Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 39 runs on April 21, 2025, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, posting 198/3 before restricting the defending champions to just 159/8.
Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a brilliant 90 off 55 balls, while Sai Sudharsan contributed a fluent 52 off 36 balls. Their 114-run opening partnership set the perfect foundation for GT’s comprehensive victory over the defending champions on their home ground.
The Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders timeline is relatively short but intensely competitive. Since GT’s IPL debut in 2022, these teams have played 5 matches with GT winning 3 and KKR winning 2.
This rivalry features two strong franchises – GT winning the 2022 title in their maiden season and KKR claiming the 2024 championship.
Quick Stats: GT vs KKR Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Details |
| Total Matches | 5 |
| GT Wins | 3 |
| KKR Wins | 2 |
| No Result | 0 |
| GT Highest Score | 207/7 (May 2023) |
| KKR Highest Score | 204/4 (April 2023) |
| GT Lowest Score | 179/7 (April 2022) |
| KKR Lowest Score | 135 all out (April 2022) |
| Super Finish | 1 (KKR won by 3 wickets with 0 balls remaining) |
Latest Match: KKR vs GT (April 21, 2025, Kolkata)
Gujarat Titans 198/3 (20 overs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 159/8 (20 overs) by 39 runs
Gujarat Titans delivered a statement performance at Eden Gardens, handing defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders their third consecutive loss at home. This comprehensive 39-run victory sent GT to the top of the IPL 2025 points table.
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to restrict GT and then chase comfortably at their fortress. But Gill and Sudharsan had other plans.
GT Innings: Gill’s Masterclass to 198/3
Powerplay Domination (Overs 1-6): 45/0
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan opened the batting for Gujarat Titans. Both batsmen started aggressively, not giving KKR’s bowlers any breathing space.
Gill looked in sublime touch from ball one, playing elegant drives through covers and punishing anything short. Sudharsan provided perfect support, rotating strike and hitting boundaries when opportunities arose.
KKR tried various bowlers – Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Andre Russell – but nothing worked. GT raced to 45/0 after 6 overs, putting immediate pressure on the home team.
Middle Overs Acceleration (Overs 7-15): 94 runs, 1 wicket
The opening partnership crossed 50 in just 31 balls. Gill reached his fifty off 34 balls with 6 fours and 1 six – a typically classy Gill innings.
Sudharsan also brought up his half-century off 33 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Both batsmen were in complete control, finding gaps easily and running hard between wickets.
The partnership finally ended at 114 when Sudharsan got out for 52 off 36 balls, caught by Ramandeep Singh off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling. GT were 114/1 in the 11th over – a phenomenal start.
Jos Buttler joined Gill, and they added another crucial 54-run partnership for the 2nd wicket in just 31 balls. Buttler scored a quickfire 26 off 14 balls with 4 fours before getting out.
GT reached 139/1 after 15 overs with Gill on 72. The platform was set for a big finish.
Death Overs Push (Overs 16-20): 59 runs, 2 wickets
Gill was accelerating beautifully, hitting boundaries at will. He was on track for his century when he fell for 90 off 55 balls in the 19th over, caught by Shreyas Iyer off Harshit Rana’s bowling.
His innings included 10 fours and 3 sixes – a captain’s knock that set up GT’s victory. Just 10 runs short of a deserved century, but his job was done.
David Miller and Rahul Tewatia finished the innings with quick runs. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 18 off 9 balls with 2 fours and 1 six.
GT posted 198/3 in their 20 overs – a strong total that put massive pressure on KKR’s batting lineup.
GT Full Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 90 | 55 | 10 | 3 | 163.63 | caught |
| Sai Sudharsan | 52 | 36 | 5 | 1 | 144.44 | caught |
| Jos Buttler (wk) | 26 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 185.71 | caught |
| David Miller | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.66 | bowled |
| Rahul Tewatia | 18* | 9 | 2 | 1 | 200.00 | not out |
| Shahrukh Khan | 1* | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | not out |
| Extras | 4 | — | — | — | — | (2 lb, 2 wd) |
| Total | 198/3 | 20.0 | 22 | 5 | 9.90 | — |
- Key Partnership: 1st wicket – 114 runs (Gill 58, Sudharsan 52)
- Key Partnership: 2nd wicket – 54 runs (Gill 28, Buttler 26)
KKR Bowling Analysis
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Performance |
| Harshit Rana | 4 | 43 | 1 | 10.75 | Got Gill for 90 |
| Vaibhav Arora | 4 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 | Expensive powerplay |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 | Best bowler |
| Andre Russell | 4 | 42 | 0 | 10.50 | Went for runs |
| Sunil Narine | 4 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 | Uncharacteristic spell |
Varun Chakaravarthy was the only bowler who showed some control, taking 2 wickets. But overall, KKR’s bowling was poor, conceding nearly 10 runs per over.
KKR Chase: Complete Collapse to 159/8
KKR needed 199 to win at Eden Gardens – a challenging but achievable target if their top order fired. But GT’s disciplined bowling strangled their chase from the start.
Powerplay Setback (Overs 1-6): 45/2
Sunil Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi opened for KKR. Narine looked to attack from ball one but fell cheaply for 8 runs, caught by Rashid Khan off Mohammed Shami’s bowling. KKR were 14/1 in the 2nd over.
Raghuvanshi scored a quick 27 off 13 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes, playing his natural aggressive game. But he couldn’t stay long, caught by Gill off Umesh Yadav’s bowling. KKR were 45/2 after the powerplay.
They were already 15 runs behind GT’s powerplay score and had lost 2 wickets – not an ideal start.
Middle Overs Struggle (Overs 7-15): 73 runs, 3 wickets**
Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer tried to rebuild. Rahane played the anchor role, reaching his fifty off 36 balls with 5 fours and 1 six.
But wickets kept falling at the other end. Venkatesh Iyer got out lbw to Rashid Khan for 13. Shreyas Iyer fell for 15, caught off Noor Ahmad’s bowling.
Rahane was fighting alone. He found support from Rinku Singh briefly, but Rinku got out for 19, stumped by Buttler off Noor Ahmad’s bowling.
KKR reached 118/5 after 15 overs, needing 81 runs from 30 balls with only 5 wickets remaining. The match was slipping away fast.
Death Overs Collapse (Overs 16-20): 41 runs, 3 wickets
Rahane continued fighting, finishing unbeaten on 63 off 43 balls with 8 fours and 1 six. But he ran out of partners and couldn’t accelerate the scoring rate.
Andre Russell came in and scored 11 off 6 balls before getting caught. Ramandeep Singh made 12 off 10 balls, trying to keep KKR in the hunt.
But GT’s death bowling was excellent. Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Rashid Khan maintained pressure, not giving away easy runs.
KKR finished at 159/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 39 runs. They never recovered from the slow start and regular wickets in the middle overs.
KKR Full Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
| Sunil Narine | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 160.00 | caught |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 27 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 207.69 | caught |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 63* | 43 | 8 | 1 | 146.51 | not out |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | lbw |
| Shreyas Iyer | 15 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 136.36 | caught |
| Rinku Singh | 19 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 126.66 | stumped |
| Andre Russell | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 183.33 | caught |
| Ramandeep Singh | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 | not out |
| Extras | 11 | — | — | — | — | (1 b, 1 lb, 9 wd) |
| Total | 159/8 | 20.0 | 18 | 5 | 7.95 | — |
GT Bowling Excellence
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Performance |
| Mohammed Shami | 4 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 | Early breakthroughs |
| Umesh Yadav | 4 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 | Got Raghuvanshi |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 | Middle overs control |
| Noor Ahmad | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 | Crucial wickets |
| Rahul Tewatia | 4 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 | Support role |
GT’s bowling attack was disciplined and effective. Shami provided early wickets, Rashid controlled the middle overs, and Noor Ahmad picked crucial wickets to seal the victory.
- Player of the Match: Shubman Gill (90 off 55 balls)
Historical Timeline: All Matches
Match 1: April 23, 2022 (Pune) – GT won by 8 runs
GT 156/9 (20) vs KKR 148 all out (20)
GT’s inaugural IPL season started with a close victory over KKR. David Miller’s unbeaten 27 off 20 balls and Lockie Ferguson’s 4/28 bowling helped GT defend 156 successfully.
Rashid Khan took 1/28 in his 4 overs, showing why GT bought him for big money. This win set the tone for GT’s championship-winning debut season.
Match 2: May 8, 2022 (Kolkata) – GT won by 8 wickets
KKR 135 all out (18.5) vs GT 139/2 (17.5)
GT traveled to Eden Gardens and handed KKR a comprehensive defeat on their home ground. Lockie Ferguson destroyed KKR’s batting with 4/18, bowling them out for just 135.
Hardik Pandya led the chase brilliantly, scoring 67* off 49 balls. GT won with 13 balls to spare, showing their dominance even in away conditions.
Match 3: April 9, 2023 (Ahmedabad) – KKR won by 3 wickets
GT 204/4 (20) vs KKR 207/7 (20)
This was one of IPL’s most thrilling finishes. GT posted 204/4 with Rahul Tewatia smashing 63* off 24 balls (4 fours, 5 sixes) in an explosive death overs assault.
KKR chased it down in the final ball! Rinku Singh hit 5 sixes in the final over bowled by Yash Dayal, turning a certain loss into an incredible victory. KKR won with 0 balls remaining, creating one of IPL’s most memorable moments.
Match 4: May 13, 2023 (Kolkata) – GT won by 3 runs
GT 207/7 (20) vs KKR 204/7 (20)
Another high-scoring thriller! GT posted 207/7 with Shubman Gill scoring 63 off 44 balls and B Sai Sudharsan contributing 53 off 51 balls.
KKR came agonizingly close, scoring 204/7 but fell 3 runs short. Venkatesh Iyer’s 83 off 40 balls (5 fours, 7 sixes) nearly won it for KKR, but GT’s bowling held their nerve.
Match 5: April 21, 2025 (Kolkata) – GT won by 39 runs
The latest match covered in detail above, where Gill’s 90 powered GT to a comprehensive victory.
Head-to-Head at Different Venues
At Eden Gardens (Kolkata)
| Matches | GT Wins | KKR Wins | GT Away Record |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% win rate |
GT has an excellent away record at Eden Gardens, winning 2 of 3 matches. This is remarkable considering Eden Gardens is one of IPL’s toughest venues to win at for visiting teams.
At Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)
| Matches | GT Wins | KKR Wins | GT Home Fortress |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | KKR’s only win |
Ironically, KKR’s only victory in this rivalry came at GT’s home ground in Ahmedabad – that incredible Rinku Singh 5-sixes-in-an-over finish.
At Neutral Venue (Pune)
| Matches | GT Wins | KKR Wins | Neutral Ground |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | GT advantage |
Their first-ever meeting in Pune saw GT win by 8 runs in 2022.
Recent Form (All 5 Matches)
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Key Player |
| April 21, 2025 | Kolkata | GT | 39 runs | Shubman Gill (90) |
| May 13, 2023 | Kolkata | GT | 3 runs | Shubman Gill (63) |
| April 9, 2023 | Ahmedabad | KKR | 3 wickets | Rinku Singh (5 sixes) |
| May 8, 2022 | Kolkata | GT | 8 wickets | Hardik Pandya (67*) |
| April 23, 2022 | Pune | GT | 8 runs | Lockie Ferguson (4/28) |
Key Players in This Rivalry
Shubman Gill (GT): Has scored 200+ runs against KKR including two fifties (63, 90). His elegant batting and captain’s leadership have been crucial in GT’s victories.
Rinku Singh (KKR): Famous for his 5 sixes in an over against GT – one of IPL’s most iconic moments. Has scored 50+ runs in this rivalry with a strike rate over 180.
Rashid Khan (GT): Afghanistan’s leg-spin wizard has taken 8+ wickets against KKR with economy under 7.50. His middle-overs control is GT’s biggest weapon.
Sunil Narine (KKR): Opens batting and bowls spin – a unique all-rounder who’s taken 5+ wickets against GT while also scoring quick runs at the top.
Rahul Tewatia (GT): His 63* off 24 balls in 2023 was one of the best finishing innings in IPL. Has been GT’s death overs specialist against KKR.
Why This Rivalry Excites Fans
New vs Defending Champions: GT (2022 champions) versus KKR (2024 champions) creates a clash of title-winning teams.
Thrilling Finishes: 3 out of 5 matches decided by less than 10 runs, including a last-ball finish and a 3-run thriller.
Rinku’s 5 Sixes: That unforgettable over where Rinku Singh hit Yash Dayal for 5 consecutive sixes is cricket folklore.
Shubman Gill Factor: Playing against his former team KKR adds emotional sub-plot. Gill captains GT with passion, always motivated to beat KKR.
High-Scoring Entertainment: Average first innings score is 183 – showing these matches are batting-friendly thrillers.
FAQs
Who has won more matches between GT and KKR?
Gujarat Titans leads the head-to-head record with 3 wins compared to Kolkata Knight Riders’ 2 victories in 5 total matches. GT has dominated this young rivalry despite KKR being the more experienced franchise with 3 IPL titles.
What is the highest score in GT vs KKR matches?
Gujarat Titans’ highest score is 207/7, scored on May 13, 2023, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Shubman Gill (63) and B Sai Sudharsan (53) were the top scorers. KKR’s highest score is 204/4, scored on April 9, 2023, at Ahmedabad when they chased down 205.
When did Rinku Singh hit 5 sixes in an over?
Rinku Singh hit 5 consecutive sixes off Gujarat Titans bowler Yash Dayal in the final over on April 9, 2023, at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. KKR needed 29 runs from 6 balls and Rinku’s heroics helped them win by 3 wickets with 0 balls remaining.
How many times has GT won at Eden Gardens?
Gujarat Titans has won 2 out of 3 matches at Eden Gardens, Kolkata – an impressive 66.7% win rate. Their victories came on May 8, 2022 (by 8 wickets) and April 21, 2025 (by 39 runs). KKR’s only home win was on May 13, 2023 (KKR lost by 3 runs).
Who is the highest run-scorer in GT vs KKR matches?
Shubman Gill is the highest run-scorer with 200+ runs including two fifties (63 and 90). His consistent performances as GT captain against his former franchise KKR have been remarkable, with a strike rate around 150.
