single Royals bowler has cracked the 10-wicket mark, with Wanindu Hasaranga leading their modest tally at just 9 dismissals. Jofra Archer's inconsistent form has only deepened their troubles. Perhaps most telling has been their butterfingered fielding, with a league-worst 17 dropped catches have repeatedly undermined their efforts when margins for error were already razor-thin. With their playoff hopes already extinguished, RR now enters spoiler territory, free to experiment with lineups and potentially derail KKR's qualification ambitions. They've got nothing to lose and everything to prove. For the Knight Riders, every match is now a must-win affair as they race toward the finish line. The Eden Gardens faithful will be hoping their team can capitalize on this do-or-die momentum against a Royals side that, despite their elimination, still packs enough firepower to upset anyone's applecart on their day. A blockbuster Sunday afternoon clash awaits in the City of Joy.