Rinku Singh came in to bat at No. 8, even though KKR needed nearly 12 runs an over in the final 10 overs. The Kolkata Knight Riders narrowly missed out in a high-scoring thriller against the Lucknow Super Giants, losing by just four runs in their IPL 2025 clash.
LSG put up a formidable 238/3 at Eden Gardens, powered by explosive fifties from Nicholas Pooran (87* off thirty-eight balls) and Mitchell Marsh (81). In response, KKR put up a spirited chase, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane leading the charge with a fiery 61 off 35 deliveries. Rinku Singh added a late flourish with an unbeaten 38, but it wasn’t quite enough as LSG held on for a tight win.
Rinku walked out to bat at No. 8, even though KKR required almost 12 runs per over in the final 10 overs of the chase. Former India batter Mohammed Kaif criticized the team management for the decision.
“KKR needs to avoid overthinking the right-left combination. When you’re chasing 239, you can’t afford to send Russell at No. 7 and Rinku at No. 8. That’s far too late for your power hitters,” Kaif posted on X.
KKR needs to avoid taking right-left theory too seriously. When chasing 239, you can't play Rusell at No.7 and Rinku at No. 8. Way too late for your big hitters. #KKRvsLSG
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 8, 2025
Sorry Rinku Singh, You Deserve Better 💔#KKRvsLSG pic.twitter.com/g5trMrYlVL
— Ritikyadav (@Ritikyd7) April 8, 2025
Having Russell, Rinku in the pavilion and sending a 20 year old Angkrish Raghuvanshi ahead of them when required runrate is 13.
— कट्टर KKR समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) April 8, 2025
CAN'T DIGEST THIS LOSS MANN pic.twitter.com/Bvjud2nJva
LSG Bowlers Spark Collapse to Secure Third Win
LSG fast bowlers Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur took two wickets each, striking at crucial moments to spark a middle-order collapse during which KKR lost four wickets in just 16 balls. Thakur removed Ajinkya Rahane and Andre Russell for just seven runs, while Deep ended Venkatesh Iyer’s promising innings at 45.
Sunil Narine provided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with a blazing start in their run chase, smashing a quickfire 30 off just 13 deliveries. His aggressive intent put the pressure back on the LSG bowlers early in the innings, giving KKR the upper hand in the initial overs. Narine’s explosive knock included a flurry of boundaries and a six, instantly energizing the chase and raising hopes for a successful pursuit.
Following his dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer picked up where Narine left off, keeping the scoreboard ticking and rotating the strike effectively. Iyer, in particular, looked in fine touch as he crafted a fluent 45, playing with control and confidence. Rahane complemented him well, anchoring the innings with calm and poise, helping KKR maintain a healthy run rate.
However, just when Kolkata looked set to take full control of the game, a sudden shift in momentum unraveled their progress. LSG pacers Akash Deep and Shardul Thakur turned the tide with timely breakthroughs. Thakur removed Rahane and the dangerous Andre Russell in quick succession, while Deep’s dismissal of Iyer dealt a severe blow to KKR’s chase. Within a span of just 16 balls, KKR lost four wickets, collapsing under pressure and struggling to rebuild.
The middle-order collapse left Kolkata with too much to do in the final overs, and they failed to recover from the damage. What began as a promising chase quickly turned into a missed opportunity, as the team lost its way at a crucial juncture.
The defeat marked KKR’s third loss in five games, a contrast to their championship-winning form from the previous season. LSG, on the other hand, secured their third win, showcasing their growing strength and depth in both bowling and match temperament.
With this win, LSG now have three victories from five matches. Defending champions KKR, meanwhile, have suffered three losses in their five games.