In a game surely to be considered among the most exhilarating encounters of IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) confirmed their coolness with a 1 run victory in a high-pressure final 3 overs over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens. But beyond the team success, what had fans in rapture was the fearless genius of Riyan Parag and Shubham Dubey – two surging young Indian players who almost executed a daring robbery with the bat.
Their fireworks performances were not only high-scoring but also high-pressure knocks which lit up the evening, and further solidified their successes in the heightened league.
IPL 2025: Riyan Parag’s Blazing Performance and Shubham Dubey’s Grand Finishes Just Not Enough in a 1 Run Thriller against KKR
In a game surely to be considered among the most exhilarating encounters of IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) confirmed their coolness with a 1 run victory in a high-pressure final 3 overs over Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens. But beyond the team success, what had fans in rapture was the fearless genius of Riyan Parag and Shubham Dubey – two surging young Indian players who almost executed a daring robbery with the bat.
Their fireworks performances were not only high-scoring but also high-pressure knocks which lit up the evening, and further solidified their successes in the heightened league.
Riyan Parag: A Show of Bravery, Power and Maturity
At 78/5, Rajasthan Royals were definitely seeing their chances dwindle. The required rate was climbing, wickets were falling and the Eden Gardens crowd was roaring. Fortunately, that’s when Riyan Parag, RR’s dynamic middle-order batsman, stepped into the picture at 78/5.
Parag didn’t walk in and linger, he went out and fought.
A methodical assault
Parag started slowly, hitting ball just to get his bearings with the match situation. He started easy by simply rotating the strike, building rhythm. But once he found his feet, the onslaught began – one that left the KKR bowlers stunned. His hitting against spin – Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, especially – was clean, if not sexy. He danced down the pitch, picked up the googlies early and cleared the ropes with dumb unbridled power.
Interestingly, he went from 10 off 10 balls to 63 runs off 33 balls that included:
5 fours
4 sixes
A strike rate of 190+
Each boundary changed the game. A massive six over long-on off Narine, and then a scoop over fine-leg against Harshit Rana, had the crowd gasping.
Turning Point
Just when it appeared Parag was set to take RR home, he mis-timed a slower ball in his instructions to clear long-on and was caught. It was a heart-breaking conclusion to a magnificent innings, though one that took RR from nothing to something.
If there was ever a knock that deserved to end in a win, this was it.
Shubham Dubey: An Emerging Finisher, Showing His Worth
With Riyan Parag dismissed and the equation still challenging – 28 still needed from 15 balls, Shubham Dubey took the reins. Still relatively new to the stage of the IPL, the left-handed Dubey has enjoyed a reputation as a finisher in the domestic game, and he certainly showed that tonight.
He Showed Composure Under Pressure
Unlike many players crumbling in the final overs, Dubey showed a superb temperament. He didn’t go for massive shots straight away, he played changed balls into space, ran hard, and waited for his deliveries.
In the penultimate over, bowled by Mitchell Starc, he sent shivers through KKR’s dugout with 2 huge sixes – one, over deep midwicket, and another, over straight down the ground.
With 9 to win off last over, you started to think RR were in control. Dubey had scored 33 off 17 deliveries, showing:
Awful good shot selection
Simply, calmness at the crease
And also, absolutely fearless intent
The Last Over Drama
The ball was with Harshit Rana. Dubey hit the ball for a boundary on the first delivery, then a dot ball, then a single. This put the tension up a notch. It came down to 3 runs to win from 2 balls, so it was again to Dubey.
Unfortunately for RR, Dubey missed a full toss to only get a single off the penultimate delivery. Avesh Khan couldn’t finish it on the last delivery of the match. KKR escaped a win with a 1-run victory.
Dubey registered not out of 36 off 20 balls, and even though RR fell short, his finishing skills made their mark.
What Does The Future Hold For Indian Cricket
While KKR celebrated yet another important win, cricket fans across India were talking about Riyan Parag and Shubham Dubey, two emerging players who undoubtedly showed they can play on the big stage.
Riyan Parag: More Than Just Potential
Parag has faced backlash in previous IPL seasons for inconsistency, however, he has matured as a player in 2025. His improved ability to read the game, picking bowlers to target, as well as pacing his innings under pressure now makes him a legitimate contender for India. If he keeps this form up, a national call up may not be too far away.
Shubham Dubey: The Quiet Killer
Dubey may not have the personality or accolades of some of the other bigger names, but what he has is a really prized skill—finishing games. In a time where finishing games is a premium skill, Dubey will now have the opportunity to carve out a little niche for himself. Dubey has poise, clarity, and explosiveness when required; he is what the franchises and selectors are looking for in a modern T20 player’s skillset.
What This Match Meant
For KKR, they had a sigh of relief and proved they can perform under pressure in death bowling scenarios. For RR, they were reminded that the once weak link, their middle-order, now has two of the most exciting young batters in the league.
Parag and Dubey may not have crossed the finishing line with RR, but they won the hearts of the fans and made it clear really that the next generation of Indian cricket is ready for the big stage.
Key Takeaway:
You either win or lose the match—but it is rare to win hearts when losing. Riyan Parag and Shubham Dubey did exactly this, and with it, they turned a regular league match into a part of IPL folklore.
