NEW DELHI: Venkatesh Iyer smashed a blistering 60 off 29 balls to power Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a dominant 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens on Thursday. The win lifted KKR from the bottom of the IPL 2025 table to fifth place, while SRH slumped to last.
After being sent in to bat, KKR rode on Iyer’s explosive knock and his 91-run partnership with Rinku Singh (32 not out) to post 200/6.
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Iyer, who was bought for Rs 23.75 crore in the November auction, justified his price tag with an innings studded with seven fours and three sixes. Ajinkya Rahane (38) and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) laid a solid foundation with an 81-run stand before Iyer took over, smashing 21 runs in a single over off Pat Cummins.
In response, SRH collapsed to 120 all out in 16.4 overs. Vaibhav Arora (3/29) and Varun Chakravarthy (3/22) dismantled the SRH batting, with early wickets leaving them reeling at 9/3.
Heinrich Klaasen (33) and Kamindu Mendis (27) tried to fight back, but KKR’s bowlers ensured there was no comeback.
This commanding win gives KKR much-needed momentum, while SRH will have to regroup after yet another disappointing performance.
Brief Scores:
KKR: 200 for 5 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 60, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 50; Mohammed Shami 1/29, Kamindu Mendis 1/4).
SRH: 120 all out in 16.4 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 33; Vaibhav Arora 3/29, Varun Chakaravarthy 3/22).
