The Indian Premier League (IPL) is like a festival for cricket fans, bringing together thrilling moments, nail-biting finishes, and unforgettable performances. One such exciting clash happened on April 21, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard in the 39th match of the IPL 2025 season. The result? A convincing 39-run victory for GT that showcased their dominance and left KKR searching for answers. Let’s dive into the match, break down the scorecard, and relive the key moments that made this game a memorable one.
The Stage is Set at Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens is one of cricket’s most iconic venues, known for its electric atmosphere and passionate crowd. On this night, KKR, the home team, won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to restrict GT and chase the total under the Kolkata lights. GT, led by the talented Shubman Gill, were in fine form, sitting at the top of the points table with five wins in seven games. KKR, on the other hand, were struggling with inconsistent performances, making this match a critical one for their playoff hopes.
Gujarat Titans’ Batting: A Masterclass from the Top Order
GT’s batting lineup is a blend of youth and experience, and they showed why they’re such a formidable unit. The innings kicked off with openers B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who set the tone with a steady yet aggressive approach. Their partnership was a thing of beauty—combining solid technique with smart shot selection.
Sai Sudharsan’s Steady Fifty
Sai Sudharsan, known for his elegant strokeplay, played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings. He scored 52 runs off 36 balls, hitting six fours and a six, with a strike rate of 144.44. His innings was cut short in the 12.2nd over when Andre Russell, KKR’s golden-arm bowler, induced a faint edge that was caught by wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Sudharsan’s knock laid a solid foundation, allowing GT to build momentum.
Shubman Gill’s Captain’s Knock
Captain Shubman Gill was the star of the show, scoring a brilliant 90 off 55 balls. With 10 fours and three sixes, Gill’s strike rate of 163.63 was a testament to his ability to dominate without taking unnecessary risks. His innings included crisp cover drives, lofted shots, and powerful hits down the ground. He fell in the 17.5th over to Vaibhav Arora, caught by Rinku Singh at cow corner, but not before setting GT on course for a big total.
Jos Buttler’s Finishing Touch
Jos Buttler, GT’s wicketkeeper-batsman, played an unbeaten cameo of 41 off 23 balls. His eight fours and a strike rate of 178.26 added the late flourish GT needed. Buttler’s ability to find gaps and hit boundaries ensured GT crossed the 190-run mark. M Shahrukh Khan chipped in with a quick 11 off 5 balls, including a six, while Rahul Tewatia fell for a duck, dismissed by Harshit Rana.
GT finished their 20 overs at 198/3, a challenging total on a pitch that offered some assistance to bowlers. The innings saw only four extras (one no-ball, three wides), showing KKR’s discipline in the field despite the high score.
KKR’s Bowling: A Mixed Bag
KKR’s bowlers had moments of brilliance but struggled to contain GT’s top order. Andre Russell was the pick of the bowlers, taking 1/13 in his single over, dismissing Sudharsan with a clever short ball. Vaibhav Arora (1/44) and Harshit Rana (1/45) picked up a wicket each but were expensive, leaking runs at over 11 per over. Sunil Narine (0/36) and Varun Chakravarthy (0/33) couldn’t find breakthroughs, while Moeen Ali’s three overs went for 27 runs without reward. KKR’s fielding was a concern, as they missed chances to save runs, which captain Ajinkya Rahane later admitted cost them dearly.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chase: A Struggle from the Start
Chasing 199 was always going to be tough, but KKR’s batting lineup, packed with big names, gave fans hope. Unfortunately, their innings never gained momentum, and GT’s bowlers kept the pressure on from ball one.
Early Blows and a Shaky Powerplay
KKR’s innings started disastrously. Mohammed Siraj struck in the very first over, trapping Rahmanullah Gurbaz lbw for just 1 run. Gurbaz reviewed the decision, but the ball-tracker confirmed it was crashing into the leg stump. Sunil Narine tried to counterattack, scoring 17 off 13 balls with two fours and a six, but fell to Rashid Khan in the 5.3rd over, caught by Rahul Tewatia at square leg. KKR were 43/2 after the powerplay, with the required rate already climbing.
Ajinkya Rahane’s Lone Fight
Captain Ajinkya Rahane played a valiant knock of 50 off 36 balls, including five fours and a six, at a strike rate of 138.88. His elegant strokes kept KKR in the hunt, but he lacked support. Venkatesh Iyer struggled for 14 off 19 balls, unable to rotate the strike or find boundaries. He was dismissed by Sai Kishore in the 11.3rd over, caught at deep midwicket. Rahane followed soon after, stumped by Buttler off Washington Sundar in the 12.3rd over, leaving KKR at 91/4.
Middle-Order Collapse
With Rahane gone, KKR’s hopes rested on Andre Russell and Rinku Singh. Russell, known for his explosive hitting, scored 21 off 15 balls with three fours and a six but was undone by Rashid Khan’s guile, stumped by Buttler in the 15.5th over. Rinku Singh managed 17 off 14 balls, including a four and a six, but couldn’t accelerate as needed. He fell in the 19.1st over to Ishant Sharma, caught by Shubman Gill.
The lower order crumbled quickly. Ramandeep Singh (1 off 2) and Moeen Ali (0 off 2) were dismissed by Prasidh Krishna in quick succession, leaving KKR at 119/7. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the impact substitute, played a spirited 27 not out off 13 balls, hitting three fours and a six, but it was too little, too late. KKR finished at 159/8, falling 39 runs short.
GT’s Bowling: Discipline and Domination
GT’s bowlers were relentless, with every member contributing. Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan were the stars, each taking 2/25 in their four overs. Krishna’s pace and bounce accounted for Ramandeep and Moeen, while Rashid’s spin foxed Narine and Russell. Mohammed Siraj (1/32) struck early, and Sai Kishore (1/19) and Washington Sundar (1/36) chipped in with crucial wickets. Ishant Sharma, the impact substitute, bowled the final over and dismissed Rinku Singh, finishing with 1/18. GT’s fielding was sharp, with Buttler’s stumpings and Gill’s running catch sealing the deal.
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard: A Detailed Breakdown
Below is the full Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard, capturing every key moment:
|
Team |
Batting |
Bowling |
|---|---|---|
|
Gujarat Titans |
198/3 (20 overs, RR: 9.90) |
|
|
B Sai Sudharsan |
52 (36 balls, 6×4, 1×6, SR: 144.44) c Gurbaz b Russell |
|
|
Shubman Gill (c) |
90 (55 balls, 10×4, 3×6, SR: 163.63) c Rinku b Arora |
|
|
Jos Buttler (wk) |
41* (23 balls, 8×4, SR: 178.26) |
|
|
Rahul Tewatia |
0 (2 balls, SR: 0.00) c Ramandeep b Rana |
|
|
M Shahrukh Khan |
11* (5 balls, 1×6, SR: 220.00) |
|
|
Extras |
4 (1nb, 3w) |
|
|
Did not bat |
Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford |
|
|
Fall of Wickets |
1-114 (Sudharsan, 12.2 ov), 2-172 (Gill, 17.5 ov), 3-177 (Tewatia, 18.3 ov) |
|
|
KKR Bowling |
||
|
Vaibhav Arora |
4-0-44-1 (Econ: 11.00) |
|
|
Moeen Ali |
3-0-27-0 (Econ: 9.00) |
|
|
Harshit Rana |
4-0-45-1 (Econ: 11.25) |
|
|
Varun Chakravarthy |
4-0-33-0 (Econ: 8.25) |
|
|
Sunil Narine |
4-0-36-0 (Econ: 9.00) |
|
|
Andre Russell |
1-0-13-1 (Econ: 13.00) |
|
|
Kolkata Knight Riders |
159/8 (20 overs, RR: 7.95) |
|
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) |
1 (4 balls, SR: 25.00) lbw b Siraj |
|
|
Sunil Narine |
17 (13 balls, 2×4, 1×6, SR: 130.76) c Tewatia b Rashid |
|
|
Ajinkya Rahane (c) |
50 (36 balls, 5×4, 1×6, SR: 138.88) st Butt |
ler b Sundar | | | Venkatesh Iyer | 14 (19 balls, SR: 73.68) c Sundar b Sai Kishore | | | Rinku Singh | 17 (14 balls, 1×4, 1×6, SR: 121.42) c Gill b Sharma | | | Andre Russell | 21 (15 balls, 3×4, 1×6, SR: 140.00) st Buttler b Rashid | | | Ramandeep Singh | 1 (2 balls, SR: 50.00) c & b Krishna | | | Moeen Ali | 0 (2 balls, SR: 0.00) c Shahrukh b Krishna | | | Angkrish Raghuvanshi| 27* (13 balls, 3×4, 1×6, SR: 207.69) | | | Harshit Rana | 1* (2 balls, SR: 50.00) | | | Extras | 10 (4lb, 6w) | | | Did not bat | Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora | | | Fall of Wickets | 1-2 (Gurbaz, 0.5 ov), 2-43 (Narine, 5.3 ov), 3-84 (Iyer, 11.3 ov), 4-91 (Rahane, 12.3 ov), 5-118 (Russell, 15.5 ov), 6-119 (Ramandeep, 16.1 ov), 7-119 (Moeen, 16.3 ov), 8-151 (Rinku, 19.1 ov) | | | GT Bowling | | | | Mohammed Siraj | 4-0-32-1 (Econ: 8.00) | | | Ishant Sharma | 2-0-18-1 (Econ: 9.00) | | | Prasidh Krishna | 4-0-25-2 (Econ: 6.25) | | | Rashid Khan | 4-0-25-2 (Econ: 6.25) | | | Washington Sundar | 3-0-36-1 (Econ: 12.00) | | | Sai Kishore | 3-0-19-1 (Econ: 6.33) | |
Match Details
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Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
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Date: April 21, 2025
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Toss: KKR won, elected to field
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Player of the Match: Shubman Gill (90 off 55)
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Umpires: Anish Sahasrabudhe, Rohan Pandit
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TV Umpire: Akshay Totre
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Match Referee: Rajiv Seth
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Points: GT 2, KKR 0
Key Moments and Turning Points
-
Gill-Sudharsan Partnership: The 114-run opening stand between Gill and Sudharsan set the platform for GT’s big total. Their ability to rotate the strike and punish loose balls kept KKR’s bowlers under pressure.
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Siraj’s Early Strike: Mohammed Siraj’s dismissal of Gurbaz in the first over put KKR on the back foot, disrupting their chase early.
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Rashid Khan’s Magic: Rashid’s wickets of Narine and Russell were game-changers, breaking KKR’s momentum and exposing their middle order.
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Rahane’s Fight: Despite KKR’s struggles, Rahane’s half-century kept them in the game, but his dismissal in the 12th over tilted the balance firmly in GT’s favor.
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GT’s Fielding Excellence: From Buttler’s sharp stumpings to Gill’s running catch, GT’s fielding was top-notch, saving crucial runs and sealing KKR’s fate.
Post-Match Reflections
Shubman Gill, the Player of the Match, was thrilled with GT’s performance. “We’re not chasing a perfect game,” he said. “It’s about finding ways to win, and we’re doing that well.” He praised his team’s ability to adapt to conditions and execute their plans. Sai Kishore highlighted the team’s fielding and Rashid Khan’s return to form, calling him “the best T20 bowler in the world.”
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted their batting let them down. “We thought 199 was chaseable, but our opening starts have been a concern,” he said. He urged his team to be braver and improve their fielding to save 10-15 runs per game, which could make a big difference.
Why GT Won
GT’s victory was a team effort. Their batting was disciplined yet aggressive, with Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler playing to their strengths. The bowling attack, led by Rashid and Krishna, was relentless, exploiting KKR’s weaknesses on a pitch that offered spin and bounce. Their fielding was the cherry on top, ensuring no easy runs were leaked.
KKR, meanwhile, struggled with their batting approach. Losing early wickets put pressure on the middle order, and the lack of partnerships hurt their chase. Their bowlers fought hard but couldn’t contain GT’s top order, and fielding lapses added to their woes.
Looking Ahead
For GT, this win solidified their position at the top of the IPL 2025 points table, with six wins in eight games. They’re looking like a well-oiled machine, with a balanced squad and clear game plans. KKR, however, slipped to their fifth loss, sitting precariously at seventh. With the playoffs approaching, they need to address their batting inconsistencies and fielding issues quickly.
Final Thoughts
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard was a classic IPL encounter—full of drama, skill, and moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Shubman Gill’s 90 was the highlight, but GT’s all-round performance stole the show. For KKR, it’s back to the drawing board, but with players like Rahane and Raghuvanshi showing promise, there’s hope yet. Cricket is a game of fine margins, and this match proved just that. Until the next IPL thriller, let’s keep cheering for our teams
