DC vs KKR IPL 2025 Match 48 Highlights: Sunil Narine leads KKR to a great victory

Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 Match 48: Man of the Match

Sunil Narine was named the player of the match for his all-round performance. With the bat in hand, he scored 27 runs in only 16 balls, giving KKR a great start in the power play. However, in the second innings, he struck a direct hit to send KL Rahul back to the dressing room. With the ball in hand, he started on a poor note and conceded 25 runs in his first 13 balls. But he staged a great comeback and picked up three crucial wickets while giving away only four runs in the next 11 deliveries. 

Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 Match 48: Top Performers

Sunil Narine - 27 (16) and 3/29

Sunil Narine was once again at his best with the ball in hand. The three-time MVP was asked to lead the side in the second innings, with Ajinkya Rahane leaving the field on the first ball of the 11th. The moment he was given the leadership, Narine turned the game on its head. After conceding 19 runs in his first two overs, the spinner was hit for a six on the first ball of the third over. However, he made a strong comeback after that and picked up three wickets in his next 11 balls while giving away only four runs. He took crucial wickets of Axar Patel, Tristan Stubbs, and finally, the top scorer for DC, Faf du Plessis. Before his bowling made an impact, Narine also struck a direct hit in the field to send KL Rahul packing.

In the first innings, with the bat in hand, the left-handed batter played a typical Narine knock. He scored 27 runs in only 16 balls, hitting a couple of fours and sixes each. 

Axar Patel - 2/27 and 43 (23)

Axar Patel put on a show of all-around performance. In the first innings, with the ball in hand, the left-arm spinner picked up a couple of wickets and also remained really economical. The DC skipper, unlike the last couple of games, did not bowl in the power play. However, no matter which stage, the left-arm spinner continued to create an impact. He dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer in quick succession to put KKR on the back foot. In the first innings, while fielding, he also injured his left hand. 

There were doubts whether Axar would bat today or not, given his injury from the first innings. He put all the questions to bed as he walked out to bat at his usual number five position. The left-handed batter scored 43 runs in only 23 balls, going at a strike rate of 186.96. He smashed four fours and three sixes during his stay at the crease. 

Faf du Plessis - 62 (45)

Faf du Plessis showed why, even at the age of 40 years he is still one of the best batters. Unlike the 14-year-old from yesterday, the veteran batter showcased all of his experience while steering a chase of 205 runs. Even though the Capitals fell short by 14 runs, Faf was at his best. He scored 62 runs in only 45 balls, hitting seven fours and a couple of sixes. The right-handed batter was great against Varun Chakravarthy and kept him quiet for his first three overs. 

Mitchell Starc - 3/43

Mitchell Starc, after a few expensive spells in previous games, got himself among the wickets. The left-arm pacer bowled three overs on the trot in the power play. He was rewarded with the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz while giving away 34 runs. Bowling his fourth over, Starc picked up a couple of wickets in the 20th over. The over went for only nine runs even after a six on the first ball. 

Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 Match 48: 1st Innings Summary

Even though there was no half-centurion for Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions still ended up with a score of 204 runs. Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Ajinkya Rahane gave a great start in the power play. In spite of losing Gurbaz in the third over, it was KKR who dominated the first six overs as they scored 79 runs.

Delhi Capitals made a comeback in the next few overs thanks to some great bowling by Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam. Vipraj triggered the collapse by dismissing Sunil Narine in the seventh over. Axar got into his groove by picking up Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer. 

Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi put together a useful stand for the fifth wicket worth 61 runs. While the two batters batted cautiously, the rate of scoring dipped drastically when they were at the crease. 

In the fag end of the innings, the DC bowlers picked up a few wickets. KKR lost five wickets in the space of 20-odd balls, which meant that they ended up with a score which was 15-20 runs less than what they had hoped with the kind of start they got. Mitchell Starc, bowling the last over, picked up a couple of wickets to finish with a three-wicket haul. 

Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2025 Match 48: 2nd Innings Summary

Anukul Roy, playing his first game of the season, came on to bowl the first over of the innings. The left-arm spinner facing a negative match-up against Abhishek Porel was struck for a four on the first ball before dismissing Porel on the very next delivery. He did not pick another wicket but remained economical and gave away only 27 runs in his four overs. 

The hosts found themselves in some trouble when they lost three wickets in the first seven overs. However, Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel joined hands at the crease and put together a 76-run stand for the fourth wicket. When these two were batting, it looked like the Capitals would chase down the 205-run target quite comfortably. However, Sunil Narine, leading the KKR troops in the absence of Rahane, bowled a great 14th over. The spinner, after conceding 25 runs in his first 13 balls, picked up a couple of wickets. He ended his night with figures of 4-0-29-3. Vipraj Nigam provided some fireworks at the end of the innings, but it was too much to chase for the young all-rounder.