KKR thrash SRH by 80 runs in IPL 2025

KATHMANDU: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bounced back in style with an emphatic 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

After receiving criticism for their poor performance in the previous match against Mumbai Indians, KKR put on a stellar display to defeat Hyderabad and restore their confidence.

KKR batted first and posted a commanding total of 200 runs. Vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer led the charge with a blistering 60 off 29 balls.

Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 32 from 17 balls, while captain Ajinkya Rahane (38 runs) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50 runs) contributed with a vital 81-run partnership for the third wicket, providing stability and building a strong foundation for the team.

Chasing a challenging target, SRH’s pursuit crumbled early. They lost three wickets for just 13 runs, and despite a few contributions, they were bundled out for 120 in just 16.4 overs.

Travis Head failed again, dismissed cheaply for the second consecutive match. Ishaan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma also struggled to make an impact.

Heinrich Klaasen top-scored with 33 from 21 balls, while Kamindu Mendis added 27 from 20 balls.

Nitish Reddy contributed 19 runs, but it wasn’t enough to prevent SRH’s downfall.

KKR’s bowlers were outstanding, with Vaibhav Arora taking 3 wickets for 29 runs in 4 overs, while Varun Chakravarthy claimed 3 wickets for 22 runs in his 4-over spell.

Andre Russell made a crucial contribution, picking up 2 wickets for just 2 runs in 1.4 overs.

With this victory, Kolkata climbed to 5th place in the standings with 4 points, while Sunrisers Hyderabad, suffering their third consecutive loss, dropped to the bottom of the table with just 2 points.