In a dramatic twist at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sunil Narine took over as stand-in captain for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and delivered a stunning all-round performance that has Delhi Capitals (DC) on the verge of a heavy defeat in match 48 of IPL 2025.
The evening began with KKR posting a massive 204/9 in 20 overs, setting a steep target for the hosts. Despite a fighting fifty from Faf du Plessis and a strong stand with Axar Patel, Delhi’s innings collapsed under spin pressure, led by Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Ajinkya Rahane injury shifts captaincy to Narine
The shift in momentum coincided with a crucial off-field moment – KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane walked off injured after hurting his finger during a fielding attempt in the 12th over. Bleeding and visibly in discomfort, Rahane did not return, and Sunil Narine took charge, showcasing both tactical control and game-breaking ability.
Sunil Narine’s clutch bowling destroys DC’s middle-order
Narine turned the game around during DC’s chase with a brilliant spell that saw him dismiss:
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Axar Patel (43 off 23), caught at extra cover by Harshit Rana
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Tristan Stubbs (0), bowled through the gate
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Faf du Plessis (62 off 45), caught at deep mid-wicket by Rinku Singh
These three wickets came in a crucial phase (overs 11-15), completely derailing DC’s momentum and leaving their lower order exposed.
Varun Chakaravarthy seals it with a double blow
If Narine’s spell wasn’t enough, Varun Chakaravarthy brought the final hammer down by picking up Ashutosh Sharma and Mitchell Starc in successive deliveries, suddenly putting himself on a hat-trick and reducing DC to 160/8 in 17.3 overs, needing 45 runs off 15 balls.
DC’s collapse – Summary:
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From 125/3 to 160/8 in 6 overs
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Lost 5 wickets in the last 5 overs
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Narine: 3 wickets, led the team brilliantly
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Chakaravarthy: 2 wickets in an over
Match scenario (as of 17.3 overs):
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DC 160/8, chasing 205
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Required rate: 18 runs/over
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Chameera and Vipraj Nigam at the crease
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KKR firmly in control, poised for a crucial victory
With captain Rahane injured and off the field, Narine’s leadership, both as a bowler and tactician, has been the turning point in this must-win game for KKR.
