The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with every match delivering heart-pounding action. One such electrifying clash was the Match 39 showdown between the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 21, 2025. It was a game that had everything—blazing batting, disciplined bowling, and a result that shook the points table. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the match, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what made this encounter so memorable. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or someone just dipping their toes into the sport, this piece is written to be clear, engaging, and easy to follow. Let’s get started!
The Build-Up to the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard
The Gujarat Titans, led by the ever-reliable Shubman Gill, were riding high in IPL 2025. With five wins in seven games, they were sitting pretty at the top of the points table, showcasing their batting prowess and a bowling attack that could choke even the best of teams. On the other hand, KKR, the defending champions, were struggling to find their rhythm. With only three wins from seven matches, their season had been a mix of highs and lows, including a shocking collapse against Punjab Kings where they failed to chase 112 runs. This match was crucial for both teams—GT wanted to solidify their lead, while KKR desperately needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Eden Gardens pitch was expected to be batsman-friendly, with a good covering of grass ensuring consistent bounce and some early swing for the pacers. The stage was set for a high-scoring game, and the fans were buzzing with anticipation.
The Toss and Team Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard Changes
KKR’s captain, Ajinkya Rahane, won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit any early swing and put pressure on GT’s formidable batting lineup. KKR made two changes to their side, bringing in Rahmanullah Gurbaz as an opener and Moeen Ali to bolster their all-round options. GT, meanwhile, stuck with their winning combination, with Ishant Sharma named as their impact substitute to replace Sherfane Rutherford later in the game.
The teams lined up as follows:
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Gujarat Titans (GT): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Gujarat Titans’ Innings: A Masterclass in Batting
GT’s innings began with a cautious approach as openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan faced some tight bowling from KKR’s pacers, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana. The first over from Arora included a wide, signaling GT’s intent to capitalize on any loose deliveries. The duo played sensibly during the powerplay, respecting the good balls while picking up singles and occasional boundaries.
The Gill-Sudharsan Show
As the field spread out after the powerplay, Gill and Sudharsan shifted gears. Their partnership was a blend of elegance and aggression, with Gill’s crisp cover drives and Sudharsan’s silky flicks through midwicket. By the ninth over, GT were 79/0, and the KKR bowlers were struggling to break through. Gill smashed a six off Moeen Ali, stepping out to loft the ball over midwicket, while Sudharsan’s cover drive for four was a thing of beauty.
The pair brought up their 100-run stand in the 11th over, with Sudharsan reaching his fifty in 33 balls and Gill following suit in 34 balls. Their partnership of 114 runs was the backbone of GT’s innings, setting a solid platform for the middle order. Sudharsan eventually fell for 52 off 36 balls (6 fours, 1 six) to Harshit Rana, who bowled a clever slower ball that deceived the batsman.
Gill’s Heroics and Buttler’s Late Flourish
With Sudharsan gone, Jos Buttler joined Gill at the crease. Gill continued his assault, mixing deft touches with powerful shots. He fell just short of a century, dismissed for 90 off 55 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes) by Vaibhav Arora, who got him to miscue a low full-toss to Rinku Singh at cow corner. Despite the loss of their captain, GT didn’t slow down. Buttler, playing at No. 3, unleashed a flurry of boundaries, finishing unbeaten on 41 off 23 balls. Shahrukh Khan chipped in with a quickfire 11* off 5 balls, helping GT post a formidable 198/3 in their 20 overs.
KKR’s bowlers struggled to contain GT, with Vaibhav Arora (1/44) and Harshit Rana (1/45) being the only wicket-takers. The fielding was a letdown, with a dropped catch of Buttler by Arora proving costly in the death overs.
Gujarat Titans Batting Scorecard
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shubman Gill (c) |
90 | 55 | 10 | 3 | 163.64 |
|
Sai Sudharsan |
52 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 144.44 |
|
Jos Buttler (wk) |
41* | 23 | 5 | 1 | 178.26 |
|
Shahrukh Khan |
11* | 5 | 1 | 1 | 220.00 |
|
Extras |
4 | ||||
|
Total |
198/3 (20 overs) |
RR: 9.90 |
Fall of Wickets: 114/1 (Sudharsan, 12.2 ov), 172/2 (Gill, 17.5 ov), 177/3 (Rutherford, 18.3 ov)
Bowling:
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vaibhav Arora |
4 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 11.00 |
|
Harshit Rana |
4 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 11.25 |
|
Varun Chakaravarthy |
4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 |
|
Sunil Narine |
4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 |
|
Andre Russell |
2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 14.00 |
|
Moeen Ali |
2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chase: A Struggle from the Start
Chasing 199 on a batting-friendly pitch was always going to be tough, but KKR’s hopes took a hit early. Mohammed Siraj struck in the first over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 2 (0.5 ov) after a review confirmed a faint edge. Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane tried to stabilize the innings, but Narine fell to Rashid Khan for 17, leaving KKR at 43/2 in the 5th over.
Rahane’s Lone Fight
Ajinkya Rahane, leading from the front, played a captain’s knock, scoring a gritty 50 off 36 balls. He found some support from Venkatesh Iyer (14), but GT’s spinners, Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore, turned the screws in the middle overs. KKR endured a 36-ball boundary drought, with Rashid dismissing Narine and Andre Russell (4) in quick succession. Sai Kishore removed Ramandeep Singh, and Washington Sundar accounted for Moeen Ali, leaving KKR reeling at 119/7.
Raghuvanshi’s Late Spark
With the game slipping away, young Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided a glimmer of hope. Coming in at No. 9, he played a fearless knock of 27* off 13 balls, including a stunning paddle-sweep six off Ishant Sharma. However, it was too little, too late. Rinku Singh’s dismissal for 8, caught by Shubman Gill off Ishant Sharma, sealed KKR’s fate. They finished at 159/8, falling 39 runs short.
Kolkata Knight Riders Batting Scorecard
|
Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) |
2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
|
Sunil Narine |
17 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 170.00 |
|
Ajinkya Rahane (c) |
50 | 36 | 5 | 1 | 138.89 |
|
Venkatesh Iyer |
14 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 93.33 |
|
Rinku Singh |
8 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 57.14 |
|
Moeen Ali |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Andre Russell |
4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
|
Ramandeep Singh |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Angkrish Raghuvanshi |
27* | 13 | 2 | 1 | 207.69 |
|
Harshit Rana |
1* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
|
Extras |
9 | ||||
|
Total |
159/8 (20 overs) |
RR: 7.95 |
Fall of Wickets: 2/1 (Gurbaz, 0.5 ov), 43/2 (Narine, 5.3 ov), 84/3 (Iyer, 11.3 ov), 91/4 (Rahane, 12.3 ov), 118/5 (Russell, 15.5 ov), 119/6 (Ramandeep, 16.1 ov), 119/7 (Moeen, 16.3 ov), 151/8 (Rinku, 19.1 ov)
Bowling:
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mohammed Siraj |
4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
|
Prasidh Krishna |
4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
|
Rashid Khan |
4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
|
Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore |
4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 |
|
Washington Sundar |
3 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 12.00 |
|
Ishant Sharma (Impact Sub) |
1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 15.00 |
Key Moments That Defined the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard
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Gill-Sudharsan Partnership: The 114-run opening stand was the game-changer, allowing GT to set a challenging total without taking undue risks.
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Rashid Khan’s Return to Form: Rashid’s 2/25, including the wickets of Narine and Russell, was pivotal in derailing KKR’s chase.
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KKR’s Fielding Woes: Dropped catches and misfields, especially of Buttler, cost KKR dearly, as GT capitalized in the death overs.
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Raghuvanshi’s Cameo: The youngster’s 27* off 13 balls showed his potential, but KKR’s decision to send him at No. 9 raised eyebrows.
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Spinners’ Stranglehold: GT’s spinners, led by Sai Kishore (1/19) and Rashid, choked KKR in the middle overs, making the chase near-impossible.
Player of the Match: Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill was deservedly named Player of the Match for his sublime 90 off 55 balls. His ability to anchor the innings while accelerating at the right moments set the tone for GT’s victory. Gill’s leadership and composure under pressure were evident, and his knock earned him 100.86 points in Cricinfo’s MVP rankings.
Impact on the Points Table
GT’s 39-run victory propelled them to 12 points from eight games, consolidating their position at the top of the IPL 2025 points table. Sai Sudharsan’s 52 took him past 400 runs, reclaiming the Orange Cap. Prasidh Krishna, with 16 wickets, continued to lead the Purple Cap race. For KKR, the loss was their fifth in eight games, leaving them languishing in seventh place with six points. Their inconsistent batting and fielding issues were glaring, and their playoff hopes were now hanging by a thread.
What Went Right for GT?
GT’s success boiled down to their balanced approach. The top order, led by Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler, contributed 183 of the 198 runs, showcasing their batting depth. Their bowlers, particularly the spinners, adapted brilliantly to the sluggish pitch, with Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore exploiting the conditions. The fielding was sharp, and their overall execution was clinical.
What Went Wrong for KKR?
KKR’s batting crumbled under pressure, with only Rahane offering resistance. Their decision to drop Quinton de Kock and send Raghuvanshi so low in the order backfired. The fielding was sloppy, and their bowlers failed to create enough pressure on GT’s batsmen. The middle overs, where GT’s spinners dominated, exposed KKR’s inability to rotate the strike effectively.
Looking Ahead Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard
For GT, this win was a statement of intent. They’ve shown they can dominate on any surface, and with their top order firing and bowlers in top form, they’re strong contenders for the title. KKR, however, need to regroup quickly. Their batting needs to find consistency, and their fielding must improve if they’re to make a late push for the playoffs.
Conclusion
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard clash was a classic IPL encounter, with Gujarat Titans showcasing why they’re the team to beat in 2025. Shubman Gill’s masterful 90, supported by Sudharsan’s steady 52 and Buttler’s late blitz, set up a total that KKR couldn’t chase despite Rahane’s valiant effort. The scorecard tells the story of GT’s dominance and KKR’s struggles, but the match was also a reminder of why we love the IPL—every ball counts, and every game can turn the season on its head. Here’s to more such thrilling battles as IPL 2025 rolls on!
