IPL 2025 | "I’m hopeful that we can pull off next three matches": Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy (second form left) celebrates KKR’s victory over RR with teammates at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, yesterday. Pics/AFP

Skipper Riyan Parag brought Rajasthan Royals back from the dead, but had to watch his team fall short by the narrowest of margins as Kolkata Knight Riders escaped to victory and kept alive their slender hopes of a berth in the IPL-18 Playoffs.

Having put up a challenging 206-4 at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, the Knights had all but wrapped it up when they reduced the visitors to 71-5 in the eighth over. Parag, however, changed the script and inspired a breathtaking chase.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag walks back disappointed after being dismissed for 95 vs KKR yesterday. Pic/PTI

When he fell in the 18th over for a 45-ball 95, the chase continued, but RR were 205-8 when the overs ran out.

"If I'm counting right, this is the fourth game in which we got into a position where we should have won, but were unable to finish off," said RR batting coach Vikram Rathore. "Yeah, that's the kind of season we've had so far."

Also Read: IPL 2025 | "To execute plan in front of biggest players is what I admire": Fleming on Ayush Mhatre

Russell, Rinku make it count

Opting to bat first, if the Knights did get past 200, much of it must be credited to Andre Russell, who came good at last. The final five overs produced 85 runs with the burly Jamaican remaining unbeaten on a 25-ball 57. It had 12 fours and six sixes. He had come to the match with just 72 runs from seven innings. Rinku Singh, who would later field like a tiger on the boundary, and effect the run-out that prevented the match from going into a Super Over, was unbeaten on a six-ball 19 that had a four and a couple of sixes.

KKR's Andre Russell during his unbeaten 57 off 25 balls

Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 from 31), Rahmanulla Gurbaz (35 off 25) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (30 off 24) made substantial contributions, but Parag would upstage them.

When all seemed lost, he hoisted six consecutive sixes, five in Moeen Ali's third over and another off Varun Chakravarthy in the next. Moeen, who already had a couple of wickets under his belt, including the prized one of Yashasvi Jaiswal, conceded 32 in the 13th over.

Parag, Hetmyer rescue RR

Coming in at 8-2, Parag found a willing partner in Shimron Hetmyer. The two added 92 in 48 balls with Parag scoring 61 of them. Hetmyer scored a 23-ball 29 and when Parag fell, Jofra Archer and Impact Sub Shubham Dubey took the fight to the final ball.

Teen talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed early again, Rahane pulling off a brilliant catch. RR failed to get the start they wanted but they almost got the finish right.

"Such wins will give us momentum and the self-belief that we can pull off tight matches.

"This is exactly what we needed. I'm hopeful that we can pull off the next three matches. We have done it before," said Varun Chakravarthy, reminding that "every match is a knockout game for us".

Brief scores
KKR 206-4 in 20 overs (A Russell 57', A Raghuvanshi 44, R Gurbaz 35, A Rahane 30; R Parag 1-21) beat RR 205-8 in 20 overs (Parag 95, Y Jaiswal 34; V Chakravarthy 2-32, H Rana 2-41, M Ali 2-43) by 1 run