Quinton de Kock may be new to Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Wednesday, he played like he was born to wear the 'Purple and Gold'—delivering a masterclass that made him look like a KKR legend in the making!
Both teams entered the game desperate for a win after shaky starts to their IPL 2025 campaigns. But it was the defending champions, KKR, who finally got off the mark, securing their first victory of the season in style. As for Rajasthan Royals? Let’s just say their performance was anything but "Royal."
Rajasthan started strong, racing to 67/1 in just 7.3 overs, and it looked like they were set for a big total. But then, enter Varun Chakravarthy—the spin wizard who turned the game on its head! With figures of 4-0-17-2, he weaved a web around Rajasthan’s batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 151/9. What seemed like a promising innings quickly spiraled into a nightmare.
With Rajasthan hoping for early breakthroughs, Quinton de Kock had other plans. The pitch was slow, offering turn, but that didn't faze him. He took control like a seasoned general, making the spinners look out of place. A sensational, unbeaten 97 from him, complemented by young gun Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s composed support, ensured KKR crossed the finish line without breaking a sweat.
As KKR celebrated their long-awaited win, Rajasthan Royals were left pondering their freefall. This is a team that won 8 of its first 9 games last season, only to now lose 5 of its last 6. A true royal tumble!
With this win, KKR have finally announced their arrival in IPL 2025. But can they carry this momentum forward? And can Rajasthan find a way to stop their downward spiral? The tournament just got a lot more interesting!
