Kolkata, May 4, 2025 — The Eden Gardens roared to life on Sunday afternoon, but Rajasthan Royals’ teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi couldn’t spark the fireworks fans hoped for. The 14-year-old, who’s been the talk of the IPL after smashing a century earlier this season, fell for a duck in a crushing blow to RR’s chase against Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane turned back the clock, snagging a jaw-dropping catch to send RR’s Shimron Hetmyer packing and keep his side in the driver’s seat.
KKR, batting first after Rahane won the toss, piled on 206 for 4 in their 20 overs. Andre Russell was the wrecking ball, hammering a 22-ball 57 that left RR’s bowlers scrambling. His late onslaught, paired with Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s steady 38 not out, set a daunting target on a pitch that played true but demanded discipline. Rahmanullah Gurbaz chipped in with a brisk 33 off 22, while Rahane himself added 30 off 24 before Riyan Parag’s part-time spin got him caught behind.
RR’s reply started shakily. Yashasvi Jaiswal, usually a dynamo, scratched out 12 before Varun Chakaravarthy had him chopping on. Suryavanshi, promoted to number three, faced just three balls. Harshit Rana’s extra bounce did him in, forcing a limp prod that looped to Rahane at mid-off. The KKR skipper, sprinting back, dove full-length to pluck the ball inches from the turf—a catch that had the crowd on its feet and RR’s dugout sinking deeper into their seats.
Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag tried to steady the ship, but KKR’s bowlers kept the screws tight. Parag, RR’s stand-in captain, fell for 28, caught off Moeen Ali, while Samson’s 41 ended when Russell’s pace proved too much. Hetmyer’s brief resistance was snuffed out by Rahane’s acrobatics, leaving RR wobbling at 92 for 5 after 12 overs. Dhruv Jurel battled on, but with 80 runs needed off the last five overs, the writing was on the wall.
KKR’s attack, led by Chakaravarthy’s 2 for 19 and Rana’s fiery spells, never let RR breathe. Russell’s dual impact—bat and ball— underlined why KKR remain a force, even as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. For RR, already out of the top-four race, Suryavanshi’s second straight failure stung. The kid who stunned the IPL with a 38-ball ton against Punjab Kings on April 16 now faces questions about handling pressure.
As the match wound down, KKR’s fans chanted Russell’s name, while RR’s hopes faded under the Kolkata floodlights. The final scoreline wasn’t in yet, but KKR’s grip on the game was ironclad. RR needed a miracle, and Suryavanshi, for all his promise, couldn’t deliver one today.
KKR posted 206 for 4 in 20 overs, with Andre Russell scoring 57 off 22 balls, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 38 not out, and Ajinkya Rahane 30. RR, chasing, were 92 for 5 after 12 overs, with Dhruv Jurel not out on 22. Varun Chakaravarthy took 2 wickets, while Harshit Rana and Moeen Ali claimed one each. Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for 0 off 3 balls. The match was played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on May 4, 2025.