IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders hold their nerve in a last-ball thriller to defeat Rajasthan Royals by 1 run at Eden Gardens. Riyan Parag's explosive 95 goes in vain.
Kolkata, May 4: The Eden Gardens witnessed pure IPL drama on Sunday as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) snatched a heart-stopping 1-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 53 of IPL 2025. With this win, KKR kept their playoff hopes alive in sensational fashion.
Chasing a stiff 207-run target, RR faltered early but were brought back into the game by a breathtaking knock from Riyan Parag, who smashed 95 off just 45 balls. Despite his heroics and a late assault by Shubham Dubey, RR fell agonizingly short, finishing on 205/8 in 20 overs.
The final over, bowled by Vaibhav Arora, was nothing short of a Bollywood climax. With 3 runs needed off the final delivery, Arora nailed a perfect yorker and RR could only manage a single — as Jofra Archer was run out trying to steal the second.
Earlier, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bat first. KKR posted a strong 206/4, powered by a blistering unbeaten 57 from Andre Russell and an energetic 44 from youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahane gave the team a solid start, while Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches.
Key Highlights – KKR vs RR, IPL 2025:
KKR: 206/4 in 20 overs
Russell: 57* (26), Raghuvanshi: 44 (32), Rahane: 30 (24)
RR: 205/8 in 20 overs
Parag: 95 (45), Hetmyer: 29 (21)
Last-ball thriller: RR needed 3 off 1, lost by 1 run
Vaibhav Arora: Hero in the final over with a calm finish under pressure
KKR Playing XI: Gurbaz (wk), Narine, Rahane (c), Raghuvanshi, Moeen, V. Iyer, Rinku, Russell, Ramandeep, Varun, Arora
RR Playing XI: Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, Parag (c), Rathore, Jurel (wk), Hetmyer, Hasaranga, Archer, Theekshana, Yudhvir, Madhwal
With this win, KKR breathe life into their IPL 2025 campaign, while RR will rue missed chances in what could've been a famous chase. The race for the playoffs just got more intense!
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