IPL 2025: Venkatesh, Arora Star as KKR Hand SRH Their Biggest-Ever Loss

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) rediscovered their explosive batting form in Mumbai, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) continued their struggles, suffering a third consecutive defeat despite their record-breaking 286-run opening game in IPL 2025. Just days after being bowled out for 116 by Mumbai Indians, KKR bounced back with a formidable 200 for 6, powered by vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer’s blistering 60 off 29 balls and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 32 off 17. Their late onslaught, which saw KKR amass 78 runs in the final five overs, was set up by a solid third-wicket partnership of 81 between Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

SRH paid the price for sloppy fielding and crumbled in their chase, managing only 120 as KKR’s pacers dismantled their star-studded top order in just 13 deliveries. Last season’s runners-up now find themselves at the bottom of the table, while the reigning champions surged from last place to fifth.

Travis Head registered his second consecutive duck against Vaibhav Arora, mirroring his dismissal in last year’s IPL final, while Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan could only manage 2 runs each. SRH’s top three combined for just eight runs, marking their second-worst start in IPL history. In the previous season’s final—where Kishan was not part of the lineup—they had fared only slightly better with 11 runs.

Struggling to recover from a disastrous 9 for 3, SRH slumped further to 66 for 5 before eventually enduring their heaviest defeat by runs margin in IPL history.

SRH Top Order Collapses in Big Chase

The pitch offered no demons—no excessive bounce or movement—but SRH’s top order still crumbled against KKR’s pace attack, even in the absence of Mitchell Starc. Travis Head fell on just the second ball, mistiming a shot to mid-off, while Abhishek Sharma edged a slower delivery from Harshit Rana to slip in the second over.

Ishan Kishan followed suit, driving one straight to cover, where Ajinkya Rahane took a sharp tumbling catch, reducing SRH to a disastrous 9 for 3. It could have been even worse had Andre Russell not dropped Kamindu Mendis at mid-on, denying Vaibhav Arora a double-wicket maiden. However, Russell redeemed himself soon after by dismissing Nitish Reddy at the start of the seventh over. Arora later claimed his third wicket, removing the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen for 33.

Despite brief resistance from Reddy, Mendis, and Klaasen—who launched a few big hits—SRH struggled to keep up with the soaring required rate. Rahane applied pressure with five consecutive overs from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, conceding just 33 runs and picking up two wickets. Arora then dismissed Klaasen, and Varun nearly secured a hat-trick in the 16th over. SRH ultimately folded for just 120, once again raising serious concerns about their batting approach.

KKR Openers Struggle Again as Rahane, Raghuvanshi Steady the Ship

Despite a relatively easier pitch at Eden Gardens compared to Wankhede, KKR’s opening woes continued. Sunil Narine fell early once again, this time edging a yorker behind for 7, while Quinton de Kock struggled before pulling a short ball to deep square leg for 1 off 6. KKR found themselves in early trouble at 17 for 2 after three overs.

However, the Mumbai duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided much-needed momentum. The pair smashed four sixes in just 14 balls, propelling KKR to 53 for 2 by the end of the powerplay. Rahane led the charge, clearing the leg-side boundary with two powerful pulls and a stylish flick behind square, even before registering his first four.

Ansari Puts the Brakes on KKR’s Momentum

As soon as the fielding restrictions were lifted, Pat Cummins turned to spin, and rookie legspinner Zeeshan Ansari delivered by putting the brakes on KKR’s scoring. Mixing turn, flight, and variations in length, Ansari kept the set batters in check, conceding just 25 runs across three consecutive overs while the pacers continued to leak boundaries.

The young spinner allowed only one boundary in his first 14 deliveries—a result of a misfield by Nitish Reddy—before Angkrish Raghuvanshi capitalized on a fuller delivery, smashing a six and a four. However, Ansari struck back soon after, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane for 38, shifting the momentum momentarily in SRH’s favor.

Venkatesh, Rinku Fire KKR to 200

SRH had a golden opportunity to break KKR’s momentum, but Nitish Reddy’s drop at the boundary allowed Angkrish Raghuvanshi to survive on 43. He capitalized on the reprieve with a crisp cover drive for four before reaching his second IPL fifty in the following over. However, his luck finally ran out against Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, as Harshal Patel pulled off a stunning diving catch at deep point.

At 13 overs, KKR were scoring at just over eight runs per over with two new batters at the crease. Harshal and Simranjeet Singh initially slowed them down with off-pace deliveries, but Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh soon turned the tide. Rinku ignited the charge with three consecutive boundaries off Harshal in the 17th, while Venkatesh followed up with two fours before Rinku hammered a towering six over long-on to finish the over.

Venkatesh shifted gears dramatically in the penultimate over, dismantling Pat Cummins’ variations—cutter, slower bouncer, and yorker—by smashing 4, 6, 4, 4 to reach a blistering 25-ball fifty. He carried the momentum into the final over, dispatching Harshal for a six and a four before finally holing out. Though Harshal managed to restrict the last three balls to just three runs, the damage had already been done, as KKR stormed to their first 200-run total of the season.

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