Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bounced back from their recent struggles with an impressive 80-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive 60 off 29 balls propelled KKR to their highest total of the season, 200/6, as they dominated the game from start to finish.
An earlier 81-run stand between skipper Ajinkya Rahane (38 off 27) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50 off 32) laid the foundation for KKR’s strong innings. Raghuvanshi showcased his stroke-making prowess, reaching his half-century in 30 balls. However, Iyer and Rinku Singh (32 not out off 17) provided the late fireworks, putting together a blistering 91-run partnership in 41 balls to lift KKR to their highest total.
In contrast, SRH’s batting lineup struggled, with Varun Chakravarthy and Andre Russell contributing significantly to their downfall. Seamer Vaibhav Arora set the tone for KKR’s strong bowling performance by dismissing Travis Head and Ishan Kishan in successive overs. Harshit Rana, Russell, and Chakravarthy then combined to claim the remaining wickets, as SRH were bowled out for 120 in 16.4 overs.
Norwegian-born Rinku Singh, who struggled earlier in the season, showed signs of improvement with his 32 not out off 17 balls, providing a much-needed boost to KKR’s top-order. The win marks a welcome return to form for the defending champions, who had lost two of their first three matches.
KKR will look to continue their winning momentum when they face Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. Meanwhile, SRH will aim to regroup and bounce back after their third consecutive defeat, with their next match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday.
In the game, KKR’s new-look opening pair struggled, with Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine falling cheaply. However, Rahane and Raghuvanshi steadied the innings, countering early movement with intelligent shot selection. Chasing, SRH were reduced to 9/3 in 2.1 overs before Nitish Reddy and Kamindu Mendis lifted hopes, only to be dismissed by Andre Russell and Sunil Narine respectively.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/04/04/venkatesh-iyer-silences-critics-with-blazing-60-as-kkr-crush-srh/
Category : SPORTS
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-04-04 03:48:00
