The IPL 2025 season has not been kind to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). After three games, KKR find themselves at the bottom of the points table, while SRH sit just two places higher. As the much-anticipated KKR vs SRH clash at Eden Gardens approaches, both teams will be desperate for a turnaround.
KKR vs SRH Match Details
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Live Streaming: Star Sports, JioCinema
Pitch Report: A Dry and Spinning Surface
Eden Gardens has been a high-scoring venue in the past, but this time, the pitch is set to be dry and spin-friendly. KKR has been allowed to choose between two surfaces, both on the drier side, and they have picked the driest one. This means spinners will play a crucial role, and we could see a low-scoring battle.
Head-to-Head Record
KKR has a dominant record against SRH, winning 19 out of the 28 matches played. Since 2020, KKR has won 9 out of 11 games against SRH. This will give them confidence going into the match.
Team News and Strategies
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Injury Update: Anrich Nortje is close to full fitness but is likely to miss this match.
- Tactical Move: Moeen Ali could replace Spencer Johnson as an extra spin option and provide strength in the batting order.
- Key Players to Watch: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock, Andre Russell, and Varun Chakravarthy.
Probable Playing XI:
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Injury Update: No injury concerns for SRH.
- Tactical Move: Pat Cummins could target Sunil Narine early, as he has dismissed him twice in just seven IPL deliveries.
- Key Players to Watch: Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, and Adam Zampa.
Probable Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar/Zeeshan Ansari, Adam Zampa.
Key Stats & Facts
- SRH had the worst bowling average (37.54) and the second-worst economy rate (9.89) in IPL 2024.
- Sunil Narine has gone wicketless in 14 out of his 25 IPL matches against SRH.
- SRH has the best powerplay scoring rate in IPL 2025 (11.88), but they have lost the most wickets in this phase (7).
What to Expect?
With both teams struggling in IPL 2025, this match is crucial. KKR will bank on their spinners to exploit the dry pitch, while SRH’s power hitters will look to counter them aggressively. While a high-scoring thriller is unlikely, the strategic battle between bat and ball will make for an exciting contest.
Final Thoughts
KKR vs SRH at Eden Gardens promises to be a gripping encounter. Both teams need a win to revive their campaign. Will KKR’s spin strategy work, or will SRH’s batting firepower prove too strong? Cricket fans are in for a thrilling match!
Stay tuned innings360.com for more updates on IPL 2025.
