🏏IPL 2025 - Match 44: PBKS vs KKR, 26 April 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2025 - Match 44: PBKS vs KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 26 April 2025 @ 7:30 PM IST🏏

KKR still in search of home advantage as qualification race heats up

Punjab Kings, meanwhile, are much better placed for playoffs contention and had defended 111 against KKR ten days ago

Punjab Kings among frontrunners for playoffs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a golden opportunity just ten days ago to steer their IPL 2025 campaign in the right direction. Chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), two points were there for the taking along with a potential net run rate boost. But in a stunning collapse, KKR folded for just 95. That blow was compounded by another heavy defeat, to Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday. Both losses illustrated how out-of-form their middle and lower-middle order has been, and that has left their title defence hanging by a thread. Five wins in their remaining six games is their equation to be realistic playoff contenders.

For PBKS, that dramatic win over KKR may have been the turning point of their season. With points shared in their home-and-away clashes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), PBKS have five wins in eight games and now find themselves among the frontrunners in the race for the playoffs.

PBKS need at least three wins from their remaining six fixtures to breathe easy. But history looms large: the playoffs have eluded them since 2014. The only thing missing in their game is middle-order stability, and that could be the difference between qualification, a top-four finish and a top-two push.

The last two games between PBKS and KKR have seen the former produce the highest successful IPL chase and the lowest successful target defence. KKR, in contrast, are a side searching for answers. Eight players from their championship-winning squad still make up the core, but the spark that once defined them feels distant. Having enjoyed a 71% success at home in IPL 2024, their record at Eden Gardens is only 25% in 2025. On current form, PBKS hold the edge as their batting is in form, their bowlers have rhythm, something KKR are lacking, big time.

[Tag and Logo credit to Wildestdreams]

In the spotlight: Venkatesh Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal

KKR have stood firmly behind Venkatesh Iyer ever since his breakout season. They retained him ahead of Shubman Gill before IPL 2022 and invested heavily in him at the IPL 2025 auction. But so far this season, Venkatesh's three single-digit scores in six innings and a sluggish 14 off 19 against GT have highlighted his struggles. On Saturday, he faces another stern test in Marco Jansen, who has dismissed him three times in four innings, conceding just 14 runs at an average of 4.67. Can he push past a poor campaign and deliver when it matters most?

Yuzvendra Chahal has rediscovered his rhythm after a slow start to IPL 2025, claiming seven wickets in his last three outings. His standout performance came against KKR where he tore through their middle order with a decisive four-wicket haul. The key to Chahal's resurgence has been a return to his strengths: tossing the ball up, using flight and dip, and trusting his variations to deceive batters. His revival has added real bite to the PBKS middle-overs attack.

Eden Gardens stadium, Kolkata: IPL T20 stats

KKR at Eden Gardens stadium

KKR have played 92 games at Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata, out of which they have won 53 matches while losing 39.

PBKS at Eden Gardens stadium

PBKS have played just 13 matches at Eden Gardens stadium against KKR, in which they have won four while losing nine.

Key cricket stats at Eden Gardens, Kolkata (in T20s since 2023 IPL)

• Matches – 19, Bat 1st won – 10, Bat 2nd won – 9
• Avg 1st inns score – 191/7
• Lowest total defended (excl shortened matches) – 176, Highest target chased – 262
• 200+ totals: 13 times in 17 matches | Sixes per match – 19
• Pace: Overs% – 56, Wkts – 114, Avg – 33.1, Eco – 10.5
• Spin: Overs% – 44, Wkts – 88, Avg – 26.6, Eco – 8.4

Winning score at Eden Gardens stadium, Kolkata (in T20s since 2023 IPL)

• 1st inns score 200 or above: Mts – 9, Bat 1st won – 7, Bat 2nd won – 2
• 1st inns score less than 200: Mts – 10, Bat 1st won – 3, Bat 2nd won – 7

Recent match at Eden Gardens

The last IPL match here was Match 39 of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans. KKR invited GT to bat first, who, with the help of half-centuries from Shubman Gill (90) and Sai Sudharsan (52), posted 198 runs on the board. In reply, KKR, despite a fighting fifty from skipper Rahane, could only reach 159 for 8 after 20 overs as GT secured a comfortable 39-run victory.

Other key stats at Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens in Kolkata, one of the most iconic venues in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has hosted numerous thrilling encounters and unforgettable moments. As of the 2025 season, the stadium has been the venue for 97 IPL matches. Historically, teams batting second have found more success here, securing 56 wins, which accounts for 57.73 per cent of the matches, while teams batting first have won 41 times, making up 42.27 per cent of the outcomes.

The big question

KKR have the poorest average (19) for the first wicket in IPL 2025. With time running out, is it time to replace Narine at the top as well?

Stats and trivia

• Both teams have middle-order (Nos. 4 to 7) woes. While KKR's average for those positions is the worst (20.47), PBKS are not too far at 23.90.
• Shreyas Iyer has had contrasting home and away campaigns this season. In four games apiece, Shreyas has averaged 119 at away venues but only 6.25 at home.
• Similarly, PBKS' powerplay performances with bat and ball are vastly different. Thanks to Prabhsimran and Arya, their powerplay run rate of 10.67 is the best of all teams, however, their ten wickets with the ball in the first six overs is the joint-lowest.
• Since IPL 2022, KKR have lost all seven games when their spinners Narine and Varun have gone wicketless together. There were three such games in 2022, one in 2023 and three in 2025.

Pitch and conditions

Although conditions in Kolkata favour the chasing team with dew expected, their game against GT showed no such signs with Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore finding turn. This game will be played on the same pitch, and the team winning the toss could be tempted to bat first.

Eden Gardens traditionally offers a batting-friendly wicket, and that trend continues, especially in T20 cricket. The surface here is generally flat with consistent bounce, allowing batters to play their shots freely. With true bounce and even pace, the conditions are ideal for stroke-making, giving the batters an edge.

However, it is worth noting that unlike the ultra-flat pitches seen in Bengaluru or Hyderabad this year, Eden Gardens does offer a little more assistance to bowlers, especially in the early overs. The seamers might get a bit of bounce and movement with the new ball, making it challenging for the openers early on. As the game progresses, though, the pitch tends to settle, and the batters take full advantage.

The outfield here is quick, meaning that even mistimed shots can find the boundary, which further boosts the batting side’s confidence. Expect big runs, but the bowlers will need to be disciplined with their lines and lengths to avoid getting punished.

KKR vs PBKS weather report

The weather is unlikely to provide any joy to the City of Joy on Saturday with the temperatures set to soar to as high as 37 degrees in the morning and afternoon. But by the time the match starts, it is expected to come down to 30 with Accuweather describing the conditions to be clear and breezy.

Head to Head - Last 5 Matches

PBKS won by 16 runs, 16-Apr-2025

PBKS won by 8 wickets (with 8 balls remaining), 27-Apr-2024

KKR won by 5 wickets (with 0 balls remaining), 09-May-2023

PBKS won by 7 runs (DLS method), 01-Apr-2023

KKR won by 6 wickets (with 33 balls remaining), 02-Apr-2022

Batters to watch(Recent stats)

Ajinkya Rahane, KKR

8 M • 271 Runs • 38.71 Avg • 146.48 SR

Venkatesh Iyer, KKR

10 M • 238 Runs • 39.67 Avg • 157.61 SR

Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS

10 M • 286 Runs • 28.6 Avg • 165.31 SR

Shreyas Iyer, PBKS

8 M • 263 Runs • 43.83 Avg • 185.21 SR

Bowlers to watch(Recent stats)

Harshit Rana, KKR

10 M • 14 Wkts • 8.54 Econ • 15 SR

Varun Chakravarthy, KKR

10 M • 13 Wkts • 6.38 Econ • 17.07 SR

Arshdeep Singh, PBKS

10 M • 14 Wkts • 8.59 Econ • 15.85 SR

Yuzvendra Chahal, PBKS

9 M • 11 Wkts • 9.1 Econ • 16.36 SR

Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are set to clash again. Just a little over ten days after that bonkers of a game that sawPBKS successfully defend 111. Their meeting prior to that match was in IPL 2024 - a contest that saw PBKS chase down 262 in quite spectacular fashion. So their last two matches have seen the lowest score defended successfully in IPL and the highest score chased down successfully in the tournament's history. What will they now serve on Saturday?

One thing that stands out in both those matches is that Punjab Kings emerged out on top both times. KKR would hope that it's third time lucky for them. Not just to avenge those losses but to put their own current campaign back on track. The defending champions have been erratic. There are six teams who are better placed than them right now to finish in the playoff spots and PBKS are one of them. So a statement win against an in-form team can certainly do wonders to their morale.

PBKS on the other hand will look to bounce back from the defeat to RCB in their last game. Still toying around with their overseas combinations, PBKS have been heavily reliant on their Indian players so far in this campaign. A big contribution from the likes of Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis would push their title credentials further.

When: April 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

What to expect: Hot temperatures will greet both sides but what surface they will play on remains to be seen. There's been plenty of talk about the pitches in Kolkata but given what Yuzvendra Chahal did ten days ago, KKR might want to think twice about playing on a slow surface.