It was just another day at the office for Quinton de Kock from KKR, but he sure made it an unforgettable one! He scored a fantastic 97 not out, leading his team to an 8-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals. This was their first victory in the 2025 IPL season, so you can bet it felt good.
KKR decided to bowl first, and their bowlers were on point. Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali were particularly impressive, making it tough for the Royals’ batsmen. Chakravarthy took two wickets for just 17 runs, while Ali grabbed two for 23. Because of their efforts, the Royals finished with a disappointing total of 151 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
When it was KKR’s turn to bat, de Kock really showed what he could do. He was in great form, finishing with 97 runs off 61 balls, hitting eight boundaries and six sixes along the way. Even though the pitch was a bit tricky, he managed to keep his cool and hit the ball beautifully, making sure his team was right on track for the chase. “I was happy to get a chance to play. I wanted to make sure it counted, he said after the match. This is just my second game here, so I’m just trying to find my rhythm.”
His innings was like kryptonite for the Royals, who struggled to get him out. With this performance, de Kock even set a new record for KKR for the highest individual score during a run chase. When asked about his experience with KKR so far, he mentioned how welcoming the team has been to him. “I really enjoy meeting new faces and getting used to new places. It’s all about finding your spot in the team. Sometimes, it takes a while for a team to take you in, but here at KKR, everyone has welcomed me with open arms. That makes it feel so nice, he added.
The Royals started strong, putting KKR under a bit of pressure during the powerplay and only allowing them to score 40 runs early on. While they managed to take out Ali and Rahane without too much fuss, they couldn’t quite get the better of de Kock. He seemed to have the upper hand against every bowler they sent his way.
In the end, de Kock finished the match on a high note, hitting Jofra Archer for a couple of boundaries, finishing just three runs short of that well-deserved century. But in a way, that didn’t matter as much. What mattered was that KKR finally managed to snag their first win of the IPL 2025 season, and de Kock played a big part in it!
