New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) An impactful innings from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and a late blitz from Andre Russell powered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a formidable 204 for 9 in 20 overs against Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 clash at Arun Jaitely Stadium here on Tuesday, but the innings ended in high drama as Mitchell Starc nearly claimed a hat-trick in a pulsating final over.
Having been put in to bat after Delhi won the toss, KKR’s innings exploded early as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26 off 12) and Sunil Narine (27 off 16) punished the new ball bowlers. Gurbaz, in particular, peppered the boundary with five fours and a six, racing to 50 in just 3.4 overs, the fastest team 50 of the season.
However, Starc (4-0-43-3) drew first blood with a pinpoint yorker that induced an edge off Gurbaz, caught sharply by keeper Abishek Porel. Narine and Ajinkya Rahane (26 off 14) followed quickly, both falling to the spin and guile of Vipraj Nigam (4-0-41-2) and Axar Patel (4-0-27-2) as KKR slipped from 85/1 to 91/3.
The momentum was revived by Raghuvanshi’s mature 44 off 32 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes), who stitched a crucial stand with Rinku Singh (36 off 25). The duo kept the scoreboard ticking, but their dismissals in successive overs, Rinku falling to a stunning catch by Starc at long-on—turned the tide again.
With KKR at 174/5 in the 17th over, Russell (17 off 9) ignited hopes of a massive finish. He smoked Starc for a 106m six and then carved two boundaries off Dhusmantha Chameera in the 18th over. Rovman Powell added a lap-swept four, but what followed was pure chaos.
Starc, on a hat-trick in the final over, first trapped Powell lbw with a searing yorker (19.3), then saw Chameera take a breathtaking airborne catch at the boundary to dismiss Anukul Roy next ball (19.4)—a contender for catch of the tournament.
With Starc on a hat-trick again, the drama peaked on the fifth ball (19.5) when Russell was run out by a direct hit from keeper Abhishek Porel while attempting a bye. But Starc, convinced he heard an edge, prompted Faf du Plessis to review for a caught behind.
The third umpire confirmed no bat involved, but Russell was well short, completing an extraordinary sequence of events that saw three wickets fall for no run in three deliveries.
Vipraj Nigam was the pick among the spinners with his double blow, while Chameera (3-0-46-1) had a mixed outing with the ball but made up for it with his heroics in the field.
Despite the loss of wickets, KKR’s 204/9 put Delhi under pressure in the steep chase. With the pitch still offering pace and bounce, the second innings promises another thriller under the lights.
