In the 44th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will square off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens tonight, i.e., April 26, at 7:30 PM IST.
KKR had a wonderful opportunity only 10 days ago to turn their IPL 2025 campaign in a positive direction. Chasing an average target of 112 against PBKS, there were two points easily available, as well as a potential net run rate enhancement. However, in a spectacular fall, KKR collapsed for only 95. That disappointment was accentuated by another crushing defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday. Both losses highlighted how out of form KKR’s middle and lower-middle orders had been. To be a viable playoff contender, they need to win five of their final six games. The team will continue to rely on Rahmanulah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine to provide strong starts, while Ajinkya Rahane is already in good form. The Knights are more concerned with the poor form of Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell. Angrish Raghuanshi has shown promise, but he has to bat early and deep in the innings. KKR have also done well with the ball, with Varun Chakravarthy, Narine, and Harshit Rana all performing admirably. It is the foreign choice that causes management confusion. Moeen Ali has to be adequately supported even on the Eden track, since he can aid with the bat too.
PBKS find themselves at a similar crossroads, needing at least three victories in their remaining six games to be in playoff contention. Nevertheless, the shadow of history hangs big, since the franchise has struggled to make the playoffs since 2014. Their Achilles’ heel remains a fragile middle order, and unless that issue is addressed, it might be the difference between a simple qualifying and a solid two finish. While the domestic opening combination of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh has given a solid start for PBKS, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis‘ inconsistent play has become a source of concern. Shreyas Iyer will be looking to make a statement at Eden Gardens, a stadium he is familiar with, while Nehal Wadhera has also produced good results in recent games. On the bowling front, Yuzvendra Chahal‘s return to form is a significant lift, but the pace attack must now step up and perform under pressure.
Head-to-Head:
Both teams have played each other 34 times in the IPL, with KKR winning 21 and PBKS winning 13.
The last time these two sides faced off against each other was on April 15, when PBKS defeated KKR in a low-scoring thriller in Chandigarh.
Where-to-Watch:
OTT: JioHotstar