Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 53 - Live Cricket Score

Andre Russell – Player of the Match:

We all understood how crucial this match was — with four games left, every one of them feels like a final. I’m glad we could put in a solid performance and get the win. I wasn’t too concerned about a few dot balls early on, since I knew I had time to settle. The pitch wasn’t the easiest to attack straight away, so I gave myself a few deliveries. Thankfully, I could find boundaries later, and Rinku chipped in with a few at the end too. The scoreboard tells the full story. It’s all about assessing the situation — knowing which bowlers to play out and which ones to target. When I see 30 balls left, I tell myself that if I can face 15 of them, I can turn that into 40 runs with my power.

Ajinkya Rahane – KKR Captain:

It was a nail-biter, and those narrow wins always bring more satisfaction. We had a strong start with the bat — Gurbaz and Angkrish did a great job, and Russell’s finish was superb. The game plan was clear: go aggressive in the powerplay, and then control the middle overs until around the 12th, especially since new batters were finding it tough to get going. Me and Angkrish were in constant communication about taking it deep. Fielding is another area we focused on — saving 10 to 12 runs, taking sharp catches, or pulling off a run-out can really swing the game in your favour.

Rinku Singh:

That boundary save in the 19th over was crucial. This ground is known for its fast outfield, and I take pride in patrolling the boundary — it’s a responsibility I enjoy, probably even more than batting. Russell’s knock was vital, especially since he hadn’t been among the runs recently. When I came in during the final two overs, it was a good scenario to contribute — the platform was set. The team is playing with great energy right now. We're focused on enjoying our cricket and taking each game as it comes, without looking too far ahead.

Riyan Parag – RR Captain:

The plan was to bat through until the last couple of overs, but I ended up getting out in the 18th — that’s where I misjudged things. In the final phase, maybe we could have explored some different options — be it with the bat or the ball. At the end of the day, there's no one else to blame but ourselves. In hindsight, there were tactical tweaks we missed. Russell was 2 off 10 at one point, and then just exploded — full credit to him. The surface had some grip, so it was important to choose the right bowlers to target, and I think I did that until my dismissal. Losing as captain and talking about it is tough, but the fact is we weren’t sharp enough in key moments, and that cost us.