Iyer Shines Again as KKR Sets 200 Against SRH

NEW DELHI, India — Venkatesh Iyer delivered another explosive performance, scoring 60 runs off just 29 balls, leading the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a total of 200/6 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday at Eden Gardens during IPL 2025.

This marks Iyer’s third consecutive fifty against SRH, reinforcing his status as a formidable opponent for the franchise. He joins an elite group of players who have achieved such a streak in the Indian Premier League, alongside Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson and Faf du Plessis.

Iyer’s recent performances against SRH have been stellar, with previous scores of 51 runs in the 2024 Qualifier 1 and 52 runs in the championship match last season. His latest innings was characterized by aggressive stroke play, showcasing his ability to adapt to match conditions.

“It was evident that the ball was holding up a bit, not the Eden I have played over the last two years. I think this is a very competitive score. If we bowl and field well, we should win this,” said Iyer in a mid-innings interview.

He credited his teammates for their contributions, saying, “I was watching the match from the screen; it wasn’t easy to play shots. The ball was holding a bit, but Ajinkya (Rahane) and Angkrish (Raghuvanshi) were really good to set up the innings for us.”

Kolkata’s successful innings were also supported by Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 38 runs, followed by Angkrish Raghuvanshi with 50 runs, and Rinku Singh contributing 32 runs. Iyer stressed the importance of domestic cricket in player development, stating, “It helps a lot that the BCCI has made it mandatory for everyone to play domestic cricket. It gives us a good chance of playing against quality bowlers.”

With 200 runs on the board, KKR is set up for a competitive bowling effort against SRH, as Iyer aims to continue his impressive run of form in the tournament.