In a format where power-hitting often gets all the attention, Quinton de Kock showed that patience and smart cricket can be just as deadly.
The South African opener, known for his big-hitting, chose responsibility over recklessness as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) romped to an 8-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025.
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It wasn’t about sixes today—it was about playing for the team, and de Kock did that to perfection.
Before de Kock took charge, it was KKR’s bowlers who laid the platform. The pitch wasn’t an easy one to bat on and KKR’s bowling attack adapted beautifully.
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Varun Chakaravarthy, Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Arora used the slowness of the track to their advantage, each picking up two wickets to strangle RR’s batting lineup. Dhruv Jurel was the only RR batter who fought, scoring 33 off 28 balls.
But with wickets falling at regular intervals, RR could only manage 151/9 in 20 overs—a total that never looked threatening.
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Chasing 152, KKR had the firepower to wrap it up quickly but de Kock had other plans. Instead of going for the big shots, he paced his innings beautifully, taking no risks.
His unbeaten 97 off 61 balls was a masterclass in controlled aggression—finding gaps, rotating strike and punishing the bad balls without ever looking desperate.
Even after Moeen Ali got out, de Kock along with Ajinkya Rahane and later Raghuvanshi made sure the chase was smooth and stress-free.
What stood out in this game was KKR’s discipline. Their bowlers executed their plans to perfection and their batsmen, led by de Kock, showed the kind of composure that wins championships.
The decision to chase paid off big time and even though de Kock can tear apart any bowling attack, he chose to be the anchor today—because that’s what his team needed.
With this win KKR once again proved why they are the defending champions. They didn’t just beat RR; they outsmarted them.
Their approach was clinical, their execution flawless. For RR, this loss highlights the need for a stronger middle order and a better strategy on slow pitches.
They are not here to just play; they are here to win. And with de Kock playing for the team not himself, they are looking more menacing.
