Changing loyalties have always been a key component of the IPL courtesy of their unique mega-auction structure, and often make for tasty battles brimming with narrative. Nitish Rana found himself in the middle of one on Wednesday as he took on former team KKR, only to be outdone in some style.
Rajasthan Royals fell victim to the famed Kolkata Knight Riders spin demons in their first home match of the season, at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, as the side’s strong start of 33/0 after 3.5 overs quickly devolved into a horrid-looking 82/5 at the end of 11. Even though things played out rather according to expectations given Kolkata’s usual prowess with the ball regardless of opposition, what made the state of affairs surprising was the fact that Sunil Narine was not even playing after being declared unwell at the game’s start. However, little shock remained when his replacement Mooen Ali proved with aplomb he could be as lethal as the Windies legend on his day.
Moeen, handed his KKR cap by mentor Dwayne Bravo before the game after being bought in the auction for his base price of INR 2 crores, opened his tally in the ninth over by getting the crucial wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal who had egan to settle in at the crease. Yet, it was his second scalp that truly put the cricketing fraternity on notice. With southpaw Nitish Rana — KKR skipper for the 2022 season when the team finished seventh — up against him in the 10th over, Moeen drifted a length delivery on leg stump to lure his counterpart into creating some room. But just as Rana tried to open the face of his bat and glide it down third, the Kookaburra turned viciously off the deck to comprehensively beat the outside edge and rattle into the stumps to end a strugglesome eight-ball knock.
Twitterati was all praises of the Englishman for continuing to deliver even in the latter stages of his illustrious career.
What a delivery!
Superb
Varun & Moeen Ali 🦁🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/YFq9zdIjLE
— Rebellious Knight 🦁 (@Knight__74) March 26, 2025
Moeen ali and varunchakravathy with back 2 back break through kkr fam let’s start wickets hunting season #RRvsKKR pic.twitter.com/wD66D0ws9A
— Team Southern Knights (@team_southern12) March 26, 2025
Saved
Fantastic
Moeen Ali playing today pic.twitter.com/ys4qi4LM8u
— Beast (@Beast__07_) March 26, 2025
Saw moeen ali in the dugout during rcb vs kkr game, thought he was in the support staff 😭
— Kush Mufc (@kushmufc) March 26, 2025
Aggressive
That’s aggressive captaincy from Rahane, going for the final over of Moeen Ali in the 13th over. Not giving to some part time spinner #RRvsKKR
— KingOfHell (@lastShinobi7610) March 26, 2025
On the role
KKR ARE ON A ROLL AT GUWAHATI 🔥
RR 84/5 (12)
Two new batters in Jurel and Dubey in the middle.
Varun Chakaravarthy and Moeen Ali both have picked 2/15 in their 3 overs each. #TATAIPL2025 #RRvsKKR #KKRvsRR @KKRiders #varunchakravarthy pic.twitter.com/WvZmh2e5VS— RO_KO fanclub🏏 (@MohammadFa83199) March 26, 2025
KKR SPINNERS ARE DOMINATING! 🔥💜
– Moeen Ali & Varun Chakravarthy pick up 2 wickets each! 🎯
Spin magic at its best! 🌀 #KKR #MoeenAli #VarunChakravarthy #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/RIsfsRUSPG— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) March 26, 2025
Lost one
