Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squared off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 15th match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens, delivering a thrilling contest. Batting first, KKR faced early troubles as opener Quinton de Kock departed for just 1 run, followed by Sunil Narine’s brief stay at the crease, scoring only 7. With two early wickets down, pressure mounted on KKR’s middle order.
However, skipper Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi took charge, steadying the innings with crucial contributions. Rahane anchored the innings with a composed 38, while Raghuvanshi impressed with a well-compiled 50, ensuring KKR remained in the contest.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for—Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive arrival at the crease. The all-rounder, who was KKR’s most expensive buy at ₹23.75 crore, silenced his critics in grand fashion. After struggling in his first two games, where he scored just 3 (9) and 6 (7), Iyer had a point to prove—and he delivered spectacularly.
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Taking on both pacers and spinners, Iyer unleashed an onslaught, smashing 60 off just 29 balls, laced with 7 fours and 3 towering sixes. His power-packed knock was exactly what KKR needed in the middle overs, shifting the momentum in their favor. Fans, who had questioned his hefty price tag, quickly changed their tone, flooding social media with praise. One user quipped, “Haan bhai, kaun kaun maang raha tha 23.75cr ka hisaab?” while another simply stated, “Venkatesh Iyer when the opponent is SRH.”
Haan bhai, kaun kaun maang raha tha 23.75cr ka hisaab.#VenkateshIyer | #KKRvsSRH pic.twitter.com/yj275pTaJk
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 3, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer from 21(17) to 60(29) silencing all his critics🦁🔥 pic.twitter.com/MxAWQSaQA6
— कट्टर KKR समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) April 3, 2025
*Me who trolled Venkatesh Iyer for previous matches performance #Venkatesh 60 (29) #KKR #kkrvsrh #KKRvsSRH #IPL2025 #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/jQe2d4q0eU
— Charismatic (@swapnilarsekar) April 3, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer when the opponent is SRH pic.twitter.com/fDpXVSw0SL
— Om👽 (@H4RVEYSP3CT3R) April 3, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer has silenced his haters by this outstanding knock. #srhvskkr
— Ayush Arora (@Ayush0405) April 3, 2025
Venkatesh Iyer proving his worth today. Back in form kkr pic.twitter.com/21xqGTxPJi
— Satyam(Monkey Kingdom nr 1 fan) (@shuklasattu) April 3, 2025
KKR’s final push in the death overs saw them accumulate 78 runs in the last five overs, completely shifting the dynamics of the game. While Rahane and Raghuvanshi set the stage, it was Iyer’s fireworks and Rinku Singh’s handy 32* that propelled KKR to a commanding total of 201.
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SRH, on the other hand, will feel they missed a golden opportunity. At 122-4 after 15 overs, they had a real chance to restrict KKR to under 180, but they lost control when it mattered most. Cummins’ decision to underutilize his spinners, who had been effective, left many puzzled. A tighter strategy could have kept KKR in check, but now, SRH faces a daunting chase of 202 to secure their second win of the season.
With momentum swinging KKR’s way, all eyes are now on SRH’s batting lineup to see if they can pull off a memorable chase. Stay tuned for an electrifying second innings!
