The Indian Premier League (IPL) never fails to deliver heart-pounding cricket action, and the 68th match of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Scorecard was no exception. Played on May 25, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, this game was a rollercoaster of emotions for fans of both teams. SRH delivered a commanding performance, defeating KKR by a massive 110 runs, thanks to a sensational century by Heinrich Klaasen and a disciplined bowling attack. For KKR, it was a tough day on the field, marking their biggest defeat in IPL history by runs. Let’s dive into the details of this unforgettable match, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what made this game so special.
A High-Stakes Encounter
Although this was a “dead rubber” match—meaning neither team could qualify for the playoffs—it was far from dull. Both SRH and KKR, who had faced off in the IPL 2024 final, were eager to end their 2025 campaigns on a high note. SRH, led by Pat Cummins, came into the game with a point to prove after an inconsistent season, while KKR, under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, hoped to salvage pride after a disappointing title defense. The Arun Jaitley Stadium, known for its flat batting track, set the stage for a run-fest, and SRH’s batters made the most of it.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Scorecard Toss and Team Lineups
SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that proved spot-on given the batting-friendly pitch. SRH fielded a strong lineup, with explosive openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, followed by the likes of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. Their bowling attack included seasoned pacers like Jaydev Unadkat and Eshan Malinga, alongside debutant spinner Harsh Dubey.
KKR, on the other hand, relied on their experienced batting unit, featuring Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, and captain Ajinkya Rahane. Their bowling attack included Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, and spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine. Both teams made strategic use of their Impact Players, with SRH bringing in Harsh Dubey and KKR introducing Angkrish Raghuvanshi during the match.
SRH’s Batting Fireworks: Klaasen Steals the Show
SRH’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, as they posted a mammoth 278/3 in 20 overs, the third-highest total in IPL history. Let’s break down their batting performance:
SRH Batting Scorecard
|
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Abhishek Sharma |
32 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 152.38 |
c Rinku Singh b Harshit Rana |
|
Travis Head |
76 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 190.00 |
c Varun Chakaravarthy b A Russell |
|
Ishan Kishan (wk) |
20 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
c Rinku Singh b Varun Chakaravarthy |
|
Heinrich Klaasen |
105* | 39 | 7 | 9 | 269.23 |
Not Out |
|
Nitish Kumar Reddy |
18* | 13 | 2 | 0 | 138.46 |
Not Out |
|
Extras |
27 |
(lb 2, w 25) |
||||
|
Total |
278/3 (20 overs) |
RR: 13.90 |
Key Batting Highlights
-
Travis Head’s Explosive Start: Opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head set the tone with a blistering 76 off 40 balls. His knock included six fours and six sixes, giving SRH a flying start. The duo put on a 50-run partnership in just 22 balls, with Head dominating the KKR bowlers.
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Heinrich Klaasen’s Century: Promoted to No. 3, Heinrich Klaasen played the innings of the match, smashing an unbeaten 105 off just 39 balls. His century, reached in 37 balls, was the joint-third fastest in IPL history. Klaasen’s 7 fours and 9 sixes left the KKR bowlers clueless, as he tore apart their attack in the death overs.
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Supporting Roles: Abhishek Sharma (32 off 21) and Ishan Kishan (20 off 20) played handy cameos, while Nitish Kumar Reddy’s unbeaten 18 off 13 ensured SRH maintained momentum till the end.
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Extras Galore: KKR’s bowlers struggled with discipline, conceding 27 extras, including 25 wides, which added to SRH’s massive total.
KKR’s Bowling Struggles
KKR’s bowlers had a day to forget, leaking runs at an alarming rate. Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 42 runs, but even he couldn’t stem the flow of runs. Vaibhav Arora (1/39) and Andre Russell (1/47) picked up a wicket each but were expensive. Anrich Nortje and Harshit Rana were taken to the cleaners, conceding 62 and 50 runs respectively in their four overs. The lack of slower balls, as admitted by Rahane post-match, allowed SRH batters to feast on their pace.
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anrich Nortje |
4 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 15.50 |
|
Harshit Rana |
4 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 12.50 |
|
Vaibhav Arora |
4 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 9.75 |
|
Sunil Narine |
4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 |
|
Varun Chakaravarthy |
2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 15.00 |
|
Andre Russell |
2 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 23.50 |
KKR’s Chase: A Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing a daunting 279, KKR needed a miracle. Unfortunately, their batting lineup crumbled under the pressure, folding for 168 in 18.4 overs. Here’s how their innings panned out:
KKR Batting Scorecard
|
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sunil Narine |
36 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 240.00 |
c Ishan Kishan b Eshan Malinga |
|
Quinton de Kock (wk) |
6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
c Klaasen b Harshal Patel |
|
Ajinkya Rahane (c) |
7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
c Abhishek Sharma b Eshan Malinga |
|
Rinku Singh |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
c Abhinav Manohar b Harsh Dubey |
|
Andre Russell |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
lbw b Harsh Dubey |
|
Angkrish Raghuvanshi |
22 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 129.41 |
c Nitish Reddy b Harshal Patel |
|
Manish Pandey |
37 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 160.87 |
c Abhinav Manohar b Jaydev Unadkat |
|
Ramandeep Singh |
1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
run out (Abhinav Manohar) |
|
Harshit Rana |
34 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 161.90 |
c & b Eshan Malinga |
|
Vaibhav Arora |
2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
run out (Harshit Rana/Unadkat) |
|
Anrich Nortje |
4* | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Not Out |
|
Extras |
19 |
(lb 2, w 17) |
||||
|
Total |
168/10 (18.4 overs) |
RR: 9.00 |
Key Batting Highlights
-
Sunil Narine’s Brief Blitz: Narine gave KKR a glimmer of hope, smashing 36 off 15 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. However, his dismissal in the third over triggered a collapse.
-
Manish Pandey’s Fight: Manish Pandey top-scored with 37 off 23, showing resilience with 2 fours and 2 sixes. His partnership with Harshit Rana (34 off 21) added 50 runs for the eighth wicket, but it was too little, too late.
-
Harshit Rana’s Cameo: Rana’s 34, including 2 fours and 3 sixes, provided some respectability to KKR’s total, but the target was always out of reach.
-
Top-Order Failure: Key batters like Quinton de Kock (6), Ajinkya Rahane (7), Rinku Singh (0), and Andre Russell (0) failed to fire, leaving KKR in tatters at 76/5 after 9 overs.
SRH’s Bowling Masterclass
SRH’s bowlers used the scoreboard pressure to perfection, with their slower balls proving particularly effective. Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, and Harsh Dubey each took three wickets, dismantling KKR’s batting lineup.
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pat Cummins |
2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 |
|
Eshan Malinga |
3.4 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 8.45 |
|
Harshal Patel |
4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
|
Jaydev Unadkat |
4 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
|
Harsh Dubey |
4 | 0 | 34 | 3 | 8.50 |
|
Nitish Kumar Reddy |
1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
Key Bowling Highlights
-
Jaydev Unadkat’s Precision: Unadkat’s 3/24, including the wickets of Manish Pandey and Andre Russell, was crucial in breaking KKR’s middle order. His clever use of slower balls was a game-changer.
-
Eshan Malinga’s Impact: Malinga’s 3/31, including the dismissals of Narine and Rahane, rocked KKR early. His final wicket of Harshit Rana sealed SRH’s victory.
-
Harsh Dubey’s Dream Debut: The young spinner took 3/34, dismissing Rinku Singh and Andre Russell in consecutive balls, nearly claiming a hat-trick. His performance earned praise from captain Cummins.
-
Team Effort: SRH’s bowlers stuck to their plans, using variations to exploit KKR’s aggressive approach. Their fielding, led by Abhinav Manohar’s safe hands, complemented the bowling effort.
Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens Match Player Stats Summary and Impact
SRH’s 110-run victory was their biggest win against KKR in IPL history and the second-largest for SRH by runs in the tournament. For KKR, it was a humbling defeat, their worst by runs in IPL history. Heinrich Klaasen was named Player of the Match for his scintillating 105* off 39 balls, which set the tone for SRH’s dominance.
Post-Match Reflections
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Pat Cummins (SRH Captain): Cummins praised his team’s batting firepower and bowling discipline, noting that their aggressive approach worked perfectly on the flat Delhi pitch. He highlighted Klaasen’s knock and the contributions of young players like Harsh Dubey.
-
Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain): Rahane admitted SRH outplayed them, citing poor bowling execution and the inability to adapt with slower balls. He acknowledged the team’s errors but vowed to learn from the defeat.
-
Harsh Dubey (SRH): The debutant spinner credited his success to sticking to his strengths and learning from mentors like Ravichandran Ashwin. His performance was a silver lining for SRH’s future.
Standings Impact
With this win, SRH climbed to 6th place in the IPL 2025 points table with 6 wins from 14 games, while KKR finished 8th with 5 wins. Though neither team made the playoffs, SRH’s three consecutive victories to end the season gave them momentum for the next year.
Why Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Scorecard Mattered
This match was a classic example of T20 cricket’s unpredictability. SRH’s batting showcased their ability to dominate even the best bowling attacks, while their bowlers proved they could defend big totals with smart tactics. For KKR, it was a reminder of the fine margins in IPL cricket, where one bad day can lead to a heavy defeat. Fans were treated to a masterclass from Heinrich Klaasen, whose century will be remembered as one of the finest in IPL history.
Conclusion
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match on May 25, 2025, was a one-sided thriller that highlighted SRH’s batting prowess and KKR’s struggles. With a full scorecard that tells the story of Klaasen’s heroics and SRH’s bowling brilliance, this game will go down as a memorable clash in IPL 2025. Whether you’re a young fan or a seasoned cricket lover, this match had something for everyone—big hits, clever bowling, and a lesson in never giving up, no matter the odds.
