RR vs KKR, IPL 2025: Quinton De Kock Powers Kolkata Knight Riders Past Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati

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Quinton de Kock's classy 97 not out helped defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) open their account in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with an 8-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in match 6 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday (March 26).

Having lost to RCB in the tournament opener, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane read the track perfectly and his bowlers led by spin twins Varun Chakravarthy (2/17 in 4 overs) and Moeen Ali (2/23 in 4 overs) made full use of conditions to restrict Royals to 151 for 9.

For Royals, only wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel crossed the 30-run mark, scoring 33 off 28 balls, while the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Riyan Parag failed to convert starts by throwing away their wickets at crucial juncture.

The chase could have been a tricky one but de Kock's 61-ball knock made it a cakewalk for the reigning champions as target of 152 was reached in 17.3 overs. De Kock added 83 runs for the third wicket stand with Angkrish Raghuvanshi (22 not out off 17 balls). De Kock's innings had 8 fours and 6 sixes.

The Royals may have overplayed their spin options, allowing KKR's batters to settle into a rhythm. Hasaranga, who had dismissed De Kock twice in the past, was dominated in this matchup.

A more aggressive approach - bringing in Jofra Archer during the middle overs - could have added pressure, but English speedster was brought in as late as 18th over with KKR needing just 17 runs from 18 balls. It was just a formality as De Kock welcomed him with a boundary before launching him for two sixes to wrap it up in a canter.

Earlier, Chakravarthy and Ali dismantled the Royals' middle order, picking up two wickets each in successive overs right after the powerplay, shifting the momentum in KKR's favour.

Seamer Vaibhav Arora (2/33) was expensive but chipped in with two crucial wickets - regular Royals skipper Sanju Samson (13 off 11) with a yorker in the powerplay before dismissing impact substitute Shubham Dubey (9) cheaply.

Harshit Rana (2/36) was instrumental at the death, breaking Dhruv Jurel's promising innings of 33 (28) and removing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer for just 7, both in the crucial penultimate over.

A quickfire cameo 16 from 7 balls from Jofra Archer ensured that they reached 150-mark but he fell to Spencer Johnson (1/42) in the penultimate ball of their innings. The paltry total was just not enough in the end as KKR registered their first win of the season, while RR remain winless.