Table-toppers GT record their 6th win in 8 matches, KKR suffer 5th defeat
In a thrilling encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) recorded their sixth victory in eight matches by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 39 runs in their IPL 2025 match. This defeat marks KKR’s fifth loss in the tournament, while GT continues to dominate the points table.
GT, led by Hardik Pandya, won the toss and elected to bat first. The Titans’ top order did not disappoint, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan putting on a century partnership for the opening wicket. Gill, who has been in excellent form, scored 53 off 41 balls, while Sudharsan contributed 44 off 32 deliveries. The duo’s impressive partnership set the tone for the innings, and GT went on to post a respectable total of 173/5 in their 20 overs.
In response, KKR struggled to get going, with their top order failing to deliver. Aaron Finch, who has been struggling for form, scored just 12 off 15 balls, while Venkatesh Iyer also managed only 14 off 19 deliveries. The Knight Riders’ chase was further dented by the loss of their key batsmen, including Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, who were both dismissed for ducks.
KKR’s batting was plagued by a lack of partnerships and poor shot selection, which ultimately led to their downfall. The Knight Riders were bowled out for 134 in 18.1 overs, conceding a 39-run defeat to GT.
GT’s winning performance was fueled by their bowlers, who did a brilliant job of restricting KKR’s batting. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/24 in his four overs. Mohammad Shami and Lockie Ferguson also chipped in with two wickets each, while Yash Dayal took one wicket.
With this win, GT have now climbed to the top of the points table with 12 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 1.104. KKR, on the other hand, are seventh on the points table with 6 points and an NRR of -0.342.
GT’s next match is against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 24, while KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 25. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from their respective losses and make a strong push for the playoffs.
In conclusion, GT’s victory over KKR was a testament to their consistency and depth in the team. Despite losing a few early wickets, the Titans’ batting and bowling units worked in harmony to secure a convincing win. For KKR, this defeat will be a wake-up call, and they will need to regroup and work on their batting and bowling strategies to turn their season around.
