New Delhi – Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) IPL 2025 campaign came to an abrupt end as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted a record total of 278/3 and bowled out KKR for 168 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, sealing a thumping 110-run win.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane conceded that his side was completely outplayed and credited SRH batters, especially Heinrich Klaasen, for their aggressive approach and clinical execution.
“They capitalised on all the loose balls and hit even the good ones. Credit goes to the SRH batters; their intent was really great,” Rahane said at the post-match presentation.
He acknowledged that KKR had discussed variations like slower and wider deliveries, but the execution fell short.
“Sometimes if bowlers don’t execute well, batters like Klaasen take full advantage,” he added.
KKR’s Season Ends on Disappointment
The loss sees KKR finish 8th on the points table, with five wins, seven losses, and one no result. Despite a few close contests throughout the season, Rahane admitted inconsistency in performance cost them dearly.
“We had our chances – 2-3 close games. We could’ve been in the top two. But no regrets. We’ll come back stronger next year.”
SRH Bowlers Seal the Win
SRH’s bowling unit backed up their batting assault with a sharp performance.
- Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, and Harsh Dubey each took three wickets, dismantling KKR’s fragile chase effort.
- Klaasen, with his explosive middle-order hitting, was instrumental in SRH’s imposing total.