Gujarat Titans flexed their full might on a sweltering evening at Eden Gardens, handing Kolkata Knight Riders a crushing 39-run defeat and reinforcing their position at the top of the IPL 2025 table.

Chasing a formidable 199, KKR never got going and limped to 159/8, undone by a dominant all-round performance from Gujarat.

Opting to bowl first, KKR might have regretted the decision early as GT openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill put on a masterclass. Sudharsan, continuing his golden run this season, stroked a fluent 52 off 38 balls, laced with six boundaries and a towering six. He looked in sublime touch before falling to Andre Russell against the run of play.

Gill, returning to familiar turf, finally found his rhythm this season. The former Knight was composed and then clinical, especially against spin. A vintage Gill knock saw him smash 90 off just 55 deliveries, peppered with 10 fours and three sixes. He brought up his half-century in 34 balls and shifted gears smoothly thereafter.

Jos Buttler finished things off in style, hammering an unbeaten 41 off just 21 balls to lift GT to a commanding 198/3. KKR's fielding woes—dropped catches and missed chances—only added to their misery.

The chase never quite sparked for the Knights. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine departed early, while Venkatesh Iyer’s scratchy 14 off 19 did little to steady the ship. Only Ajinkya Rahane showed some resistance, compiling a stylish 53 off 36 balls. But with wickets tumbling around him and no support from the other end, it was a solo act in a doomed chase.

Russell tried to muscle his way through but managed only 21. Rinku Singh (17) and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (27 off 13) added late flourishes, but the match had already slipped far from KKR’s grasp.

Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, and Mohd Siraj were clinical with the ball, backed by sharp glovework from Buttler, who claimed two stumpings.

With this win, Gujarat Titans look every bit the team to beat this season, while KKR are left to regroup and fix a batting order in disarray.