After a stunning 60-run knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad, KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer explains the real meaning of intent, praises Vaibhav Arora’s match-winning spell.
Kolkata, April 4:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer delivered a powerful statement—both with the bat and the mic—after his team’s emphatic 80-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens.
Having scored just 3 and 6 in the previous two games, Venkatesh silenced critics with a blistering 60 off 29 balls, propelling KKR to a commanding total of 200/6. His knock, laced with 7 fours and 3 sixes, changed the tide of the match after KKR had slumped to 106/4 in the 13th over.
💬 “Aggression Must Be Calculated” – Iyer
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Iyer clarified what “aggression” means to him and the KKR setup.
“It’s very important for us to show positive but correct intent. If we’re 50/6 and I go out swinging blindly, that’s not aggression—that’s recklessness,” he said.
“Aggression is about reading the conditions, understanding the situation, and making the most of it. We don’t want to be a side that scores 250 one day and crashes for 70 the next.”
He emphasized KKR’s focus on pitch assessment and consistency, rather than flamboyance.
“Our goal is to read the pitch, assess the par score, and push for 20 runs above that. That’s sustainable aggression,” he added.
🔥 Praise for Vaibhav Arora’s Game-Changing Spell
While Iyer’s innings anchored KKR’s resurgence, he was quick to shift the spotlight to Vaibhav Arora, whose 3/29 dismantled SRH’s top order and earned him the Player of the Match.
“Even with 200+ on the board, we weren’t fully comfortable. We knew SRH is a high-risk, high-reward team. Vaibhav bowling in the powerplay was a plan—and he executed it perfectly.”
Vaibhav removed Travis Head (4) and Ishan Kishan (2) early, then returned to dismiss the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, sealing SRH’s fate.
⚔️ Match Recap: KKR vs SRH, IPL 2025
- KKR: 200/6 in 20 overs
- Venkatesh Iyer: 60 (29)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: 50 (32)
- Rinku Singh: 32* (17)
- SRH: 120 all out
- Vaibhav Arora: 3/29
- Varun Chakravarthy: 3/22
- Only Klaasen (33) and Mendis (27) crossed 20 runs
With this victory, KKR moved to 5th place on the points table with four points from four matches, while SRH remained at the bottom.