Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by 14 runs on April 29, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, successfully defending 204/9 as DC fell short at 190/9 despite Faf du Plessis’s brilliant 62 and Axar Patel’s fighting 43.
This thrilling encounter saw Angkrish Raghuvanshi score 44 for KKR, Rinku Singh contribute 36, and Mitchell Starc take 3 crucial wickets in the final over.
KKR’s spinners Sunil Narine (3/29) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/39) turned the match in their favor during Delhi’s chase.
The Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline reveals a closely contested rivalry with KKR holding a slight edge – 19 wins compared to DC’s 15 victories in 35 matches.
However, the head-to-head record shows different stories at different venues, making this one of IPL’s most unpredictable rivalries.
Quick Stats: DC vs KKR Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Details |
| Total Matches | 35 |
| KKR Wins | 19 |
| DC Wins | 15 |
| No Result | 1 |
| KKR Highest Score | 272/7 (April 2024) |
| DC Highest Score | 228/4 (May 2012) |
| KKR Lowest Score | 97 (September 2021) |
| DC Lowest Score | 98 (April 2008) |
| Last 5 Matches | KKR won 3, DC won 2 |
Latest Match: KKR vs DC (April 29, 2025, Delhi)
Kolkata Knight Riders 204/9 (20 overs) beat Delhi Capitals 190/9 (20 overs) by 14 runs
Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a crucial 14-run victory over Delhi Capitals in Delhi. Despite playing at DC’s home ground where KKR hadn’t won since 2017, the defending champions posted a strong total and defended it brilliantly through spin bowling.
This was a must-win match for KKR, who were struggling in the middle of the points table. The victory moved them closer to the top 4, while DC’s loss dented their hopes of finishing in the top 2.
KKR Innings: Explosive Start to 204/9
Powerplay Fireworks (Overs 1-6): 79/1
Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane opened the batting with intent. Narine started aggressively, smashing boundaries from the first over itself. He raced to 26 off just 22 balls with 4 fours and 1 six before getting caught by Stubbs off Axar Patel’s bowling.
Rahane was equally destructive, scoring 26 off just 14 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. His strike rate of 185.71 showed KKR’s attacking mindset. However, he got out lbw to Axar Patel after a quickfire start.
KKR reached 79/1 in the powerplay – one of the highest scores in this match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL 2025. Their aggressive approach put immediate pressure on DC’s bowlers.
Middle Overs (Overs 7-15): 67 runs, 3 wickets
Angkrish Raghuvanshi played the anchor role beautifully. The young opener scored 44 off 32 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes, showing maturity beyond his years. He built crucial partnerships, including a 50-run stand with Rinku Singh.
Venkatesh Iyer (11 off 10 balls) and Shreyas Iyer (15 off 10 balls) couldn’t capitalize on starts. Both got out after reaching double figures, leaving KKR at 142/4 in the 14th over.
But Rinku Singh came in and provided the acceleration KKR needed. His partnership with Raghuvanshi steadied the innings after the loss of quick wickets.
Death Overs Collapse (Overs 16-20): 58 runs, 5 wickets
Rinku Singh scored 36 off 25 balls with 2 fours and 1 six, playing his natural aggressive game. But DC’s bowlers fought back brilliantly. Mitchell Starc, who had been expensive earlier, produced a stunning final over.
Starc’s 20th over was match-changing – he took 3 wickets for just 10 runs, dismissing Andre Russell (5 off 6 balls), Rovman Powell (caught for 5), and getting Ramandeep Singh out cheaply.
KKR collapsed from 194/6 to 204/9, losing their last 3 wickets in the final over. Despite the late collapse, 204 was a strong total on this pitch.
KKR Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Sunil Narine | 26 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 118.18 | caught |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 185.71 | lbw |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 44 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 137.50 | caught |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 110.00 | caught |
| Shreyas Iyer | 15 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 150.00 | caught |
| Rinku Singh | 36 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 144.00 | bowled |
| Andre Russell | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 | caught |
| Rovman Powell | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.66 | caught |
| Ramandeep Singh | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | caught |
| Harshit Rana | 0* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | not out |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | not out |
| Extras | 34 | — | — | — | — | (5 b, 4 w, 1 nb) |
| Total | 204/9 | 20.0 | 17 | 5 | 10.20 | — |
DC Chase: Faf’s Brilliance Not Enough (190/9)
Powerplay Setback (Overs 1-6): 58/2
Delhi’s chase started disastrously when Abishek Porel got out for just 4 runs off 2 balls in the very first over, caught off Anukul Roy’s bowling. DC were 4/1 immediately.
Faf du Plessis and Karun Nair tried to rebuild. They added 39 runs for the second wicket, but Nair fell lbw to Anukul Roy for 15 off 13 balls. DC reached 58/2 in the powerplay – 21 runs behind KKR’s start.
Middle Overs Battle (Overs 7-15): 88 runs, 4 wickets
Faf du Plessis played magnificently, reaching his fifty off just 31 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. He was timing the ball beautifully and kept DC in the chase.
KL Rahul, DC’s star signing, got run out for just 7 off 5 balls – a crucial blow. DC were 60/3 and needed a partnership.
Axar Patel, DC’s captain, joined Faf and they put together a brilliant 76-run partnership for the 4th wicket in just 28 balls. Axar scored 43 off 23 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes, playing aggressively to keep the required rate under control.
Faf completed his fifty and was batting brilliantly when Sunil Narine struck. Faf got caught for 62 off 45 balls – an innings that included 6 fours and 2 sixes. His dismissal tilted the match toward KKR.
Tristan Stubbs (1 off 3 balls) got bowled immediately after, and DC were 138/5 in 13 overs.
Final Push Falls Short (Overs 16-20): 44 runs, 4 wickets
Vipraj Nigam played a fighting innings, scoring 38 off just 19 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. His aggressive batting kept DC in the hunt, bringing the equation down to manageable levels.
But Varun Chakaravarthy produced a stunning comeback. After conceding 39 runs in his first 3 overs, he took 2 wickets in 2 balls in his final over – dismissing Ashutosh Sharma (7 off 6) and Mitchell Starc (0 off 1).
DC needed 15 runs from the final over with only 2 wickets left. Andre Russell bowled the last over and gave away just 10 runs, sealing KKR’s 14-run victory.
DC finished at 190/9, falling agonizingly short of a target they should have chased down.
DC Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Abishek Porel | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 | caught |
| Faf du Plessis | 62 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 137.77 | caught |
| Karun Nair | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 115.38 | lbw |
| KL Rahul (wk) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 | run out |
| Axar Patel (c) | 43 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 186.95 | caught |
| Tristan Stubbs | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | bowled |
| Vipraj Nigam | 38 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 200.00 | bowled |
| Ashutosh Sharma | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.66 | caught |
| Mitchell Starc | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | caught |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 2* | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 | not out |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | not out |
| Extras | 10 | — | — | — | — | (5 b, 4 w, 1 nb) |
| Total | 190/9 | 20.0 | 18 | 6 | 9.50 | — |
Bowling Analysis: Spinners Win It for KKR
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best Performance |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 | Match-winner |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 | Crucial final over |
| Anukul Roy | 4 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 | Early breakthroughs |
| Andre Russell | 2 | 22 | 1 | 11.00 | Death bowling |
| Vaibhav Arora | 2 | 19 | 1 | 9.50 | Powerplay pressure |
| Harshit Rana | 4 | 49 | 0 | 12.25 | Expensive spell |
Sunil Narine’s 3 wickets for 29 runs earned him the Player of the Match award. His dismissals of both openers and Faf du Plessis at crucial moments turned the match decisively in KKR’s favor.
- Player of the Match: Sunil Narine (26 runs + 3/29)
Venue-Wise Head-to-Head
At Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi)
| Matches | KKR Wins | DC Wins | No Result | Last KKR Win |
| 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | April 29, 2025 |
Before this match, KKR hadn’t won in Delhi since 2017 – an 8-year gap. DC won 3 consecutive matches at home against KKR (2019 Super Over, 2021, 2023), making this victory even more special for the defending champions.
At Eden Gardens (Kolkata)
| Matches | KKR Wins | DC Wins | KKR Advantage |
| 10 | 8 | 2 | Home fortress |
KKR dominates at their home ground in Kolkata. DC’s last win at Eden Gardens came in 2019 when Rishabh Pant’s team won by 7 wickets. The crowd support and familiarity with conditions give KKR a massive advantage.
At Neutral Venues
| Matches | KKR Wins | DC Wins | DC Advantage |
| 14 | 5 | 9 | Away from home |
Interestingly, DC has won more matches at neutral venues (UAE, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai during COVID years). This shows DC performs better when both teams are on unfamiliar grounds.
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Key Player |
| April 29, 2025 | Delhi | KKR | 14 runs | Sunil Narine (26 + 3/29) |
| April 29, 2024 | Kolkata | KKR | 7 wickets | Venkatesh Iyer (50*) |
| April 3, 2024 | Visakhapatnam | KKR | 106 runs | Phil Salt (68) |
| April 20, 2023 | Delhi | DC | 4 wickets | David Warner (52*) |
| April 28, 2022 | Mumbai | DC | 4 wickets | Lalit Yadav (48*) |
Historical Timeline: Key Matches
Early Years (2008-2012): Evenly Matched
May 12, 2008 – KKR won by 23 runs: The very first meeting between these teams. KKR defended 133 successfully, with DC bowled out for 110.
May 21, 2008 – Match Abandoned: Rain washed out the second meeting in Delhi with no result.
April 4, 2012 – DC won by 8 wickets: Delhi chased down 98 in just 13.1 overs, one of KKR’s lowest totals in IPL history.
May 21, 2012 – KKR won by 18 runs: In Pune, KKR defended 154 successfully. This was during KKR’s championship-winning season.
Middle Period (2013-2019): DC’s Rise
April 2, 2013 – KKR won by 6 wickets: In Kolkata, KKR chased down 129 comfortably with Gautam Gambhir scoring an unbeaten 54.
April 30, 2013 – DC won by 7 wickets: In Raipur, Delhi chased 152 with ease, with David Warner and Virender Sehwag both scoring 40s.
March 30, 2019 – DC won via Super Over: One of the most thrilling matches in this rivalry. Scores were tied at 185-185 after 20 overs. In the Super Over, DC scored 10/0 while KKR managed only 7/1, giving Delhi a dramatic victory.
April 12, 2019 – DC won by 7 wickets: Rishabh Pant’s 78* off 36 balls powered DC to a comfortable win in Kolkata, chasing 179 with 5 balls to spare.
Recent Era (2020-2025): KKR Fights Back
October 3, 2020 – DC won by 18 runs: In Sharjah, DC defended 228/4 (Prithvi Shaw 66, Shreyas Iyer 88*) successfully. KKR scored 210/8 in a high-scoring thriller.
September 28, 2021 – KKR won by 3 wickets: Nitish Rana’s unbeaten 36 helped KKR chase down 128 with 10 balls remaining in Sharjah.
April 28, 2022 – DC won by 4 wickets: Lalit Yadav (48* off 38) and Axar Patel (24* off 17) chased down 147 with 2 balls to spare in a nail-biting finish.
April 3, 2024 – KKR won by 106 runs: KKR’s biggest victory in this rivalry. They posted 272/7 (Phil Salt 68, Sunil Narine 85, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 54) and bowled DC out for 166.
Key Players in This Rivalry
Sunil Narine (KKR): Has scored 400+ runs and taken 20+ wickets against DC. His all-round skills make him KKR’s most valuable asset in this matchup.
Rishabh Pant (DC): Before his accident, Pant scored 500+ runs against KKR including a memorable 78* in 2019. His aggressive batting always troubled KKR’s bowlers.
Andre Russell (KKR): The Caribbean superstar has hit 50+ sixes against DC, more than any other player in this rivalry. His death bowling has also won KKR crucial matches.
David Warner (DC): The Australian opener scored 450+ runs against KKR during his time with DC, providing explosive starts that put pressure on KKR’s bowling.
FAQs
Who has won more matches between DC and KKR?
Kolkata Knight Riders leads the head-to-head record with 19 wins compared to Delhi Capitals’ 15 victories in 35 total matches (1 no result). However, DC has won 9 of 14 matches at neutral venues, showing they’re competitive away from home grounds.
When did DC last beat KKR in Delhi?
Delhi Capitals last beat Kolkata Knight Riders at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 20, 2023, winning by 4 wickets. Before KKR’s April 29, 2025 victory, DC had won 3 consecutive home matches against KKR since 2019.
What is KKR’s highest score against DC?
Kolkata Knight Riders’ highest score against Delhi Capitals is 272/7, scored on April 3, 2024, at Visakhapatnam. Phil Salt (68), Sunil Narine (85), and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54) powered KKR to this massive total. They won by 106 runs – their biggest victory margin in this rivalry.
Who has won the most Player of the Match awards in DC vs KKR matches?
Sunil Narine has won the most Player of the Match awards in this rivalry with 4, followed by Andre Russell with 3. Their consistent all-round performances have been crucial in KKR’s victories over DC.
How many times has this match gone to Super Over?
The DC vs KKR rivalry has gone to Super Over once – on March 30, 2019, at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. After both teams scored 185, DC won the Super Over 10/0 vs 7/1, creating one of the most memorable moments in this rivalry’s history.
