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KKR vs RR Highlights, IPL 2025: Riyan Parag's 95 in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals to keep playoff hopes alive

THE TIMES OF INDIA | May 04, 2025, 19:47:54 IST

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KKR vs RR Highlights, IPL 2025: Riyan Parag's 95 in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals to keep playoff hopes alive

KKR vs RR Live Score, IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders kept their Indian Premier League 2025 playoff dreams alive with a narrow one-run win over Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biting clash at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Chasing a daunting target of 207, RR came heartbreakingly close but finished at 205/8 in 20 overs.

IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Result

Captain Riyan Parag almost pulled off a miracle for Rajasthan with a scintillating 45-ball 95, featuring clean striking and fearless intent. Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) and Shimron Hetmyer (29) provided valuable contributions, but Rajasthan fell short in the final over.

KKR's bowlers delivered under pressure, with Varun Chakravarthy (2/32), Moeen Ali (2/43), Harshit Rana (2/41), and Vaibhav Arora (1/50) playing pivotal roles in stalling the chase.

Earlier, KKR posted 206/4, thanks to a power-packed 57* off 25 balls from Andre Russell, who turned back the clock with six towering sixes. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44), opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35), and captain Ajinkya Rahane (30) also made crucial contributions.

For RR, Jofra Archer (1/30), Yudhvir Singh Charak (1/26), Maheesh Theekshana (1/41), and Riyan Parag (1/21) chipped in with wickets but couldn’t stop the late onslaught.

With this win, KKR remain in the hunt for a playoff berth, while Rajasthan Royals’ campaign is officially over.

15:38 (IST) May 04

Overs1.5

Score13 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, SIX! Poor and punished! The first six of the match! Fuller and just strayed down leg, Sunil Narine whips it aerially and parks it behind deep backward square leg for a six.

15:37 (IST) May 04

1wd

Overs1.5

Score7 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, WIDE! An over-the-head bumper, on top of the stumps, Sunil Narine leans back to leave it alone. Wide signalled.

15:36 (IST) May 04

Overs1.4

Score6 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Just over! Length-delivery, but angling into the pads, staying a bit low, Sunil Narine helps it with the pace and pulls it just over the leaping Jofra Archer at short fine leg for a boundary.

15:36 (IST) May 04

Overs1.3

Score2 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, A steep bounce from Yudhvir, around off, springing off the deck. Narine gets himself away from the line to let it be.

15:35 (IST) May 04

Overs1.2

Score2 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, Nagging length, around the off stump, Sunil Narine moves his front leg away and mistimes the pull shot to mid-wicket.

15:35 (IST) May 04

Overs1.1

Score2 - 0

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, On the back of a length, on top of middle, Sunil Narine shapes up for the pull shot but misses to connect. That stays a tad low on the bounce by the looks of it.

15:34 (IST) May 04

Yudhvir Singh to share the attack.

15:33 (IST) May 04

Score after 1 over 2 - 0

Runs Scored: 0

100100

Rahmanullah Gurbaz 1 (3)
Sunil Narine 1 (3)

Jofra Archer1-0-2-0

Overs0.6

Score2 - 0

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Touch fuller and around off, knocked into the off side.

15:33 (IST) May 04

Overs0.5

Score2 - 0

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Express pace! Bumper on the middle stump, lifting off the deck and nipping into the batter. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tries to play the aggressive pull shot by charging ahead, but sways away from the line.

15:32 (IST) May 04

Overs0.4

Score2 - 0

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Fuller and at the pads. Narine steers it away to deep square leg for a single.

15:31 (IST) May 04

Overs0.3

Score1 - 0

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Short of a length and just around off, Sunil Narine lets it go to the keeper.

15:31 (IST) May 04

Overs0.2

Score1 - 0

Jofra Archer to Sunil Narine, Fuller again and on middle, Sunil Narine blocks it out.

15:30 (IST) May 04

Overs0.1

Score1 - 0

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kolkata Knight Riders are underway straightaway! Jofra Archer starts with a full delivery, on middle, shaping in sharply. Gurbaz drills it to mid off for a single.

15:28 (IST) May 04

All in readiness at the Eden Gardens as Shane Bond, the bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals, rings the gong. We can see the RR players spread out and take their respective field positions. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine are the two openers for Kolkata Knight Riders. Jofra Archer has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

15:07 (IST) May 04

The captain of Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag, says he hoped to lose the toss as he was quite unsure of what to do. Says it has been challenging and they need to be professional on the field. Adds they will play for pride and bring more energy on to the field, with a collective effort. Informs three changes - Nitish Rana has a niggle so he misses out and Kunal Singh Rathore makes his debut for them. Also adds that Wanindu Hasaranga and Yudhvir Singh are back in the side as well.

15:06 (IST) May 04

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Ajinkya Rahane, says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks a little dry and he is not sure whether it will change much in the second innings so they want to put runs on the board. Adds that they want to take one game at a time and it was a great last game and every chipped in well. Mentions that playing in the domestic circuit has helped him massively and he is enjoying his cricket. Informs that there are a couple of changes as Moeen Ali and Ramandeep Singh comes in the team.

15:05 (IST) May 04

Impact Players nominated by Rajasthan Royals - Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma, Kwena Maphaka.

15:05 (IST) May 04

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Kunal Singh Rathore (On debut and in for Nitish Rana), Riyan Parag (C), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga (In for Fazalhaq Farooqi), Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh (In for Kumar Kartikeya), Akash Madhwal.

15:04 (IST) May 04

Impact Players nominated by Kolkata Knight Riders - Manish Pandey, Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia.

15:04 (IST) May 04

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh (In for Anukul Roy), Moeen Ali (In for Rovman Powell), Vaibhav Arora (In for Harshit Rana), Varun Chakaravarthy.

15:01 (IST) May 04

Today IPL Match Live: TOSS TIME! KKR opt to bat

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane wins the toss, opts to bat against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens.

15:01 (IST) May 04

TOSS UPDATE - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Kolkata Knight Riders and Ajinkya Rahane elects to BAT first.

14:54 (IST) May 04

IPL Live: Pitch and Conditions

"We are at the iconic Eden Gardens where KKR are taking on RR. It is an important game especially for KKR. The dimensions - 66 meters on one side, 60 on the other and 74 down the ground. Visually what you look at is the dry area here (points to a spot), there is a covering of grass but all the grass is dead. There is no grass on these dry areas. The one challenge for the groundstaff would have been to keep moisture on this surface for as long as you can. Even though aesthetically it looks dry and really dark, it doesn't look like it is going to break up, still sticking together quite well. Sometimes at the Eden Gardens you can get the jigsaw puzzle type of wicket where the surface seems to come out of the ground, I don't think it is going to do that massively. I really think it is good to bat on otherwise. In the first half it might slow down a bit, might help the spinners, but since the sunsets are early here, you would want to chase as batting might get easier." -- Deep Dasgupta and Eoin Morgan

14:48 (IST) May 04

IPL Live Score: KKR's Moeen Ali ahead of the match

"We know what we have to do, we need to win all our games. It's a big game today. They are a really good side and they have some brilliant players. We are looking forward to it. He (Rahane) is good, but he will hide somewhere in the field (due to the injury), that means I will be somewhere in the hotspot today. You need to keep yourself on the top of your game and need to keep practising well. They told me at the start that I will play certain games, depending on the wickets. You have to take it in your stride and try to be as professional as you can. When left-handers are in the opposition you have more chances of playing as an off-spinner. We have two of the best T20 spinners with us, so it is difficult to break into that side. They (Jaiswal and Suryavanshi) are talented young players, so it's going to be a challenge for us. We also have some world class players on our side, so we are ready for it."

14:33 (IST) May 04

KKR vs RR Live Score: All you need to know

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be desperate to turn their fortunes around at Eden Gardens when they face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a crucial IPL clash on Sunday. With four league matches left, the equation for the defending champions is clear: win all four and qualify for the playoffs.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane, recovering from a hand injury, confirmed his intent to play: “I’m fine. I’m trying my best and hopefully I’ll play the match on Sunday.”

KKR have struggled at home this season, with just one win from five outings. Their spinners have failed to exploit home conditions, and the batting unit has underperformed. Vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, re-signed for Rs 23.75 crore, has been underwhelming with only 142 runs in 10 games.

Rinku Singh and Quinton de Kock have also failed to fire consistently, making KKR's task steeper. However, their recent 14-run win over Delhi Capitals, led by Sunil Narine’s all-round brilliance, has reignited belief.

READ FULL STORY

13:52 (IST) May 04

KKR vs RR Live: SQUADS!

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Chetan Sakariya.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Kunal Singh Rathore, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Nitish Rana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma and Jofra Archer.

13:51 (IST) May 04

Today IPL Match Live: Royals’ collapse exposes depth issues

For Rajasthan Royals, the season has slipped from promising to painful in a matter of weeks. With only one win in their last seven games, the flaws in their squad composition have come under sharp scrutiny.

The absence of stalwarts like Jos Buttler, who moved to Gujarat Titans, and captain Sanju Samson due to injury has left a void that the rest of the lineup has failed to fill.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has tried to anchor the top order, but the middle-order trio of Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Rana has underdelivered. Jurel, despite flashes of promise, has only one fifty from 10 innings, while Hetmyer has struggled for rhythm and consistency. Rana, once the captain of KKR, will be under special watch as he faces his former team, having failed to make an impression this year.

The bowling attack, weakened by the absence of Yuzvendra Chahal and fitness concerns around Wanindu Hasaranga, lacks penetration. Unless someone steps up dramatically, RR seem destined to finish among the bottom sides this season.

13:50 (IST) May 04

IPL Live: Narine sparks hope as KKR regroup

Despite their inconsistencies, KKR showed signs of revival in their last outing — a morale-boosting 14-run win over Delhi Capitals. The victory ended a three-match winless streak and injected some much-needed belief into the camp.

Sunil Narine was at the heart of the triumph, delivering a standout all-round performance that underlined his value. His 16-ball 27 gave the innings early impetus, followed by a crafty 3/29 spell and a direct-hit run-out to dismiss KL Rahul.

Narine's brilliance will again be central to KKR’s hopes as they gear up for the final stretch. But before thinking too far ahead, KKR must focus on Rajasthan Royals — a side that may be down but can be dangerous with nothing left to lose. Officially eliminated from the playoff race, RR have the license to play fearless cricket. Teams in such positions have historically thrown up surprises, and KKR must guard against complacency if they are to keep their playoff dreams alive.

13:49 (IST) May 04

IPL Live Score: Eden Gardens no longer a fortress

Once an impregnable stronghold, Eden Gardens has turned into a source of anxiety for KKR this season. The Knights have managed just one win in five home games, with their latest match — against Punjab Kings — ending in a rain-curtailed no result.

The spin trio, once the side’s biggest strength on the slow and turning Eden surface, has struggled to adapt to inconsistent bounce and grip. Rival teams have exploited the conditions far better, outplaying KKR in familiar territory.

The batting has also been a major concern. Rinku Singh, who rose to fame with his finishing heroics last season, has looked out of touch, managing just 169 runs in eight innings. Quinton de Kock, brought in to plug the gap left by Phil Salt, has been inconsistent, averaging under 25. However, the biggest disappointment has been vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer. Bought back for Rs 23.75 crore amid high expectations, Iyer has crumbled under pressure, scoring only 142 runs from 10 innings.

13:47 (IST) May 04

KKR vs RR Live Score: KKR’s playoff equation - Four must-win matches stand in the way

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, find themselves in a familiar yet precarious situation as the 2025 IPL season enters its final leg.

Having endured a rollercoaster campaign so far, the Knights are now staring at a simple but high-stakes equation: win all four of their remaining league matches to reach 17 points and ensure a top-four finish without relying on other results.

That task begins with a clash against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens today. The remaining matches include another home fixture against Chennai Super Kings and two away games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru — both unpredictable sides, with RCB in red-hot form and SRH stumbling. The final game, in particular, against RCB could be a virtual knockout.

KKR have shown resilience after a mid-season slump, but consistency has eluded them. The team needs to treat every remaining game as a knockout and channel their championship mindset from 2024.

KKR vs RR Live Score, IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders edged out Rajasthan Royals by just one run in a thrilling IPL 2025 encounter at Eden Gardens on Sunday, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Chasing a stiff target of 207, RR fell short at 205 for 8, despite captain Riyan Parag’s sensational 95 off 45 balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) and Shimron Hetmyer (29) offered support, but it wasn’t enough.

IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Result

KKR’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs, with Varun Chakravarthy (2/32), Moeen Ali (2/43), Harshit Rana (2/41), and Vaibhav Arora (1/50) making key breakthroughs.

Earlier, Andre Russell powered KKR to 206/4 with a blazing unbeaten 57 off just 25 balls. He was well supported by Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35), and Ajinkya Rahane (30).

For Rajasthan, Jofra Archer, Yudhvir Singh, Theekshana, and Parag took a wicket each. While KKR stay alive in the playoff race, RR are already out of contention.