IPL 2025: All-round Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals by 14 runs

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by 14 runs to keep their IPL play-off hopes alive on Tuesday (April 29). Their bowlers, led by Sunil Narine 3/29, then restricted the Capitals to 190/9 despite contributions by Faf du Plessis (62), Axar Patel (43) and Vipraj Nigam (38).

Earlier in the innings, Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order gave them a flying start but the middle order failed to capitalise on it as they posted 204/9 against Delhi Capitals.

Coming into the game with three losses in their last five matches, KKR got off to a phenomenal start as Sunil Narine (27) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26) put on the team’s highest opening stand of the season -- 48 runs off just 17 balls -- after DC skipper Axar Patel (2/27) won the toss and opted to bowl.

Narine took on Dushmantha Chameera, smashing him for 26 runs in the second over. Gurbaz hammered Mitchell Starc for 17 runs in the third over before being dismissed by him on the last delivery.

KKR brought up their 50 in the fourth over and ended the powerplay strongly at 79/1, with Narine unbeaten on 26 and Rahane on 21. 

Rovman Powell partnered Russell for the final two overs. KKR crossed the 200-run mark in the last over, courtesy of a six by Russell on the first ball. However, DC struck back, with Starc removing Powell and Anukul Roy in consecutive deliveries. Russell was run out by Abhishek Porel on the penultimate ball. KKR lost three wickets in the final over and finished at 204/9.

For DC, Mitchell Starc (3/43) was the pick of the bowlers. Vipraj Nigam (2/41) and Axar Patel (2/27) picked up two wickets each, while Dushmantha Chameera (1/43) took one. Mukesh Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless.