Table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) extended their lead in IPL 2025 table with a convincing 39-run victory over hosts Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday night (April 21).

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Chasing 199, KKR were restricted to 159/8 on a challenging pitch at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. With their sixth win in eight games, GT remained at the No. 1 spot with 12 points while KKR are at the seventh position with six points from eight outings.

KKR’s batting woes

It was yet another low for the defending champions KKR after their horror show of 95 all out while chasing 112 in the last match as their batting looked woefully out of depth and succumbed to their third defeat in four matches at home, and fifth overall from eight games.

KKR’s chase faltered early as Mohammed Siraj removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 1 in the opening over.

Sunil Narine’s brief 17-run cameo ended with his dismissal by Rashid Khan (2/25), who found his mojo back after an indifferent start to the season.

The wily Afghan spinner, who had been under scrutiny for his recent performances, delivered a tight spell beautifully exploiting the conditions to return with 2/25 including the prized scalp of Andre Russell (21; 15b).

His control and variations on the slow Eden pitch signaled a return to form. He showcased his prowess by conceding just five runs in his two-over spell.

In-form seamer Prasidh Krishna (2/25) also showed his magic in the back-end as he dismissed Ramandeep Singh (1) and Moeen Ali (0) in successive balls as it was all but over for KKR at 119 for 7 in 16.3 overs.

KKR’s innings stagnated during the middle overs, with Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer struggling to accelerate against GT’s spinners in a phase where for 36 balls they failed to get a boundary.

Sai Kishore’s economical 1/19 in three overs further tightened the screws, leading to Rahane’s stumping for 50 off the bowling of Washington Sundar (1/36 in three overs) and Iyer’s departure for 14 from 19 balls. Requiring 108 runs from the final 45 balls, KKR’s hopes rested on Russell and Rinku Singh. However, the mounting required run rate proved insurmountable against GT’s disciplined attack.

Gill-Sudharsan century stand

Earlier, captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan struck fluent half-centuries in a century-opening stand to guide GT to 196 for 3.

Gill looked set for his maiden ton of the season but fell for 90 off 55 balls, swat-flicking a full toss from Vaibhav Arora straight to Rinku Singh at deep square leg, missing out by just 10 runs. His knock included 10 fours and three sixes.

Together with Sudharshan, Gill added 114 runs for the opening stand.

Despite the strong platform, GT’s innings slowed down in the final phase.

Jos Buttler, despite a promising start, was tied down and finished unbeaten on 41 off 23 balls (8x4s) without hitting a single six.

The Titans’ batting stuttered further as Rahul Tewatia, sent ahead of Sherfane Rutherford, was dismissed for a two-ball duck.

KKR’s spin trio of Moeen Ali, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sunil Narine were not that effective, conceding just 96 runs for no wicket from their combined 11 overs.

GT’s reluctance to take aerial risks – managing just five lofted shots in total – highlighted the effectiveness of KKR’s bowling in the second half of the innings.

Fielding, however, remained a concern for the home side. Vaibhav Arora dropped a straightforward chance running back from mid-off to dismiss Buttler when he was on 17.

Opting to bowl, KKR endured a wicketless powerplay as GT made a steady start, reaching 45 for no loss.

Harshit Rana’s fifth over, which went for 12 runs, was the only expensive one in that phase.

Buttler’s three 4s in a row

KKR tried four bowlers in the powerplay, including spinners Moeen and Chakravarthy, but couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Gill and Sudharsan batted with maturity, rotating strike efficiently and picking boundaries without taking unnecessary risks.

They maintained a scoring rate close to nine an over and played just one aerial shot in the first 10 overs showing their controlled approach.

The pair brought up their fifties in quick succession. Gill reached his third fifty of the season off 34 balls, while Sudharsan notched his fifth half-century from six matches with a 33-ball effort.

The breakthrough came in the 13th over when Andre Russell dismissed Sudharsan (53) with a rising delivery that induced a top edge behind the stumps.

However, the wicket brought little relief for KKR as Buttler walked in and immediately went after the bowlers.

Fresh from a match-winning 97 not out in GT’s last outing, Buttler hit Russell for three consecutive boundaries, including a stylish cover drive after dancing down the track, displaying his rich form.

(With agency inputs)