Kolkata Knight Riders Bounce Back with Comprehensive 80-Run Win Over Sunrisers Hyderabad

Kolkata Knight Riders secured a dominant 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, thanks to Venkatesh Iyer's explosive batting and Vaibhav Arora's impressive bowling.

Venkatesh Iyer's explosive batting display propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Iyer smashed 60 runs off just 29 deliveries, featuring seven fours and three sixes, to help Kolkata post an imposing total of 200-6 at their home ground, Eden Gardens.

Iyer's blistering knock, combined with a 91-run partnership with fellow left-hander Rinku Singh, proved instrumental in Kolkata's success. The team's investment of $2.81 million in Iyer during the November auction seems to have paid off, as he delivered a match-winning performance. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (50) laid the foundation for the total with their 81-run partnership after the early loss of openers.

Kolkata's bowlers, led by impact substitute Vaibhav Arora, then dismantled Hyderabad's batting lineup, dismissing them for 120 runs in 16.4 overs. This comprehensive victory marked a significant turnaround for Kolkata, who had suffered a crushing defeat to Mumbai Indians in their previous game. “This game was really important for us,” said Rahane. “Winning by a big margin was crucial for us.”

After impressing with the bat and in the field, #KKR 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙯𝙚𝙙 their way to a handsome 80-run victory at home 😌💜

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/jahSPzdeys#TATAIPL | #KKRvSRH | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/Ne4LJhXNP4

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2025

Rahane acknowledged that the team had learned valuable lessons from their previous mistakes, saying, “Last two games were not up to the mark for us. But we learned a lot from our mistakes. This is a great example for us as a batting unit.” The victory propelled Kolkata from the bottom to fifth place in the 10-team table, while Hyderabad slipped to the last spot with three defeats in four matches.

Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins conceded that his team had a disappointing night, saying, “Not a great night tonight.” Cummins felt that his team had given away too many runs in the field and failed to deliver with the bat, stating, “In the mid-innings break, we thought it was gettable. It was a pretty good wicket. Gave away few too many in the field and obviously fell short (with the bat).”

Arora's Impactful Performance

Vaibhav Arora's impressive bowling display earned him the Player of the Match award, with figures of 3-29. He was ably supported by spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who also claimed three wickets. The duo's performance helped restrict Hyderabad to a paltry 120 runs.

Kolkata's batting unit, led by Venkatesh Iyer, set up a comprehensive victory despite losing Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine early on. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi steadied the innings with a partnership of 81 runs. Raghuvanshi, just 20 years old, showcased his talent with a 32-ball knock of 50 runs, featuring five fours and two sixes.

After Rahane and Raghuvanshi departed, Iyer took charge and unleashed his destructive batting skills. He smashed Pat Cummins for three fours and a six in a 21-run 19th over, propelling Kolkata to a commanding total. Iyer and Rinku Singh combined to add 78 runs in the last five overs, setting up a daunting target for Hyderabad.

The Knight Riders are back to winning ways with an 80-run victory over the Sunrisers 😤🟣#TATAIPL | #SummerOfCricket pic.twitter.com/FWxz96ghJJ

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 3, 2025

In response, Hyderabad's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Arora's early strikes. Travis Head fell on the second ball for four, and Arora soon dismissed Ishant Kishan for two. Abhishek Sharma and Kamindu Mendis offered some resistance, but ultimately, Hyderabad's batting failed to deliver, with Heinrich Klaasen's 33 being the top score.