In match 15 of the current IPL 2025, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) squared off at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, April 3. Replicating the final from the previous season, defending champions KKR defeated SRH by a commanding 80 runs.
Hyderabad got the advantage of tossing and selected fielding as their opening play. The opening batsmen for Kolkata experienced early dismissals after de Kock and Sunil Narine got eliminated at the start of their inning. Rahane along with Raghuvanshi avoided any further batting collapses as they partnered up for Kolkata’s recovery during their innings.
Although the partnership was crucial their combined batting output reached 81 runs throughout the third wicket stand. Raghuvanshi achieved his second half-century of the IPL by hitting 50 runs from 32 balls as Rahane used 38 deliveries to reach his 38 runs.
In the latter stages, Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer raised the stakes for KKR. With 60 runs in just 29 balls, Iyer was the home team’s leading scorer. Rinku, who is still undefeated after scoring 32 runs off of 17 deliveries, also contributed with a brief appearance.
KKR managed to score 200/6 in 20 overs through the fifth wicket partnership which produced 91 runs from 41 balls by the two left-handed batters. Each of the five bowlers Mohammed Shami Pat Cummins Zeeshan Ansari Harshal Patel and Kamindu Mendis managed to take a single wicket during the innings.
During the run chase the SRH batters resisted without surrendering to defeat. Most SRH batters fell during regular intervals of the match and Heinrich Klaasen stood as the single exception who obtained more than 30 runs. With 21 balls at bat the wicket-keeping batter successfully made 33 runs.
Andre Russell took two wickets for KKR, while Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy each took three. SRH’s greatest loss in league history came when they were bundled out for just 120. Arora’s incredible bowling heroics earned him the title of Player of the Match.
Kolkata is now seventh in the IPL 2025 points standings after two victories in four games. With just one win from four games, Hyderabad, on the other hand, is sagging in last place.
Having said that, let’s examine three instances from the game that caused excitement among spectators.
1. Kamindu Mendis Makes History by Bowling with Both Hands in Same Over
The ambidextrous bowling of Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis perplexed the KKR hitters during the match. In the thirteenth over of the KKR innings, he was added to the assault.
When left-handed hitter Venkatesh Iyer came on strike, Mendis changed to right-arm off-spin after bowling left-arm finger spin against right-handed batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
One of the match’s main talking points was the 26-year-old bowling with both hands in the same over. He was also successful in dismissing the well-established Raghuvanshi in the over.
2. Venkatesh Iyer takes Pat Cummins to the cleaners
Pat Cummins, the captain of the SRH, was not spared by Venkatesh Iyer, who appeared to be quite skilled with the bat. The pivotal 19th over was bowled by the quick bowler from Australia.
Iyer’s aggressive intent controlled the action. The first ball was sent for a four over the wicketkeeper’s head by the southpaw to start the over. Cummins then delivered it more slowly. The batter took advantage of the change of tempo and used a pull shot to hit the ball for a six.
Iyer struck two more fours, but there was no reprieve from Cummins’ back-to-back yorkers. In the end, the SRH captain gave away 21 runs from the over.
3. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane takes a sharp catch to dismiss Ishan Kishan
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, the openers for SRH, were back in the pavilion after the first two overs, but KKR had a great start with the ball. Ishan Kishan was dismissed in the third over by Vaibhav Arora, giving his team yet another significant breakthrough.
The delivery was lengthy, and Kishan went for the cover drive. Although he appeared to make a solid connection, Ajinkya Rahane ended his knock with a beautiful catch.
