Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard
The 48th match of the IPL 2025 season unfolded at Delhi’s iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 29, under night lights. Delhi Capitals, having won the toss, elected to field first against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders. With playoff spots hanging in the balance, fans anticipated a high-stakes, edge-of-the-seat contest, which delivered in spades.
The Toss & Strategy
Toss: Delhi Capitals elected to bowl first.
Why Does It Matter?
Under lights, dew often aids batting later. DC hoped to exploit that by putting runs on the board. KKR, meanwhile, relied on their power-hitters and strong spinners to defend a total.
KKR Batting Innings – 204/9 (20 Ov)
KKR set a competitive 204/9. Here’s how the innings broke down,
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR (%) |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 26 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 216.7 |
| Sunil Narine | 27 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 168.8 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 185.7 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 44 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 137.5 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.0 |
| Rinku Singh | 36 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 144.0 |
| Andre Russell | 17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 188.9 |
| Rovman Powell | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.0 |
| Anukul Roy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras (w, lb, nb) | 15 | – | – | – | |
| Total | 204/9 | 120 | – | – | 10.20 RPO |
KKR Bowling Response – 9 DC Wkts Held to 190
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Mitchell Starc (DC) | 4 | 43 | 3 | 10.75 |
| D. Chameera | 3 | 46 | 1 | 15.33 |
| Mukesh Kumar | 2 | 17 | 0 | 8.5 |
| Vipraj Nigam | 4 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
| Kuldeep Yadav (DC) | 3 | 27 | 0 | 9.0 |
DC Response Batting – 190/9 (20 Ov)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR (%) |
| Abishek Porel (wk) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.0 |
| Faf du Plessis | 62 | 45 | 7 | 2 | 137.8 |
| Karun Nair | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 115.4 |
| KL Rahul | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.0 |
| Axar Patel (c) | 43 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 187.0 |
| Tristan Stubbs | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.3 |
| Vipraj Nigam | 38 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 200.0 |
| Ashutosh Sharma | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 116.7 |
| Mitchell Starc | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Extras | 10 | – | – | – | |
| Total | 190/9 | 120 | – | – |
A solid start by Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel laid the groundwork, but the lower order failed to capitalize on the foundation.
Key Bowling Performances:
Sunil Narine was the standout with figures of 3 for 29, while Varun Chakravarthy provided crucial support, taking 2 for 39.
Fall of Wickets:
1-4, 2-43, 3-60, 4-136, 5-138, 6-146, 7-160, 8-160, 9-189.
- Strong foundations by du Plessis and Axar, but the lower order couldn’t build on it.
- Crucial wickets: Sunil Narine claimed 3/29, while Varun Chakravarthy picked 2/39. Fall of Wickets: 4/1, 43/2, 60/3, 136/4, 138/5, 146/6, 160/7, 160/8, 189/9.
Bowling Highlights & Standouts
KKR Bowlers
- Sunil Narine sealed the contest: 4–0–29–3, including two key middle-order scalping’s, Axar and Stubbs—and ignited KKR’s
- Varun Chakravarthy supported with 2/39, including Starc.
- Andre Russell provided a crucial wicket at the death—Vipraj Nigam for 38.
DC Bowlers
Mitchell Starc starred in the first innings with 3/43, including early strikes that triggered KKR’s collapse.
Axar Patel led impressively with 2/27, controlling the middle overs.
Vipraj Nigam snapped up two lower-order batsmen for KKR.
Players of the Match & Turning Points
- Sunil Narine (KKR)
- All-round impact: 27 off 16 with the bat + 3/29 with the ball.
- Changed the game in middle-innings; his bowl broke pivotal partnerships.
- Mitchell Starc (DC)
Raw pace set KKR on edge early—his 3 wickets before the first drinks break were vital in restricting the KKR innings.
Best Partnerships
KKR: Opening stand of 48 off 2.6 overs between Gurbaz and Narine. Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 44* then built momentum.
DC: du Plessis and Axar added 80 off 68 balls—powerful but ultimately not enough.
Key Moments & Turning Points
- Early KKR Strikes: Starc’s three-pronged assault during the powerplay dents KKR’s momentum, but they recovered swiftly.
- Middle-Overs Mastery: Narine’s wickets of Axar and Stubbs stifle the chase and give KKR control.
- Death Bowls: Russell’s wicket of Vipraj slows DC’s run rate late, extinguishing the final hope.
Impact on IPL Table & Playoff Race
- KKR victory adds 2 vital points, applying pressure on mid-table teams vying for the playoffs.
- DC’s narrow loss dents their playoff hopes; they remain in the lower half context courtesy Delhi Capitals’ season campaign
Season Context & Player Insights
- Sunil Narine continues to prove his worth as a premier T20 all-rounder, though often underestimated, performances like this show his decisive influence.
- Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel continue to anchor DC, though their support has been inconsistent. The DC needs more contributions from lower-order hitters.
- Kuldeep Yadav, despite expensive overs, remains key to DC’s spin bowling; they will look for better control in future matches.
Final Thoughts
The night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had it all—power, spin wizardry, death bowling drama, and a high-scoring thriller. Kolkata Knight Riders’ collective effort—sparked by their explosive opener, resilient middle order, and game-changing spells by Narine and Chakravarthy—was enough to defend 204 and claim a tight 14-run win.
Sunil Narine’s dual performance as a batter and bowler made the difference, earning him the Player-of-the-Match. For Delhi Capitals, it was a classic case of ‘so close, yet so far’. It highlights both their strengths—du Plessis’s consistency, Axar’s all-round role—and vulnerabilities in the lower order.
As the league races toward the playoffs, every win counts. KKR will draw confidence, while DC must tighten its execution in crunch moments. With each subsequent match, every over’s performance could tip the balance.
Match Recap in Numbers:
- KKR: 204/9 (20) → Score Rate: 10.20 RPO
- DC: 190/9 (20) → Required 15.0 RPO, ended at 9.50
- Margin: KKR by 14 runs
- Player of the Match: Sunil Narine (27 & 3/29)
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