Final result
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 1 runs
Player of the match: AD Russell
Result · Indian Premier League
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
Result · Indian Premier League
H2H · KKR 16–12 RRVenue par · 186Chase success · 53%POTM · AD Russell
Match preview & overview
KKR hold their nerve as Rajasthan Royals fall 1 run short at Eden Gardens
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 1 run at Eden Gardens on 4 May 2025. KKR won the toss, batted first, and posted 206/4 from their 20 overs. Rajasthan mounted a serious chase, scoring 205/8, but could not get the single they needed off the final ball. Andre Russell was named Player of the Match for his contributions in both the batting and bowling phases. It was KKR's 16th win in 30 IPL meetings against Rajasthan, and it snapped a two-match losing streak for the hosts at Eden Gardens against this opposition.
The margin could scarcely have been smaller. Rajasthan needed 207 to win and came within one delivery of pulling it off. Their middle overs were outstanding: 96 runs scored between overs 7 and 16 at the cost of just 3 wickets kept the equation manageable. However, KKR's bowlers restricted them to 50 runs across the death phase while taking 3 wickets, and that proved enough.
KKR's recent form has been mixed. They arrive at this point in the 2025 season having beaten Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, but they have also lost to both Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings. Rajasthan come in under more pressure, with four defeats in their last five matches before this fixture.
Pitch report & venue insights
Eden Gardens, Kolkata — 171-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2004–2026. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
171
T20 matches hosted
186
Avg 1st-innings score
170
Avg 2nd-innings score
53%
Chase success rate
44
Avg powerplay runs
60%
Toss-field rate
Head-to-head record
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the series 16–12 from 30 completed matches
Seasons 2007–2025
Series standing
Kolkata Knight Riders
Rajasthan Royals30
Total meetings
0
No results
10
In last 10
Recent encounters
Last 102025KKR won by 1 run
2025KKR won by 8 wickets
2024RR won by 2 wickets
2023RR won by 9 wickets
2022KKR won by 7 wickets
2022RR won by 7 runs
2021KKR won by 86 runs
2021RR won by 6 wickets
2020KKR won by 60 runs
2020KKR won by 37 runs
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
The closest possible finish in T20 cricket
Rajasthan Royals needed 207 to win and made 205/8, losing by a single run. It is hard to imagine a tighter margin. The death overs proved decisive: KKR's bowlers conceded only 50 runs in the final four overs of the chase while picking up 3 wickets.
Angle 02
KKR's death hitting was the difference
Angle 03
Royals' middle overs mounted a serious challenge
Angle 04
AD Russell named Player of the Match
Angle 05
KKR's head-to-head lead holds at Eden Gardens
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Player of the Match markets may warrant attention in KKR fixtures given how frequently their death-overs contributors shape tight results.
- Total runs markets at Eden Gardens are worth contextualising against the ground's average first-innings score of 186; both teams significantly exceeded that figure here.
- The 53 per cent chase success rate at this venue suggests toss-related lines can be a relevant editorial consideration, though conditions on a given evening matter more than averages alone.
- Top batter markets may reflect middle-overs scoring potential more accurately than outright result lines in matches where the chasing side posts 96 runs between overs 7 and 16.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
What was the result of KKR vs Rajasthan Royals on 4 May 2025?
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 1 run at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. KKR posted 206/4 from their 20 overs and Rajasthan fell agonisingly short, finishing on 205/8. It is one of the smallest winning margins possible in T20 cricket.
Who won the Player of the Match award in KKR vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025?
Andre Russell (AD Russell) was named Player of the Match. His contributions with bat and ball in the death overs were central to KKR's ability to defend a target of 207 by the narrowest of margins.
What is the head-to-head record between KKR and Rajasthan Royals?
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the all-time IPL head-to-head 16 wins to 12 across 30 meetings. Rajasthan had won the two most recent encounters at Eden Gardens, in 2023 and 2024, before this result on 4 May 2025.
Where to watch KKR vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 in the UK?
IPL 2025 matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, available via Sky TV, Sky Go, and NOW TV. Coverage typically begins shortly before the scheduled start time, with evening matches in India falling in the mid-afternoon for UK viewers.
What did KKR score in their innings against Rajasthan Royals?
Kolkata Knight Riders scored 206/4 from their 20 overs. They were particularly destructive in the death phase, hitting 85 runs in the final four overs for just 1 wicket, well above Eden Gardens' average of 38 death-overs runs across T20s at the ground.
What is Eden Gardens' average score in T20 cricket?
Across 171 T20 matches at Eden Gardens, the average first-innings score is 186 and the average second-innings score is 170. The ground has a chase success rate of approximately 53 per cent, making it a broadly balanced venue between bat and ball.
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Photo credits (4)
- Andre Russell — photo by The Madras, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mohammed Shami — photo by NAPARAZZI, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Ishant Sharma — photo by Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Harbhajan Singh — photo by Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0 · source