In a gripping IPL 2025 clash on March 26 at Guwahati’s ACA Stadium, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showcased a masterclass in spin bowling to throttle Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a modest 151/9 in 20 overs. The slow, gripping surface played into the hands of KKR’s disciplined bowling unit, who turned the screws on a Royals side that promised much but faltered under pressure.
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends as his bowlers exploited the pitch’s sluggish nature. Leading the charge was mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, whose guile and precision left the Royals batsmen floundering. Chakravarthy finished with miserly figures of 2/17 in his four overs, bamboozling the opposition with his variations. Complementing him was the seasoned Moeen Ali, who brought his experience to the fore with 2/23, picking off key wickets at critical junctures.
The pace department wasn’t to be outdone, with Vaibhav Arora delivering a standout performance. Arora’s clever changes of pace and subtle seam movement earned him 2/33, ensuring the Royals couldn’t settle into a rhythm. Harshit Rana rounded off KKR’s bowling dominance with two wickets of his own, his steep bounce and raw pace unsettling the middle order.
Rajasthan Royals had begun brightly, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal looking in fine touch. The young left-hander stroked 29 off 24 balls, mixing caution with aggression, while Riyan Parag’s quickfire 25 off 15 hinted at a big total. However, once Chakravarthy dismissed Jaiswal with a skidding carrom ball, the Royals’ innings began to unravel. Parag fell soon after, trapped lbw by Moeen’s arm ball, leaving RR reeling at 67/3.
Dhruv Jurel emerged as the lone warrior for Rajasthan, crafting a composed 33 off 28 deliveries. His innings was a blend of resilience and smart shot-making, but with little support from the other end, Jurel’s efforts couldn’t lift RR to a competitive score. The middle order, including the likes of Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer, struggled to rotate the strike against KKR’s relentless spin chokehold, and the lower order crumbled under pressure from Rana and Arora.
The turning point came in the 14th over when Moeen snared two wickets in quick succession, reducing RR to 104/6. From there, KKR maintained an iron grip, allowing just 47 runs in the final six overs while picking up three more wickets. The Royals’ inability to adapt to the slow track and KKR’s disciplined lines exposed their batting frailties.
As the dust settled, KKR walked off the field with momentum firmly in their favor, their bowlers having set the stage for what promises to be an intriguing chase. For Rajasthan Royals, this performance will prompt introspection, particularly around their approach against spin on challenging surfaces. With 151 to defend, RR’s bowlers will need to conjure something special to stop a buoyant KKR side in their tracks.
