IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane Wants KKR to Build on Their Dominant Win Against SRH
KKR vs SRH – A Statement Win for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bounced back in style after a disappointing loss against Mumbai Indians, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by a massive 80-run margin. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane believes this win should serve as a template for their batting unit in the upcoming matches of IPL 2025.
Despite losing both openers early, KKR put up a commanding 200/6 on the board at Eden Gardens, thanks to some smart partnerships and a brilliant late flourish.
Ajinkya Rahane on KKR’s Batting Approach in IPL 2025
Speaking after the KKR vs SRH match, Rahane emphasized the importance of playing smart cricket:
“When we lost Quinton [de Kock] and Sunny [Sunil Narine] early, our focus was on consolidation till the end of the powerplay. We knew that with wickets in hand after 10-11 overs, we could accelerate in the death overs,” Rahane explained.
His approach paid off, as Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh provided a late flourish, smashing 78 runs in the last five overs to give KKR a strong total.
Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh Power KKR to 200.
crucial turning point in the match came when Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi built a steady partnership of 81 runs before both departed in quick succession. With two fresh batters at the crease, KKR could have struggled, but Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh had other plans.
Rahane highlighted their approach:
“When Rinku and Venkatesh were batting, we targeted 50-60 runs in the last 30 balls. They executed perfectly, giving us a fantastic finish.”
With Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, and Ramandeep Singh still in the dugout, KKR had the firepower to push beyond 200.
KKR’s Bowlers Dominate SRH in Powerplay
While the batting was impressive, KKR’s bowling attack set the tone early. Vaibhav Arora, playing as an impact substitute, delivered a match-winning spell, picking up 3 wickets for 29 runs. He dismissed Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen, derailing SRH’s chase before it even got going.
Harshit Rana also played a key role, removing Abhishek Sharma, leaving SRH struggling at 9 for 3 in just 2.1 overs.
“Bowling in the powerplay is never easy, but Vaibhav and Harshit were brilliant. Getting those early wickets was crucial,” Rahane said.
Although Moeen Ali didn’t get a chance to bowl, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine controlled the middle overs, ensuring there was no way back for SRH.
KKR’s Game Plan for the Rest of IPL 2025
With a convincing win under their belt, Ajinkya Rahane wants KKR to carry this momentum forward in IPL 2025.
“This game was a great example of how we should approach batting and bowling. Learning from our mistakes and executing well will be key in the upcoming matches.”
As Kolkata Knight Riders gear up for their next challenge, this KKR vs SRH win could be the turning point in their IPL 2025 campaign.