NEW DELHI: In a thrilling showdown at the iconic Eden Gardens on Thursday, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showcased a commanding performance, trouncing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by a formidable 80 runs in the 15th match of IPL 2025. The match was illuminated by the explosive batting of Venkatesh Iyer and the stellar bowling of Vaibhav Arora, both integral to KKR’s overwhelming dominance.
Elected to bat first, KKR were rocked early but quickly regained their footing through a robust middle-order effort. Entering at a precarious 97/3 in the 11th over, Venkatesh Iyer took charge, slamming an incredible 60 off just 29 deliveries. His innings, adorned with seven boundaries and three maximums, boasted an impressive strike rate of 206.90. Iyer’s onslaught, particularly against both spin and pace, was pivotal in shifting the momentum decisively in KKR’s favor. Forming a vital partnership with the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored a steady 50 off 32, Iyer propelled KKR to a daunting total of 200/6 by the end of their 20 overs.
As KKR transitioned to their bowling attack, Vaibhav Arora set the tone with an immediate breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Travis Head in his opening over. Arora’s spell continued to devastate SRH’s batting lineup, with further scalps of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. His figures of 3/29 not only pegged SRH back but also earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award. Despite a fighting knock of 33 from Klaasen and a brisk 27 from Kamindu Mendis, SRH struggled against KKR’s relentless attack, eventually folding for just 120 in 16.4 overs.
KKR’s victory was further bolstered by crucial contributions from their other bowling stars – Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell, who skillfully dismantled SRH’s remaining resistance. The comprehensive win marks another statement performance from KKR in the IPL 2025 tournament, with Venkatesh Iyer’s blazing bat and Vaibhav Arora’s exceptional bowling earning special accolades.