Match overview
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 110 runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on 25 May 2025. SRH won the toss, elected to bat, and produced one of the most imposing totals seen at this ground: 278/3 in 20 overs. Kolkata's reply never looked credible. They lost 2 wickets inside the powerplay, then another 5 in the middle overs, and were eventually bowled out for 168 with the match long since decided. H Klaasen took the Player of the Match award for his role in the Sunrisers innings.
The scale of the victory is worth putting in context. Arun Jaitley Stadium's average first-innings score across 165 T20 matches is 185. SRH outscored that by 93 runs. Their powerplay alone brought 79 runs without loss, against a ground average of 44 powerplay runs. From the moment the opening phase closed, KKR were chasing a target that the ground's history suggested was all but unreachable.
This result also snaps a run of KKR dominance in the head-to-head. Kolkata had won three of the four meetings between these sides in 2024, and led the all-time series 19-11 from 31 meetings. SRH's win here, combined with a 65-run victory over KKR at Eden Gardens earlier in 2026, suggests the balance may be shifting.
Venue and conditions
Arun Jaitley Stadium has hosted 165 T20 matches, making it one of the better-documented grounds in Indian domestic cricket. The average first-innings score of 185 and average second-innings score of 165 indicate a ground where batting first carries a modest advantage, and the 56% chase success rate confirms that chasers do win a majority of the time. But only when the target is within reach.
Teams winning the toss at this ground field 59% of the time, reflecting the belief that chasing suits the surface. SRH went against the grain by batting first, and their powerplay of 79 runs without loss immediately validated the decision. The middle phase was equally productive: 125 runs at the cost of just 2 wickets in overs 7 through 15. The death overs added 74 more. No phase of SRH's innings was below the ground's historical average for that phase.
For KKR, the middle overs were fatal. The ground's conditions did not suddenly deteriorate between innings, but losing 5 wickets for 71 runs in overs 7 to 15 meant they were never able to build the partnerships that a chase of 279 required. Their death contribution of 38 runs was respectable in isolation, but by that point the game was over.
How to watch
IPL 2025 coverage in the UK is available on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches can be streamed via Sky Go for existing Sky subscribers, or through a NOW TV day or monthly pass for those without a full Sky package. Given the time difference between the UK and India, IPL matches typically begin in the early-to-mid afternoon UK time (usually around 14:30 BST for day games or 19:30 IST evening games, which land at around 15:00 BST). Check Sky Sports' schedule listings for exact UK times for upcoming fixtures.
Recent form
Sunrisers Hyderabad arrived at this match in reasonable condition. Their last five results showed three wins, one defeat, and one no-result: victories over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings, with a loss to Gujarat Titans sitting between the no-result against Delhi Capitals and the win in Chennai. Three wins from four completed matches is a solid run heading into a fixture of this weight.
Kolkata Knight Riders had a patchier recent record. They lost to Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, won against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, and had a no-result against Punjab Kings. Two wins and two defeats from completed matches is a less settled platform, and the collapse against SRH's attack in Delhi continued a pattern of inconsistency in their batting. Their next fixture will be a chance to respond, but the 110-run defeat is one KKR's middle order will need to address.
