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| @ Heinrich Klaasen's reaction after scoring a century vs KKR IPL2025 |
On the final day of the IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) won convincingly over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), beating them by 110 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. KKR set a new record for the biggest loss in their history and Sunrisers Hyderabad came within one run of setting a new IPL high. Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten 105, Travis Head’s 76 and Abhishek Sharma’s quick 32 took SRH to a huge total of 278 for 3. KKR were bowled out for 168 after 18.4 overs, thanks to tight bowling from Jaydev Unadkat, Harsh Dubey and Eshan Malinga. They proved they could both hit and bowl well, so the match was a good way to end their IPL 2025 season. In the section below, you will find a description of the match, its key moments and its importance
SRH’s Batting Showcase Takes the Lead :
SRH showed how to play in an aggressive T20 match, as their top order played exceptionally well. With Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma leading the way, SRH started the match by racing to 79 without losing a wicket during the powerplay. Head, after performing well throughout the IPL, was especially tough on KKR’s bowlers as he overcame his earlier struggles against Vaibhav Arora by scoring 76 off 40 balls and reaching a fifty in just 26 balls. Thanks to his dominant shot-making, including hard drives and lofted shots, SRH posted a big target. Abhishek Sharma stepped in to help Head, adding 32 runs from just 16 balls to help SRH take advantage at the start of the match. Their partnership of 92 runs in just seven overs made KKR’s bowlers work hard immediately
The KKR bowling lineup could not find solutions.Nortje was costly, letting 60 runs through in his four overs and Chakravarthy gave up 54 in just three. Klaasen made sure Sunil Narine had a bad day, hitting two consecutive sixes in the last over Narine bowled. Although Narine’s 13th over removed Head and let KKR get just one run, it didn’t stop SRH from keeping up the pressure. Because the tracks were so different and couldn’t be prepared for dew, KKR’s problems were made worse.
The Chase Company struggles at the start of KKR’s business :
KKR was after a seemingly impossible total of 279 which meant they needed a good start, but SRH’s bowlers made that impossible. Sunil Narine gave his team some hope when he smashed three sixes and a four off Pat Cummins’ first overs, but his attack was quickly ended. A seamy slower ball from SRH’s Jaydev Unadkat knocked Narine’s stumps, ending his innings on 31. This wicket mattered, as KKR were the third team in IPL history not to have a fifty-run opening stand at the end of a season, after Royal Challengers Bangalore (2008) and Deccan Chargers (2010).
KKR’s first wickets fell quickly. Ajinkya Rahane began well, hitting 15 runs off 8 deliveries before being dismissed by Unadkat, whose figures were 3 for 24. Quinton de Kock managed only 9 runs before Eshan Malinga got him out with a full toss. The left-arm spinner for SRH, Harsh Dubey, took out Rinku Singh and Andre Russell in back-to-back balls in the eighth over, leaving KKR struggling at 106 for 6 in the 14th over. His effective use of spin and angles helped Dubey finish with 3 for 34. Malinga backed up Unadkat and Dubey with 3 for 31, getting Harshit Rana out for 34 by bowling him and having him caught.
While Manish Pandey (37 off 23 balls) and Harshit Rana (34 off 21 balls) punched a few big shots, it was not enough to save the team. KKR could only make 168 which gave SRH a 110-run win, the highest ever for KKR in the IPL and a record-breaking victory for SRH. With Unadkat, Dubey and Malinga bowling at different angles and speed, KKR’s chances of coming back were slim, given how much they needed to score in the last few overs
Outstanding Work and Useful Tactics :
Heinrich Klaasen was the hero of the match, attracting praise for hitting cleanly and taking on the KKR bowlers easily. This year proved him to be an IPL standout, impressive for his direct hits and effortless boundary clearance. It was Travis Head who started strong by hitting a 76 and Abhishek Sharma ended up pushing the scoring early in the innings. Ishan Kishan made sure the runs kept coming during the middle overs with his 40.
It was the way Unadkat bowled his slower bouncers that made it difficult for KKR to get their target. Harsh Dubey’s quick wicket of two Indian batters in the eighth over, helped by what he had learned playing in domestic cricket and advice from Ravichandran Ashwin, turned the match. The last wicket, along with his speed and perfect bowling, helped Eshan Malinga round off the performance of the bowling team. Strikingly, using a mix of slow and spin bowls also made it tough for KKR to time their balls because of the dew that evening.
KKR batting was found wanting by this match. Dismissing Narine, Rahane and de Kock out early meant CT had much to achieve and while Pandey and Rana pitched in with some runs, SRH’s tight bowling held them back. Missing a strong early partnership in all but a few games was very concerning for them, as examined by comparisons with famous teams from the past.
Key thoughts shared by the Captains :
Pat Cummins said the team was happy with how they performed lately, noting that their batting lineup impressed him. He admitted the team has problems scoring only 170 and was happy to see they played so well with a struggling squad in this tough match. The way he charted the bowlers, mainly when it was wet, was a key reason SRH got over the finish line.
Conclusion :
With Klaasen hitting a century, Head showing his aggression and a disciplined bowling effort from the team, SRH’s win over KKR on May 25 ended their campaign on a high note. The match, supported by a passionate crowd at Arun Jaitley Stadium, will be known as one of the biggest wins in IPL history for SRH after they scored a mammoth 278. While SRH celebrated their best outcome of the season, KKR had to think about a challenge that provided more hopes than achievements.
Brief Scores :
SRH Innings : 278/3 (20 Overs) Heinrich Klaasen 105* off 39 Balls (7 Fours And 9 sixes), Travis Head 76 off 40 Balls (6 Fours And 6 Sixes).
KKR Bowling : Sunil Narine 2/42 (4 Overs), Vaibhav Arora 1/39 (4 Overs).
KKR Innings : Mainish Pandey 37 off 23 Balls (2 Fours And 3 Sixes), Sunil Narine 31 off 16 Balls (3 Fours And 3 Sixes)
SRH Bowling : Jaydev Unadkat 3/24 (4 Overs), Harsh Dubey 3/34 (4 Overs)
Player of the Match : Heinrich Klaasen
Result : Sunrisers Hyderabad Won by 110 Runs.