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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a narrow win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) by just one run in the 53rd match of the Indian Premier League 2025, held at Eden Gardens. Despite a valiant effort from Riyan Parag of RR, who scored a remarkable 95 runs, KKR managed to hold their nerve and register a crucial victory that keeps them in contention for the playoffs.

KKR set a formidable target by posting 206/4, with Andre Russell playing a blistering innings of 57 off just 25 balls. His performance was a standout as he demolished RR’s bowling attack, helping KKR reach a challenging total. Moeen Ali and Rinku Singh also chipped in with significant contributions, ensuring the batting momentum remained high. Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of KKR for this match, added a vital 30 runs to the total.

The chase for RR was built on the extraordinary knock by Riyan Parag, who showcased his prowess by hitting five sixes in a single over bowled by Moeen Ali. However, his dismissal by Harshit Rana proved to be the turning point of the match, leading to the narrow victory for KKR. While Shimron Hetmyer scored 29 and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 34, they fell just short of crossing the finish line.

A late surge by Shubham Dubey gave RR a glimpse of hope, but it was insufficient to clinch the win. The match concluded dramatically, requiring RR to score three runs off the last ball, but they could not achieve it. Harshit Rana, who played a significant role as KKR’s impact substitute along with Vaibhav Arora, delivered critical overs that stifled the run chase.

KKR’s spinner duo, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, were instrumental in applying pressure during the middle overs and ensuring the asking rate escalated. The match keeps KKR as strong contenders for a spot in the playoffs, a goal they aim to solidify with upcoming matches against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Post-match, Andre Russell expressed his continued enthusiasm for the game, quipping, “Age is just a number, I still feel 27.” This victory underscores KKR’s resilience and tactical acumen in a tightly contested IPL season.

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