KKR vs RR Highlights, IPL 2025: Riyan Parag's 95 in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals to keep playoff hopes alive

STRATEGIC BREAK! Just when that second wicket stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ajinkya Rahane was shaping up nicely, crossing 50 runs, RR got another breakthrough which has slightly halted KKR's momentum. The last two overs have gone for just 11 runs, but the Knight Riders would aim to keep the scorecard ticking along and not get too much bogged down by it. It is a crucial middle over phase and another quick couple of wickets will bring the tourists on top. Wanindu Hasaranga to continue after the break.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Six singles in the over! Half-tracker, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane pulls it on the bounce to deep square leg for a run.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flighted, full and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down across and paddles it to short fine for one more. That is a brave shot, as if he missed that, it would have been plumb.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Drags his length back, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane cuts it through point for one.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flatter, full and on leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.

Riyan Parag to Ajinkya Rahane, Short again and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stays back and flicks it to deep square leg for a run.

Riyan Parag to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated, short and on leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi clips it through square leg for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Quicker, full and around off, Ajinkya Rahane guides it to short third.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Flatter, short and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stabs it back to the bowler.

Maheesh Theekshana to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Buzzers! Flighted, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steers it through point and comes back for the second run. The throw from the deep is not a good one, and the keeper, Dhruv Jurel tries to do something adventurous, looking to flick the ball back on the stumps, but fails to do so and the ball rolls past the stumps, allowing the batters the third run.

One of KKR's most consistent batters this season, Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in at number 4.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Maheesh Theekshana strikes! He gets Rahmanullah Gurbaz for the 5th time in T20s. Floated, full and on off. Gurbaz goes down for the slog sweep but has to drag it a bit and ends up hitting it much flatter. The ball flies straight towards deep mid-wicket, where Shimron Hetmyer takes a good catch. Gurbaz departs after a quick-fire 35 off 25, and KKR are two down now!

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Short again, on leg, Ajinkya Rahane clips it through square leg for a run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz heaves it to deep square leg for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, A massive shout for LBW, but turned down! A googly, full and on middle and leg, turns in. Ajinkya Rahane gets stuck on his crease as he looks to work it away. The ball goes past the bat and hits him on the pads. Riyan Parag has a chat with his players but does not take the review. Turns out to be a good decision as UltraEdge shows there was some bat involved.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Goes short again, on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Fine shot! Tossed up, full and around middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz sits down on one knee and nails the sweep shot to the deep square leg fence for another boundary. That also brings up the 50-run partnership between these two batters. Surprisingly, that is the first one for any wicket for KKR this season.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Ajinkya Rahane, Flighted, full and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane eases it to long on for a run.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Short and on middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Gets it away! Floated, full and on leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes down and just gets enough bat on that to paddle it away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Wanindu Hasaranga is introduced into the attack now. Also, since Kunal Singh Rathore is off the field, Ashok Sharma is in as the substitute fielder for RR.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Excellent shot! A low full toss, on the pads, Ajinkya Rahane brings his wrists into play and flicks it with sublime timing. There is a deep square leg in place but he has no chance of stopping that as the ball races to the fence for a boundary.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Classy and effortless! Fuller in length and angling into the leg side. Ajinkya Rahane backs away a bit, presents the full face of the bat and dispatches it over the bowler's head for a biggie. 50 up for KKR!

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hard length and around leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz steps across to pull it away but gloves it onto his thigh pads as the ball rolls towards short fine. They cross.

Oh, the debutant, Kunal Singh Rathore, looks in some pain and the physio is out to tend to him. The ball stung on his finger at mid on, but wait, he is holding his right wrist. Probably split the webbing and is walking off the field. 

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Just short! Akash Madhwal sees the batter back away and serves this full, angling into leg. Rahmanullah Gurbaz swipes it off the inner half of the bat towards mid on. Kunal Singh Rathore dives, but the ball hits his fingers on the bounce. Saves runs for his team but looks in a bit of pain.

Akash Madhwal to Ajinkya Rahane, Bowls a good yorker, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane digs it out towards mid on for a run.

Akash Madhwal to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Back of a length and on leg, Rahmanullah Gurbaz heaves it away but straight to short fine. A bit to on either side and it would have been a boundary. A single taken in the end.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, Darted on a fuller length, outside off, Ajinkya Rahane shovels it out to the short third region. A sharp 'No' call from Gurbaz and Rahane stays in the crease. 11 from Theekshana's opening over, 26 off the last two for KKR.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Around off, pushed in front of mid off for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, TOP EDGE, GOES ALL THE WAY! SIX! Pitched quite fuller, just behind those dark patches on the fuller length, around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz sits down to sweep, but gets a thick top edge. The ball flies and sails behind deep fine leg for a six.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Drifting outside the leg stump, on a length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz nudges it across to the deep mid-wicket region for a quick couple of runs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Ajinkya Rahane, On middle and a bit overpitched, Ajinkya Rahane clips it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Over the stumps, flat and full, but wide of off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz covers the off stump and swats it off the toe end of the bat to long on for a single.

Change? Yes, time for some spin as Maheesh Theekshana comes into the attack now.

Yudhvir Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Wonderful pick-up shot from Jinx! Into the wheelhouse, a bit too full and just on off, Ajinkya Rahane picks up and whips it over deep mid-wicket for a cracking six. 15 off the over, and 19 from the last two for KKR.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Too short and wide of off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz stands tall and punches it to the right of cover for a single.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Excellent shot! Hard length from Yudhvir, nibbling away from outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shuffles outside off, and drags the pull shot over mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Pitched fuller and on off, slapped to down the ground, but cannot pierce mid off.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, TOP EDGE, FOUR! Back of a length, just outside off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shuffles across off, looks to pull, but gets a little too close to the ball and gets a top edge. The ball flies over the keeper for a boundary.

Yudhvir Singh to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On the top of off, at 139.5 kph, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls it straight to mid-wicket.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Takes the pace off, full and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz lets the ball arrive and taps it with soft hands to the point region for a single. Another excellent over from Archer. Just 4 off it. His figures read 2-0-5-0 so far.

Jofra Archer to Ajinkya Rahane, Strayed onto the pads, Ajinkya Rahane misses to tuck it across and the ball rolls off the front pad to the leg side. They get a leg bye.

Jofra Archer to Ajinkya Rahane, Extra bounce on that one. And a polite enquiry from Archer for caught behind, but the umpire is unmoved. At 144.7 kph, he bowls it into the pitch, with an extra lift off the deck, Ajinkya Rahane tries to play the ramp but misses.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Speared onto the leg stump line, full in length, whipped away to deep fine leg for a single.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, WIDE! An effort ball, too short and going down the leg stump. Wide called.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Slower one, on the stumps, defended back to the bowler.

Jofra Archer to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angling into the batter, Gurbaz misses the flick and is struck on the pad off the inside edge.

Ajinkya Rahane walks out to bat at number 3.

Yudhvir Singh to Sunil Narine, OUT! BOWLED'EM! KNOCKED HIM OVER! An early wicket for RR as the dangerous Sunil Narine departs cheaply! A length-delivery from Yudhvir, this is the off-cutter that grips on the surface, nipping slightly away. Sunil Narine opens his stance and shapes to pull, but plays all over the wrong line and very early too. Also, due to the lack of bounce, the ball beats the inside edge and clips into the top of middle. Sunil Narine departs on 11 (9). KKR are 13/1.