Hey there, cricket fans! Let’s dive into the electrifying showdown between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard in the 48th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, played on April 29, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with KKR emerging victorious by 14 runs in a high-scoring, high-drama encounter. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket lover or just someone who enjoys a good game, this article will break down the match in a simple, human, and engaging way, complete with a detailed scorecard to give you the full picture.
The Build-Up: A Clash of Titans
The IPL is always a festival of cricket, and this match was no exception. KKR, led by the experienced Ajinkya Rahane, were looking to break their losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive. On the other side, DC, captained by the ever-reliable Axar Patel, were desperate to bounce back after a recent defeat. The Arun Jaitley Stadium was buzzing with anticipation, and the pitch looked promising—a bit better than the one used in the previous game, with a nice sheen that suggested it would hold together for a good batting surface. The boundaries were tight (62m and 63m on the sides, 67m down the ground), and the well-trimmed outfield promised quick runs.
DC won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that made sense given their strong bowling lineup and the hope of chasing under lights. KKR, however, had other plans, aiming to post a big total and put pressure on DC’s batting unit. Let’s break down how the match unfolded, inning by inning, with all the key moments that made this game a classic.
KKR’s Innings: A Fiery Start, a Shaky Middle, and a Gritty Finish
KKR’s batting lineup is a powerhouse, and they came out swinging. The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine set the tone with a blistering start. Gurbaz, the Afghan dynamo, smashed 26 runs off just 12 balls, including five fours and a six, before falling to Mitchell Starc in the third over. His aggressive approach gave KKR their highest opening stand of the season at 48/1. Narine, the all-round superstar, kept the momentum going with a quickfire 27 off 16 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. But DC fought back, with Vipraj Nigam trapping Narine lbw in the 6.4th over, leaving KKR at 85/2.
Ajinkya Rahane, the KKR skipper, played a captain’s knock of 26 off 14 balls, but Axar Patel got him lbw in the 7.2th over, triggering a mini-collapse. Venkatesh Iyer, expected to anchor the middle order, managed only 7 runs before skying one to Nigam off Patel’s bowling. At 113/4 after 9.2 overs, KKR were in a spot of bother, but young Angkrish Raghuvanshi stepped up with a mature 44 off 32 balls. His partnership with Rinku Singh (36 off 25) for the fifth wicket added 61 runs, stabilizing the innings and pushing KKR past 150.
As the death overs approached, KKR hoped for a big finish, but DC’s bowlers tightened the screws. Rinku fell to Nigam in the 17.3rd over, and the big-hitting trio of Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, and Anukul Roy couldn’t quite deliver the fireworks. Russell’s run-out and Starc’s late strikes, including a sensational catch by Dushmantha Chameera, restricted KKR to 204/9 in 20 overs. Starc was the pick of DC’s bowlers, finishing with 3/43, while Nigam and Patel chipped in with two wickets each.
It was a competitive total, but as Rahane later admitted, KKR felt they were 15-20 runs short of a truly imposing score. Still, 204 was no easy chase, especially with KKR’s bowling attack ready to defend it.
DC’s Chase: A Brave Effort Falls Short
Chasing 205, DC needed a solid start, but KKR’s bowlers had other ideas. Anukul Roy struck in the very first over, dismissing Abishek Porel for just 4 runs. Karun Nair (15 off 13) and KL Rahul (7 off 5) tried to steady the ship, but a brilliant direct hit from Narine ran out Rahul, leaving DC at 60/3 after 6.3 overs. Things looked bleak, but Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel had other plans.
Faf, the former South African captain, played with composure and class, scoring a brilliant 62 off 45 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. Axar, battling through a hand injury, smashed 43 off 23 balls, with four fours and three sixes. Their 76-run partnership for the fourth wicket brought DC back into the game, raising hopes of a stunning chase. At 136/3 after 13 overs, DC were in the driver’s seat.
Enter Sunil Narine, the game-changer. In a match-defining spell, he dismissed Axar and Tristan Stubbs in quick succession, leaving DC reeling at 138/5. Narine wasn’t done yet—he got Faf in the 15.2nd over, a massive blow that shifted the momentum firmly to KKR. DC slumped to 146/6, and the pressure was on.
Vipraj Nigam, the young all-rounder, gave DC a glimmer of hope with a fiery 38 off 19 balls, including five fours and two sixes. His late blitz, combined with a few lusty blows from Ashutosh Sharma (7 off 6), kept DC in the hunt. But Varun Chakravarthy’s double strike in the 17th over, removing Sharma and Starc in consecutive balls, all but sealed DC’s fate. Nigam fell to Russell in the final over, bowled by a pinpoint yorker, and DC finished at 190/9—14 runs short of the target.
Narine’s 3/29 earned him the Player of the Match award, and his spell, combined with Chakravarthy’s 2/39 and Russell’s 1/22, ensured KKR’s victory. DC fought hard, but as Axar later reflected, a few soft dismissals and miscalculations in the chase cost them the game.
Key Moments That Defined the Match
This match was packed with turning points that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Here are the big ones:
- Gurbaz and Narine’s Explosive Start: KKR’s openers set the tone with 48 runs in just 2.6 overs, putting DC’s bowlers under immediate pressure.
- DC’s Middle-Over Fightback: Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam’s wickets in the middle overs pegged KKR back, preventing them from posting a 220+ total.
- Narine’s Game-Changing Spell: Narine’s three wickets, including Axar and Faf, turned the tide when DC looked set to take control.
- Chakravarthy’s Double Blow: Varun’s back-to-back wickets in the 17th over killed DC’s hopes, dismissing their last recognised batsmen.
- Nigam’s Late Heroics: Vipraj’s 38 off 19 kept DC alive and reduced the margin of defeat, which could prove crucial for their net run rate.
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard: A Detailed Breakdown
Below is the full Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard, giving you all the numbers in an easy-to-read format.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard: IPL 2025 Match 48
Match Details
-
Date: April 29, 2025
-
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
-
Toss: Delhi Capitals won and elected to bowl
-
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 14 runs
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Player of the Match: Sunil Narine (KKR) – 27 (16) & 3/29
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (204/9 in 20 overs)
|
Batsman |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) |
c Porel b Starc |
26 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 216.66 |
|
Sunil Narine |
lbw b Nigam |
27 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 168.75 |
|
Ajinkya Rahane (c) |
lbw b Patel |
26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 185.71 |
|
Angkrish Raghuvanshi |
c Nair b Chameera |
44 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 137.50 |
|
Venkatesh Iyer |
c Nigam b Patel |
7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
|
Rinku Singh |
c Starc b Nigam |
36 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 144.00 |
|
Andre Russell |
run out (Porel) |
17 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 188.89 |
|
Rovman Powell |
lbw b Starc |
5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Anukul Roy |
c Chameera b Starc |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Harshit Rana |
not out |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Varun Chakravarthy |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Extras |
(lb 3, nb 1, w 11) |
15 | ||||
|
Total |
(20 overs, RR: 10.20) |
204/9 | 21 | 8 |
Fall of Wickets:
1-48 (Gurbaz, 2.6 ov), 2-85 (Narine, 6.4 ov), 3-91 (Rahane, 7.2 ov), 4-113 (Iyer, 9.2 ov), 5-174 (Raghuvanshi, 16.5 ov), 6-177 (Singh, 17.3 ov), 7-203 (Powell, 19.3 ov), 8-203 (Roy, 19.4 ov), 9-203 (Russell, 19.5 ov)
Bowling (DC):
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
Wides |
No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell Starc |
4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 10.75 | 1 | 0 |
|
Dushmantha Chameera |
3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 15.33 | 6 | 0 |
|
Mukesh Kumar |
2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 | 2 | 0 |
|
Vipraj Nigam |
4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 | 1 | 1 |
|
Axar Patel |
4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 | 1 | 0 |
|
Kuldeep Yadav |
3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | 0 |
Delhi Capitals Innings (190/9 in 20 overs)
|
Batsman |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Abishek Porel (wk) |
c Russell b Roy |
4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
|
Faf du Plessis |
c Singh b Narine |
62 | 45 | 7 | 2 | 137.77 |
|
Karun Nair |
lbw b Arora |
15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 115.38 |
|
KL Rahul |
run out (Narine) |
7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
|
Axar Patel (c) |
c Rana b Narine |
43 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 186.95 |
|
Tristan Stubbs |
b Narine |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
|
Vipraj Nigam |
b Russell |
38 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 200.00 |
|
Ashutosh Sharma |
c Narine b Chakravarthy |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 116.67 |
|
Mitchell Starc |
c Gurbaz b Chakravarthy |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
|
Dushmantha Chameera |
not out |
2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
|
Kuldeep Yadav |
not out |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
|
Extras |
(b 5, nb 1, w 4) |
10 | ||||
|
Total |
(20 overs, RR: 9.50) |
190/9 | 20 | 8 |
Fall of Wickets:
1-4 (Porel, 0.2 ov), 2-43 (Nair, 4.3 ov), 3-60 (Rahul, 6.3 ov), 4-136 (Patel, 13.2 ov), 5-138 (Stubbs, 13.6 ov), 6-146 (du Plessis, 15.2 ov), 7-160 (Sharma, 17.2 ov), 8-160 (Starc, 17.3 ov), 9-189 (Nigam, 19.5 ov)
Bowling (KKR):
|
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
Wides |
No Balls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anukul Roy |
4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 | 1 | 0 |
|
Vaibhav Arora |
2 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 9.50 | 1 | 0 |
|
Harshit Rana |
4 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 12.25 | 0 | 0 |
|
Varun Chakravarthy |
4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 | 1 | 0 |
|
Sunil Narine |
4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 | 0 | 0 |
|
Andre Russell |
2 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 11.00 | 1 | 1 |
What Made This Match Special?
This game was a classic IPL thriller, showcasing the best of T20 cricket—big hits, tight bowling, and moments of individual brilliance. Sunil Narine proved why he’s a champion, delivering with both bat and ball. His 27 off 16 set the stage, and his 3/29 turned the game in KKR’s favor. Axar Patel and Faf du Plessis showed grit for DC, but Narine’s spell was the difference.
For KKR, this win was a lifeline, keeping them in the playoff race. For DC, it was a heartbreaking loss, but Vipraj Nigam’s late cameo gave them something to cheer about. The match also highlighted the importance of all-rounders—players like Narine, Patel, and Nigam made massive impacts with both bat and ball.
Post-Match Reflections
In the post-match presentation, Narine was humble, crediting the team effort and praising Gurbaz, Raghuvanshi, and Rinku for their contributions. Rahane called Narine a “genuine match-winner” and highlighted the team’s backing of Anukul Roy, who delivered with a tight spell. Axar, despite the loss, remained optimistic, praising Nigam’s performance and noting that DC fought well despite a poor powerplay.
Andre Russell, celebrating his birthday, was thrilled with the win, calling it the perfect gift. He emphasized the team’s hard work in practice and their belief in defending 200+ totals with their bowling attack.
Why This Match Matters
This game wasn’t just about the 14-run margin. For KKR, it was a statement of intent, showing they could compete with the best even after a tough run. For DC, it was a reminder of the fine margins in T20 cricket—a couple of big hits, as Axar noted, could have changed the outcome. The match also showcased young talents like Raghuvanshi and Nigam, who could be stars of the future.
As the IPL 2025 season heads toward the playoffs, every point counts, and KKR’s two points here could prove crucial. DC, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly to keep their campaign alive.
Wrapping Up
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Match Scorecard at Arun Jaitley Stadium was everything you’d want from an IPL match—big scores, dramatic wickets, and a nail-biting finish. KKR’s 204/9 was just enough to hold off DC’s valiant 190/9, thanks to Narine’s magic and a disciplined bowling effort. Whether you’re a KKR fan celebrating the win or a DC supporter hoping for a comeback, this match was a reminder of why we love the IPL.
