The 15th match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens saw Kolkata Knight Riders post a commanding 200/6, led by Venkatesh Iyer’s blistering knock. Despite a shaky start, KKR recovered through Rahane and Raghuvanshi before Iyer and Rinku Singh launched a late assault. SRH’s debutant Kamindu Mendis stunned everyone with his ambidextrous bowling but bowled just one over. Pat Cummins’ tactical decisions, including limited spin usage, raised eyebrows. As SRH prepared to chase, questions remained—was the total too steep, and did Cummins miscalculate his bowling strategy?
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Match IPL 2025 KKR vs SRH: Iyer’s Explosion at Eden Gardens and SRH’s Surprising Choice
The 15th match of IPL 2025 delivered a batting spectacle at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, with Venkatesh Iyer leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an imposing total against Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH’s decision to bowl first and some unusual bowling choices by Pat Cummins became key talking points in what turned out to be an action-packed encounter.
Match Overview
Indian Premier League 2025 – Match 15
The contest between KKR and SRH marked the 15th fixture of this IPL season, bringing together two teams with similar records so far in the tournament.
Kolkata, April 3, 2025
Cricket fans in Kolkata were treated to perfect weather conditions as the city hosted its second home game of the season.
Venue: Eden Gardens
The legendary Eden Gardens stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions and passionate crowds, once again proved to be a fortress for the home team.
Toss Decision and Team Compositions
Pat Cummins (SRH) wins toss and chooses to bowl first
SRH captain Pat Cummins continued the tournament trend of teams preferring to chase, electing to field first after winning the toss.
Change in KKR team: Moeen Ali replaces Spencer Johnson
KKR made a strategic substitution by bringing in experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali to strengthen their spin department, replacing Australian pacer Spencer Johnson.
IPL debut for Kamindu Mendis (SRH) replacing Wiaan Mulder
SRH handed a debut to Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, known for his unique ambidextrous bowling ability, in place of South African Wiaan Mulder.
Team compositions
KKR XI batting first
KKR lined up with a balanced squad featuring a mix of explosive batters and versatile bowling options:
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Ajinkya Rahane (c)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Moeen Ali
- Mitchell Starc
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Harshit Rana
SRH XI bowling first
SRH’s playing eleven showcased their impressive bowling depth:
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Rahul Tripathi
- Aiden Markram
- Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
- Abdul Samad
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Kamindu Mendis
- Harshal Patel
- Zeeshan Ansari
- Mohammed Shami
Captains’ statements before the match
Pat Cummins’ comments on bowling first and last season’s final
“The pitch looks good but there might be some assistance early on for the bowlers. We also want to rectify what happened in last year’s final against KKR. That loss still stings, and chasing gives us better control,” Cummins stated at the toss, referencing SRH’s defeat to KKR in the previous season’s final.
Ajinkya Rahane’s impressions on the pitch and his bowling preference
“We would have bowled first as well, but now we’ll aim to put a big total on the board. Eden Gardens has been kind to batters, and we have the firepower to exploit these conditions,” Rahane remarked, accepting the challenge of batting first.
KKR’s Batting Innings
Difficult start for KKR openers
KKR’s innings began disastrously with both openers departing within the first three overs. Quinton de Kock (1) fell to a brilliant outswinger from Pat Cummins, while Sunil Narine (7) miscued a pull shot off Mohammed Shami, giving SRH an early advantage.
Recovery through the Rahane-Raghuvanshi partnership
With KKR reeling at 10/2, captain Ajinkya Rahane joined youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi to orchestrate a brilliant recovery. Their partnership yielded 81 runs in just 8.3 overs, shifting momentum back to the home side.
Rahane contributed a responsible 38 off 27 deliveries, playing the perfect foil to the more aggressive Raghuvanshi. The 19-year-old talent continued his impressive form this season, reaching his maiden IPL fifty in just 32 balls with a mix of orthodox and innovative shots.
The unusual moment: Kamindu Mendis, the ambidextrous bowler
The 12th over produced one of the most remarkable moments of the IPL season when debutant Kamindu Mendis displayed his unique ambidextrous bowling skills. He began the over bowling left-arm spin to the right-handed Raghuvanshi before switching to right-arm off-spin against the left-handed batters.
This rare skill not only surprised the batsmen but proved effective when Mendis trapped Raghuvanshi LBW for 50, halting KKR’s momentum at a crucial juncture.
Score acceleration by Iyer and Rinku Singh
Following Raghuvanshi’s dismissal, Venkatesh Iyer took center stage with a breathtaking display of power hitting. He reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries, unleashing an array of drives, pulls, and innovative shots.
Partnering with the ever-reliable Rinku Singh (32* off 17), Iyer helped KKR regain momentum after a brief slowdown in the middle overs. Their partnership added crucial runs at a rapid pace, setting the stage for a big finish.
Venkatesh Iyer’s assault on Pat Cummins
The 19th over, bowled by SRH captain Pat Cummins, became the turning point of the innings. Iyer launched a brutal assault, smashing a sequence of 4, 6, 4, 4 to collect 18 runs off the over. His fearless batting against one of the world’s premier fast bowlers highlighted his growing stature in the T20 format.
KKR reaches a total of 200/6
The late onslaught by Iyer and Rinku Singh propelled KKR to an imposing 200/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The final five overs yielded a remarkable 78 runs, transforming what looked like a competitive score into a daunting target for the visitors.
Analysis of SRH’s Bowling
Pat Cummins’ early wicket of de Kock
SRH captain Pat Cummins led from the front with the new ball, removing the dangerous Quinton de Kock in the second over with a perfectly executed outswinger that found the edge through to keeper Heinrich Klaasen.
Narine’s dismissal by Mohammed Shami
Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami complemented his captain well, dismissing the unpredictable Sunil Narine with a well-directed short ball that the batsman failed to control, resulting in a simple catch to mid-on.
Zeeshan Ansari’s performance (1 wicket for 25 runs in 3 overs)
Young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari showed impressive control in the middle overs, conceding just 25 runs from his three overs while picking up the crucial wicket of Andre Russell. His variations and accuracy made it difficult for KKR’s power hitters to target him.
Kamindu Mendis’ “decisive spell” (only one over bowled)
Despite the immediate success of debutant Kamindu Mendis, who dismissed the well-set Raghuvanshi with his ambidextrous bowling, captain Cummins surprisingly opted not to give him another over. His figures of 1/8 from his solitary over represented a missed opportunity for SRH.
Pat Cummins’ questionable decision to underutilize spin
Cricket analysts were quick to question Cummins’ decision to rely heavily on pace despite the Eden Gardens pitch traditionally favoring spin bowlers. With Mendis and Ansari finding success, the decision to bowl only four overs of spin on a surface offering grip and turn was viewed as a tactical misstep.
Match Context and Implications
KKR’s middle order finally delivers
After struggling in previous matches, KKR’s middle order stepped up when needed most. The performances of Raghuvanshi, Iyer, and Rinku Singh addressed concerns about their batting depth and versatility.
Venkatesh Iyer silences critics
Following inconsistent performances in recent games, Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive innings silenced doubters who questioned his place in the starting eleven. His ability to dominate world-class bowling reinforced his value to the KKR lineup.
SRH’s desire to correct course after last season’s final defeat to KKR
The match carried extra significance for SRH, who were seeking redemption after their heartbreaking loss to KKR in the previous season’s final. This backdrop added emotional intensity to an already high-stakes encounter.
Both teams had one win each against Rajasthan Royals in their first three matches
Heading into this game, both KKR and SRH had identical records against Rajasthan Royals, having won one match each against the common opponent. This underscored the closely matched nature of the two sides.
Key Players Mentioned
Venkatesh Iyer
Iyer’s explosive batting display made him the standout performer of the match, with his ability to accelerate against quality bowling proving decisive in setting a formidable total.
Pat Cummins
The SRH captain had a mixed day, starting well with an early wicket but later facing criticism for his bowling changes and personally suffering at the hands of Iyer in the death overs.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
The 19-year-old continued his impressive rise in the IPL with a composed half-century that helped stabilize KKR after their early setbacks.
Ajinkya Rahane
The KKR captain led by example with a measured innings that provided the platform for the later assault, while also making smart bowling changes during the defense.
Rinku Singh
Singh once again demonstrated his finishing skills with a quickfire unbeaten 32, perfectly complementing Iyer’s aggression in the crucial final overs.
Kamindu Mendis
The debutant made an immediate impact with his unique ambidextrous bowling, becoming an instant talking point despite bowling just one over.
Moeen Ali
The experienced all-rounder replaced Spencer Johnson in the KKR lineup, adding batting depth and an additional spin option to Rahane’s arsenal.
Quinton de Kock
The South African wicketkeeper-batsman had a forgettable outing, dismissed early for just one run by Pat Cummins.
Sunil Narine
KKR’s versatile opener failed to make an impact with the bat, contributing only 7 runs before falling to Mohammed Shami.
Zeeshan Ansari
The young leg-spinner showed composure under pressure, delivering economical overs when SRH needed control.
Spencer Johnson
The Australian pacer made way for Moeen Ali as KKR opted for additional spin options at Eden Gardens.
Wiaan Mulder
The South African all-rounder was replaced by debutant Kamindu Mendis in the SRH lineup.
Travis Head
The explosive Australian opener was part of SRH’s batting lineup, ready to face the challenge of chasing a daunting target.
As the match progressed to the second innings, all eyes were on whether SRH’s powerful batting lineup could chase down KKR’s imposing total of 200, and whether Cummins’ decision to bowl first would ultimately be vindicated.
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