Opting to bat first, Daredevils started off well with skipper Virender Sehwag blasting 23 off only nine deliveries but failed to convert his good start.
The likes of David Warner (21), Mahela Jayawardene (30) got out just when they looked set, while Ross Taylor (16)'s woeful run with the willow affected Daredevils' chance of putting up a good score.
With Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen doing the bulk of the scoring in the earlier matches, the Daredevils middle-order were put to test for the first time and they failed miserably.
It was only due to Irfan Pathan's (36, 22 balls, 4x4, 1x6) lusty blows that the table-toppers crossed the 150-mark.
As many four batsmen were out in the final over of the innings bowled by 'mystery spinner' Sunil Narine who again had enviable figures of two for 23, while Jacques Kallis (2/20) made telling impact removing both Sehwag and Warner.
Sehwag was again off the blocks in a flash as he hit a couple of boundaries and a huge six over mid-wicket off left-arm seamer Pradeep Sangwan in the second over of the innings.
Warner, who looked scratchy during the first few deliveries, then got his act together as he hit Brett Lee for a straight six and followed it up with a cover drive.
In only 3.2 overs, Sehwag-Warner duo added 40 runs and it looked like KKR bowlers were in for a 'Knightmare' when Kallis provided twin-breakthrough.
First he had Sehwag adjudged leg before when he was trying to work the ball on the leg-side. So confident was Kallis that he didn't even bother to appeal at the first go. Sehwag had hit three boundaries and a six in his 23.
Warner (21, 19 balls, 2x4, 1x6) hit another flashy boundary which was more like a shot of a desperate batsman before Kallis got the dangerous Aussie to edge one to Brendon McCullum behind stumps.
Jayawardene survived a confident caught behind appeal after which he had a heated exchange with opposition skipper Gambhir. Ultimately it was Ross Taylor who had to intervene.
The Sri Lankan skipper was again lucky when McCullum dropped him off Kallis' bowling. But then he started showing his class.
A deft glance off Sangwan, a powerful square cut and swept six off Rajat Bhatia were sheer class. The lap shot over the wicketkeeper's head off Sunil Narine was also a delight to watch as he added 46 runs for the third wicket with Taylor.
But just when he was starting to look threatening, he called for a non-existent single and failed to beat Gambhir's underarm throw. Jayawardene scored 30 off 27 balls with three fours and a six.
Taylor's poor form continued as he failed to middle a single delivery. The dot balls he played added to the pressure and the initial impetus provided Sehwag was long gone.
Finally, he was holed out in the deep off Sangwan's bowling.
The Black Caps skipper managed 16 off only 27 balls.
DD: 153/9 (20 overs) Irfan Pathan- 36, Mahela Jayawardena 30, V Sehwag 23.
Bowling: Sunil Narine 2/23, Jacques Kallis 2/20