IPL 2025: KKR survive Riyan Parag scare, win thriller vs RR to remain in playoffs race

India Today

04-05-2025

Riyan Parag's career-best 95 and Shubham Dubey's late cameo were not enough for Rajasthan Royals, as Kolkata Knight Riders clinched a crucial IPL 2025 victory at home by just 1 run on Sunday, 4 May. KKR successfully defended 207 at Eden Gardens, much to the frustration of the Royals, who have developed an unfortunate habit of losing matches from winning positions.advertisement| KKR vs RR Highlights - Scorecard | Needing 22 runs off the final over, Rajasthan's Shubham Dubey, who had struggled with his timing, reignited hope for the visitors by striking two sixes and a four, reducing the equation to just 3 needed from the last delivery. However, medium-pacer Vaibhav Arora scripted his own redemption, nailing a pinpoint yorker after a patchy over to seal the win with the final ball. Shubham and Rajasthan fell agonisingly short by a solitary run.
Eden Gardens erupted in celebration as Kolkata triumphed in the last-ball thriller, moving up to sixth place in the IPL 2025 points table. With 11 points from as many matches, KKR remain firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot.The Rajasthan dugout was left devastated, as Riyan Parag had single-handedly hauled the team from 71 for 5 and kept them within touching distance of victory. The stand-in captain, however, perished in the 18th over while trying to release the pressure that had mounted due to Dubey's earlier struggles with timing. Dubey attempted to make amends with his powerful hitting in the final over, but the men in pink fell short by the narrowest of margins.Another day, another #TATAIPL classic @KKRiders prevail by 1 run in a last-ball thriller in Kolkata to boost their playoff hopesScorecard https://t.co/wg00ni9CQE#KKRvRR pic.twitter.com/mJxuxBSPqw— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 4, 2025advertisementRIYAN SPECIAL IN VAIN Rajasthan Royals looked dead and buried when they were reeling at 71 for 5 in the eighth over. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali were making life difficult on a pitch that favoured the slower bowlers. However, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer stitched together a 92-run partnership in just 48 balls for the sixth wicket to keep their hopes alive.It seemed improbable, and it appeared as though the first match of Sunday's double-header was heading for an early finish. However, Riyan played without fear of failure, maintaining his aggressive tempo from the powerplay. He had already taken the attack to Harshit Rana as early as the fourth over, and he continued in the same vein against Moeen Ali, who had looked threatening until the pivotal over arrived. The England spinner had conceded just 11 runs and claimed two wickets in his first two overs, but Riyan dismantled him with remarkable ease.The Rajasthan Royals' stand-in captain struck five consecutive sixes in the 13th over, single-handedly shifting the momentum of the game. In doing so, Riyan emulated the likes of Chris Gayle, Ravindra Jadeja and Rinku Singh, who have also hit five consecutive sixes in an over. He then made it six in a row by dispatching Varun Chakravarthy for a six via a reverse sweep in the next over. Riyan's clean striking against the spinners was on full display as the right-hander swept and slog-swept Ali with effortless precision, denying the off-spinner any relief even with a wider line.advertisementShimron Hetmyer, who had been struggling for form this season, finally showed glimpses of his best, hitting a six and a boundary in his 23-ball 29. Hetmyer was content to play second fiddle, rotating the strike and allowing Riyan to continue his onslaught.Riyan struck eight sixes and six boundaries and appeared poised for his maiden IPL century. However, in the 18th over, he fell to Harshit Rana, agonisingly short of the milestone by just five runs.It was a breathtaking knock, but the Rajasthan captain ultimately could not see his side home. The youngster felt the weight of the scoreboard pressure after the flow of boundaries dried up following Hetmyer's dismissal.Harshit Rana made a decisive impact with the ball for Ajinkya Rahane's side in the death overs. In the 16th over, Rana bowled a sharp bouncer to remove Hetmyer and break the partnership that had threatened to take the game away. He then claimed the crucial wicket of Riyan, leaving the Royals' chase in disarray.advertisementImpact substitute Shubham Dubey was unable to provide the necessary acceleration, slowing the innings and failing to sustain the momentum after Hetmyer's departure. Riyan, under pressure, attempted to clear the long-off boundary in the 18th over but only succeeded in finding Vaibhav Arora's safe hands in the deep.Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!
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