March 27, 2025: Moeen Ali was full of praise for Quinton de Kock after his explosive innings led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2025. At the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night, KKR chased down Rajasthan’s total of 151 comfortably with 15 balls to spare, thanks to de Kock’s sublime 97*.
In his debut match for KKR, Moeen Ali made a significant contribution with the ball, taking two crucial wickets and bowling with remarkable control. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Moeen reflected on his performance and his role in the win. “My job was to try and bowl tight as I can,” Moeen said. “I’m used to bowling with somebody who’s better than me and has more mystery,” he added, referencing his teammate Varun Chakravarthy’s skillful bowling.
Moeen was particularly impressed with de Kock’s innings. “Quinton is an experienced player who has been around for a while now. It was an amazing inning, and he made the Rajasthan Royals bowlers, especially Jofra Archer, look like they were bowling quite slow,” said Moeen. De Kock’s effortless strokeplay and ability to take charge of the match gave KKR the edge, as he dictated the pace of the game and guided his team to a crucial win.
Reflecting on the importance of the victory, Moeen emphasized how important it was to bounce back after their previous loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore. “It’s just nice to get a win within your first couple of games, so you don’t overthink things,” Moeen explained. The pitch in Assam provided a balanced challenge, offering a bit of swing, seam, and spin, making it ideal for KKR’s strong bowling attack.
Moeen also spoke about the experience of joining a franchise with a winning culture, praising KKR’s calmness and preparation. “When you go to teams that have won the trophy, they know what they’re doing. They’ve won it three times. Everything is calm,” he said. With this impressive win, Moeen Ali and Quinton de Kock have already integrated well into KKR’s squad, and the team will look to continue their winning momentum as they head to Mumbai for their next match against Mumbai Indians on March 31.