Toss and Team News

KKR's Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl first. Both teams remained unchanged. GT backed their strong top order, while KKR leaned on their spin-heavy bowling lineup led by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. The pitch was slow yet high-scoring, with a par score of 180.

GT’s Innings: Gill and Sudharsan Set the Tone

Gill and Sudharsan stitched together a 114-run opening stand. Gill scored a brilliant 90 off 55 balls, while Sudharsan notched 52 off 36, reclaiming the Orange Cap. Jos Buttler chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 23, helping GT reach 198/3.

Top Performers: Gill (90), Sudharsan (52), Buttler (41*), Narine (0/29)

KKR’s Bowling Struggles

While Narine bowled economically, the rest of the attack leaked runs. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana went over 10 an over. Andre Russell bowled only one over and didn’t impact the game.

KKR’s Chase Falters

KKR’s chase began poorly with Mohammed Siraj removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz early. Ajinkya Rahane anchored with a fighting 50, but wickets fell regularly. Rashid Khan returned to form with 2/25, and Prasidh Krishna also took two key wickets. KKR ended at 159/8.

Notable failures: Russell, Rinku Singh, and Iyer again failed to deliver with the bat.

Post-Match Analysis

GT now sit at the top of the IPL 2025 table with 12 points. Their top three – Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler – average the highest as a unit this season. Meanwhile, KKR’s playoff hopes take a hit, with their fifth loss in eight games. Questions arise around Rahane’s captaincy and the team’s overreliance on spin.

What’s Next?

GT face Lucknow Super Giants on April 26. KKR’s crucial fixture is against Punjab Kings on April 25 as they aim to revive their dwindling campaign.