KKR Fall Short in Thrilling Run Chase Against LSG Despite Rahane’s 61
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) came agonizingly close to chasing down a mammoth 239-run target set by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a high-scoring IPL 2025 thriller at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, ultimately falling short by just four runs. Despite captain Ajinkya Rahane’s impressive 61 and a blistering powerplay performance, KKR couldn’t quite overcome LSG’s formidable total, sparking renewed debate about the Eden Gardens pitch and its suitability for spin bowling.
While Rahane acknowledged the challenging conditions for bowlers, he skillfully navigated questions about the pitch, preferring to focus on his team’s performance. “If I say anything, it’ll create chaos,” he quipped, deflecting speculation about the pitch’s role in the high-scoring encounter. Instead, he praised his team’s positive intent and attitude while chasing the imposing target. “Chasing 239 and coming that close is never easy. Everyone’s intent and attitude was really positive,” he remarked.
The match witnessed explosive batting displays from both sides. LSG’s Nicholas Pooran smashed 77 runs off just [insert number of balls] deliveries, while Mitchell Marsh provided crucial support with a powerful 63. For KKR, Rahane anchored the chase with his composed 61, while Venkatesh Iyer’s quickfire 42 and Sunil Narine’s unbeaten 38 provided crucial impetus. Despite the fireworks, KKR’s spinners struggled to contain the LSG batsmen on a pitch seemingly offering little assistance to slow bowlers. Narine, a seasoned IPL campaigner, endured a rare off day, conceding 38 runs in his three overs without a wicket. This prompted questions about KKR’s decision not to utilize their full quota of spin bowling, a point addressed by Rahane in the post-match press conference.
“There was no help for the spinners, let me clear that,” Rahane explained. “They used the longer boundary really well. Our bowlers tried, but Pooran and Marsh batted exceptionally well, taking their chances effectively.” He acknowledged that the wicket was conducive to batting, with nearly 500 runs scored in total, making it difficult for bowlers to control the flow of runs. Rahane further emphasized that KKR had plans in place for Pooran and Marsh but admitted that the execution wasn’t up to par. “Against quality players like them, there’s very little margin for error. I thought our plans were perfect, but we couldn’t nail that perfect yorker or wide slower ball,” he stated.
Despite the narrow defeat, Rahane highlighted the positives, particularly the team’s aggressive approach in the powerplay, where they amassed 90 runs, their second-best IPL powerplay score ever. He lauded the contributions of Narine and Iyer at the top of the order, emphasizing their intent and impact on the game. “The way we started in the powerplay with Sunny’s intent and Venkatesh’s batting, their contribution was amazing,” he commented.
Looking ahead, KKR, currently placed sixth in the points table with two wins from five games, will aim to rebound quickly in their next match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 11. Despite the disappointment of this loss, Rahane’s emphasis on learning from both successes and failures suggests a team determined to improve and progress in the tournament. The match statistics further underscore the high-scoring nature of the contest: LSG 238/5 (Pooran 77, Marsh 63, Bishnoi 2-42), KKR 234/6 (Rahane 61, Iyer 42, Narine 38*). LSG won by 4 runs.
