Hey there, cricket fans! Let’s dive into the exciting clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard in the 48th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. This game, played on April 29, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, was a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with big hits, crucial wickets, and a nail-biting finish. KKR walked away with a 14-run victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive, while DC faced a tough setback. I’m here to break down the match scorecard in a way that’s easy to follow, whether you’re a die-hard cricket lover or just someone who enjoys a good game. Plus, I’ll include a detailed table summarizing the key stats, so you can see exactly how this match unfolded.
The Stage is Set: A High-Stakes Encounter Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard
The IPL is always a spectacle, and this match was no exception. KKR, sitting seventh in the points table with just three wins from nine games, were desperate for a win to keep their playoff dreams flickering. DC, on the other hand, were in fourth place with six wins but had stumbled in three of their last five matches. The Arun Jaitley Stadium, known for its balanced pitches, promised a competitive game. With no rain in sight and temperatures soaring between 27-38°C, both teams were ready to battle it out under the Delhi sun.
DC won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to capitalize on any early moisture and the possibility of dew later in the evening. KKR, led by stand-in captain Sunil Narine (with regular captain Ajinkya Rahane sidelined by a fielding injury), were tasked with setting a challenging total. Let’s break down how the two innings played out, who shone, and where things turned.
KKR’s Innings: A Fiery Start and a Solid Finish
KKR’s batting lineup came out swinging, determined to post a big score. Openers Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave them a blazing start. Narine, known for his explosive batting, smashed 26 runs off just 14 balls, including three fours, before falling to Axar Patel in the 7th over. Gurbaz contributed a quick 25 off 12 balls, setting the tone for KKR’s aggressive approach. By the end of the powerplay (6 overs), KKR were cruising at 85/2, with the loss of Gurbaz and Narine.
The middle overs saw Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh take charge. Raghuvanshi, a young talent, played a composed knock of 44 off 32 balls, anchoring the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking. Rinku Singh, KKR’s reliable finisher, chipped in with a brisk 36 off 25 balls, including three fours and a six. Their 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket in just 38 balls was a game-changer, pushing KKR to 150 in 14.5 overs.
As the death overs approached, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell added some fireworks. Russell’s cameo of 24 off 21 balls included a few lusty blows, but DC’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc, fought back brilliantly. Starc’s final over was a masterclass, conceding just 9 runs while picking up two wickets and effecting a run-out. KKR finished at 204/9 in their 20 overs, a competitive total but one DC felt they could chase, given their strong batting lineup.
Key Moments in KKR’s Innings
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Powerplay Dominance: KKR raced to 85/2 in the first six overs, thanks to Narine and Gurbaz’s aggressive start.
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Raghuvanshi and Rinku’s Partnership: Their 50-run stand stabilized the innings and set a platform for the late assault.
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Starc’s Death Bowling: DC’s fightback in the final overs, especially Starc’s 19th over, kept KKR from breaching 220.
DC’s Innings: A Promising Chase Derailed
Chasing 205, DC needed a solid start, but KKR’s bowlers had other plans. Anukul Roy struck early, removing Abishek Porel for just 4 in the first over. Karun Nair (35 off 26) and KL Rahul tried to steady the ship, but Rahul’s dismissal for 11 in the 6th over left DC at 60/3. Enter Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel, who sparked hopes of a comeback with a brilliant 76-run partnership off 42 balls. Faf led the charge with a stylish 62 off 45 balls, including a 31-ball fifty, while Axar played a supporting role with 43 off 23.
Just when DC seemed in control at 136/3 in the 13th over, Sunil Narine turned the game on its head. In a game-changing 14th over, Narine dismissed Axar and Tristan Stubbs (1) in quick succession, swinging the momentum back to KKR. Narine struck again in his next over, removing Faf, leaving DC reeling at 146/6. Varun Chakaravarthy then joined the party, taking out Ashutosh Sharma (7) and Mitchell Starc (0) in the 17th over, effectively sealing DC’s fate.
Vipraj Nigam provided a late spark with a blazing 38 off 19 balls, including five fours and two sixes, but it wasn’t enough. Needing 25 runs off the final over bowled by Andre Russell, Nigam’s valiant effort fell short as he was bowled attempting a reverse hit. DC finished at 190/9, 14 runs shy of the target.
Key Moments in DC’s Innings
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Early Wickets: Anukul Roy’s early strike and KKR’s tight bowling in the powerplay put DC on the back foot.
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Faf-Axar Partnership: Their 76-run stand gave DC hope, but Narine’s intervention changed the game.
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Narine and Chakaravarthy’s Spin Magic: The spinners’ combined haul of 5 wickets in the middle overs crushed DC’s chase.
The Heroes of the Match
Sunil Narine was the undisputed star, earning the Player of the Match award for his all-round brilliance. His quickfire 26 set the tone with the bat, and his 3/29 in 4 overs, including the crucial wickets of Faf, Axar, and Stubbs, turned the game in KKR’s favor. Varun Chakaravarthy supported him brilliantly, finishing with 2/39, while Anukul Roy’s early breakthrough was vital. For DC, Faf du Plessis’ 62 and Axar Patel’s 43 were valiant efforts, but they couldn’t overcome KKR’s spin attack.
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard: A Detailed Look
Here’s the full scorecard, laid out in an easy-to-read table, so you can see exactly how each player performed.
Team |
Batter |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
Dismissal |
Bowler |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KKR |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
25 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 208.33 |
c Fraser-McGurk |
Axar Patel |
KKR |
Sunil Narine |
26 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 185.71 |
c Kuldeep Yadav |
Lizaad Williams |
KKR |
Ajinkya Rahane (c) |
26 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 185.71 |
lbw |
Axar Patel |
KKR |
Venkatesh Iyer |
11 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
c Kuldeep Yadav |
Dushmantha Chameera |
KKR |
Angkrish Raghuvanshi |
44 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 137.50 |
c Fraser-McGurk |
Dushmantha Chameera |
KKR |
Rinku Singh |
36 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 144.00 |
c Stubbs |
Mitchell Starc |
KKR |
Andre Russell |
24 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 114.29 |
b |
Mitchell Starc |
KKR |
Rovman Powell |
14 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 140.00 |
c Porel |
Mitchell Starc |
KKR |
Anukul Roy |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
run out |
Starc/Porel |
KKR |
Harshit Rana |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
not out |
– |
KKR |
Varun Chakaravarthy |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
not out |
– |
Extras |
(w 13, lb 4, b 1) |
18 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Total |
204/9 (20 overs) |
– | – | – | – |
RR: 10.20 |
– | – |
DC |
Faf du Plessis |
62 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 137.78 |
c Raghuvanshi |
Sunil Narine |
DC |
Abishek Porel |
4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
c Russell |
Anukul Roy |
DC |
Karun Nair |
35 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 134.62 |
lbw |
Varun Chakaravarthy |
DC |
KL Rahul |
11 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
c Narine |
Vaibhav Arora |
DC |
Axar Patel (c) |
43 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 186.96 |
c Iyer |
Sunil Narine |
DC |
Tristan Stubbs |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
c Gurbaz |
Sunil Narine |
DC |
Vipraj Nigam |
38 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 200.00 |
b |
Andre Russell |
DC |
Ashutosh Sharma |
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 |
c Raghuvanshi |
Varun Chakaravarthy |
DC |
Mitchell Starc |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
c Powell |
Varun Chakaravarthy |
DC |
Kuldeep Yadav |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
not out |
– |
DC |
Dushmantha Chameera |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
not out |
– |
Extras |
(w 7, lb 2) |
9 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Total |
190/9 (20 overs) |
– | – | – | – |
RR: 9.50 |
– | – |
Team |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DC |
Mitchell Starc |
4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 10.75 |
DC |
Dushmantha Chameera |
4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
DC |
Axar Patel |
4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
DC |
Lizaad Williams |
3 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 12.67 |
DC |
Mukesh Kumar |
3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 10.00 |
DC |
Kuldeep Yadav |
2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
KKR |
Anukul Roy |
2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 |
KKR |
Vaibhav Arora |
4 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
KKR |
Sunil Narine |
4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 |
KKR |
Varun Chakaravarthy |
4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 |
KKR |
Harshit Rana |
4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
KKR |
Andre Russell |
2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 15.00 |
Fall of Wickets (KKR): 48/1 (Gurbaz, 2.6), 85/2 (Narine, 6.4), 91/3 (Rahane, 7.2), 113/4 (Venkatesh Iyer, 9.2), 174/5 (Raghuvanshi, 16.5), 177/6 (Rinku Singh, 17.3), 203/7 (Powell, 19.3), 203/8 (Anukul Roy, 19.4), 203/9 (Russell, 19.5)
Fall of Wickets (DC): 4/1 (Porel, 0.2), 43/2 (Nair, 4.3), 60/3 (Rahul, 6.3), 136/4 (Patel, 13.2), 138/5 (Stubbs, 13.6), 146/6 (du Plessis, 15.2), 160/7 (Sharma, 17.2), 160/8 (Starc, 17.3), 189/9 (Nigam, 19.5)
Player of the Match: Sunil Narine (KKR) – 26 runs (14 balls) & 3/29 (4 overs)
Match Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 14 runs
Source: [ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, Firstpost]
What Made the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard Difference?
This match was a classic IPL thriller, with momentum swinging back and forth. KKR’s ability to post a competitive 204/9, thanks to contributions from multiple batters, gave them a fighting chance. However, it was their spinners—Narine and Chakaravarthy—who stole the show. Their combined 5 wickets in the middle overs derailed DC’s chase, proving once again that spin can be a game-changer at Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC’s batting collapse after a promising stand between Faf and Axar highlighted their vulnerability under pressure, while Nigam’s late heroics showed their fighting spirit.
Axar Patel, DC’s captain, admitted post-match that they gave away 15-20 runs too many while bowling and struggled with soft dismissals during the chase. Narine, on the other hand, credited KKR’s team effort, particularly praising Gurbaz, Raghuvanshi, and Rinku for their batting contributions and emphasizing the importance of his and Chakaravarthy’s wickets in turning the game.
The Bigger Picture
This win was crucial for KKR, pulling them clear of the bottom three and keeping their playoff hopes alive. For DC, the loss was a blow, marking their third defeat in four home games. With the IPL 2025 points table heating up, both teams knew every match was critical. KKR’s spinners, with 27 wickets in the season at an average of 23.33 and an economy of 7.24, proved their dominance, while DC’s inconsistent home form (1 win, 3 losses at Delhi) raised concerns.
Why This Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard Matters
For fans, this game was a reminder of why we love the IPL—unpredictable twists, standout performances, and moments of brilliance. Narine’s all-round heroics, Faf’s gritty fifty, and Nigam’s late charge kept us glued to the action. Whether you’re a young fan cheering for your favorite player or an older viewer enjoying the strategy, this match had something for everyone.
Wrapping It Up
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard clash on April 29, 2025, was a testament to the IPL’s magic. KKR’s 14-run victory, powered by Narine’s genius and a solid team effort, showed their resilience, while DC’s fight, led by Faf and Axar, wasn’t enough to overcome their middle-order collapse. The scorecard tells the story of a game where every run and wicket mattered, and KKR’s spinners proved the difference.