Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane praised off-spinner Moeen Ali for his exceptional bowling performance against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the sixth match of IPL 2025 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
Moeen replaced Sunil Narine in the playing XI and delivered an impressive spell, picking up 2 wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs at an economy rate of 5.8. He dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana, playing a key role in restricting RR to 151/9.
Rahane’s Praise for Moeen Ali
“Firstly, we bowled really well in the first six overs. The middle overs were crucial, too – the way the spinners controlled things. Moeen got his opportunity, and he bowled really well. This is a format where we want players to play fearlessly, we want to give them freedom,” Rahane said in the post-match presentation.
He also credited the entire bowling unit for their wicket-taking mindset, emphasizing that Moeen’s contribution was vital.
Backing Moeen Despite Batting Struggles
Moeen Ali opened the innings for KKR alongside Quinton de Kock but failed with the bat, scoring just 5 runs off 12 balls before being run out in the seventh over. However, Rahane backed the English all-rounder, highlighting his bowling impact.
“Moeen is a quality player who has opened in the past. He couldn’t get going with the bat, but I’m very happy with what he did with the ball. The challenge is to stay in the moment, and every game is an opportunity to learn,” Rahane added.
KKR’s Chase Led by Quinton de Kock
Chasing 152, KKR started cautiously, scoring 40 runs in the powerplay. While Moeen fell early, Ajinkya Rahane (18 off 15) and de Kock (97 off 61)* ensured a comfortable chase.
De Kock smashed a six to reach his half-century in the 11th over and finished the match with another six in the 18th over, leading KKR to 153/2 in 17.3 overs. Angrish Raghuvanshi (22 off 17)* played a steady supporting role.
Brief Scores:
- Rajasthan Royals: 151/9 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 33, Yashasvi Jaiswal 29, Varun Chakravarthy 2/17, Moeen Ali 2/23)
- Kolkata Knight Riders: 153/2 in 17.3 overs (Quinton de Kock 97, Angrish Raghuvanshi 22*, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/34)*
KKR registered their first win of IPL 2025, while RR suffered their second consecutive defeat.