Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard: A 14-Run Thriller That Had Everything!

June 26, 2025 ByNick AndersonNo Comments 5 minutes

The IPL 2025 season has already served up its fair share of close finishes, but the clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 29, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was something special. It wasn’t just a game—it was a rollercoaster of emotions, momentum swings, and individual brilliance that left fans gasping till the very last ball.

If you missed the match or just want to relive the action, here’s the complete story—match build-up, playing XIs, scorecard, and the key moments that shaped this unforgettable contest.

The Build-Up: KKR Under Pressure, DC Eyeing Momentum

Coming into this match, KKR were desperate for a win. They had slipped dangerously close to the bottom half of the table after losing three of their last four home games. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals had home advantage and were eager to climb up the standings.

The toss went in KKR’s favor. Ajinkya Rahane, leading in place of the injured Shreyas Iyer, decided to bat first. Considering the smaller boundaries and flat Delhi pitch, the decision made perfect sense.

KKR’s First Innings: Runs on the Board Despite Regular Wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI:

• Phil Salt (wk)
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi
• Ajinkya Rahane (c)
• Venkatesh Iyer
• Rinku Singh
• Andre Russell
• Sunil Narine
• Mitchell Starc
• Varun Chakravarthy
• Harshit Rana
• Vaibhav Arora

KKR’s innings got off to a steady start. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the young sensation, was impressive again, anchoring the innings with a mature 44 off 32 balls. He timed the ball sweetly, rotating strike well and hitting the occasional boundary.

Middle-order contributions came from Rinku Singh, who smashed a brisk 36 off 25, mixing power with placement. But the real momentum shift happened towards the back end of the innings, thanks to Sunil Narine (27 off 16) and Andre Russell (18 off 10). Both batsmen played crucial cameos that lifted KKR past the 200-mark.

Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, KKR finished with a competitive 204/9 in 20 overs.

Delhi Capitals Bowling Highlights

Delhi Capitals Bowling XI:

• Anrich Nortje
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Axar Patel
• Ishant Sharma
• Tristan Stubbs

DC’s bowlers had mixed results. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick, with 3 for 32 in 4 overs, using flight and turn to perfection. Khaleel Ahmed grabbed two wickets, showing good control with the new ball. However, death bowling remained a worry as KKR’s lower order cashed in during the last five overs.

DC’s Chase: Solid Start, Sudden Collapse

Chasing 205 was always going to be challenging, but DC started with intent.

Delhi Capitals Playing XI:

• KL Rahul
• Faf du Plessis
• Rishabh Pant (c & wk)
• Shai Hope
• Tristan Stubbs
• Axar Patel
• Lalit Yadav
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Anrich Nortje
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Ishant Sharma

The early overs saw Faf du Plessis playing a classic anchor role, keeping the run rate ticking while others attacked. His 62 off 45 balls was full of classy strokes—square drives, flicks, and even a couple of big sixes over midwicket.

Axar Patel almost stole the show with a stunning counter-attack. His 43 off 23 balls came just when DC seemed to be losing momentum. He targeted the spinners and medium pacers, hitting clean and straight.

At one point, Delhi were cruising at 130/3 in 13 overs, making the target seem well within reach. But then came the twist.

Sunil Narine: The Match-Winner with Bat and Ball

If there was one man responsible for turning the game on its head, it was Sunil Narine.

Already having contributed with the bat earlier, Narine stepped up with the ball at exactly the right time.

Here’s how Narine dismantled DC’s middle order:

• 14th Over: Removed Axar Patel, breaking a crucial partnership.
• 16th Over: Clean bowled the set Faf du Plessis, sucking the energy out of the DC dugout.
• Same Over: Struck again to send Tristan Stubbs back, further piling pressure on DC.

If that wasn’t enough, Narine then ran out KL Rahul with a stunning direct hit. His final bowling figures read 3/29 in 4 overs, but the impact was much bigger than what numbers can tell.

Final Overs: DC Fall Short

With 27 needed off the last two overs, DC still had a sniff thanks to their lower order. But Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana held their nerves. Some dot balls, tight yorkers, and smart slower deliveries sealed the deal for KKR.

In the end, Delhi Capitals finished at 190/9 in 20 overs, falling short by 14 runs.

KKR’s players erupted in celebration, knowing how important this win was for their playoff hopes.

Full Match Scorecard: KKR vs DC (29 April 2025)

Kolkata Knight Riders – 204/9 (20 Overs)

DC Bowling:

• Kuldeep Yadav – 3/32 (4)
• Khaleel Ahmed – 2/38 (4)
• Axar Patel, Nortje, Ishant – 1 wicket each

Delhi Capitals – 190/9 (20 Overs)

KKR Bowling:

• Sunil Narine – 3/29 (4)
• Andre Russell – 2/37 (4)
• Varun Chakravarthy, Starc, Rana – 1 wicket each

Post-Match Reactions: Praise for Narine

Speaking after the match, Ajinkya Rahane said:
“Narine’s dedication in training has been phenomenal. He’s been working hard on both his batting and bowling, and today it showed.”

Andre Russell added:
“We needed this win badly. Sunil’s experience was priceless tonight. When he’s in this mood, he can win games single-handedly.”

On the other hand, DC skipper Rishabh Pant acknowledged that losing wickets in clusters hurt their chase.

What This Win Means for KKR

This victory not only boosted KKR’s points tally but also gave them crucial momentum as the tournament enters its final stages. With the playoff race heating up, every win counts.

For DC, it’s a missed opportunity at home, and they’ll need to regroup quickly before their next clash.

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