Preview: The home team, KKR, is coming off a disappointing defeat to Punjab Kings, where they were bowled out for a mere 95 while chasing just 112. Despite being heavy favourites at 62/2, they suffered a surprising collapse, thanks to quality bowling from Yuzvendra Chahal and pacers Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen. This loss exposed KKR’s vulnerability under pressure and their inconsistent batting. However, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Harshit Rana have impressed with the ball, especially in the middle overs. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side is currently in sixth place with three wins from seven games.
On the other hand, the Gujarat Titans have been a solid unit this season, especially with their batting. In their latest clash, GT chased down a 204-run target against Delhi Capitals, thanks to Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 97 off 51 balls. His knock was instrumental in scripting GT’s first successful chase of a 200+ target. Valuable support from Sai Sudharsan and Sherfane Rutherford helped steady the ship in the middle overs, while Rahul Tewatia provided the finishing touches. GT’s bowling has also held firm in crucial phases, with Prasidh Krishna and Sai Kishore playing key roles in containing opposition batters.
Indian Premier League 2025, 39th Match, KKR vs GT
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Date & Time: Monday, April 21, 7:30 PM
Pitch Report: The Eden Gardens pitch is likely to have a bit of grass, and the surface is expected to be firm. Batters can trust the bounce early on, and with short square boundaries, shot-making will be easy. As the game progresses, the pitch could grip a little, making batting slightly tricky. The dew could influence the second innings. Spinners and pacers will both find some assistance, especially as the pitch slows down. With temperatures soaring to 36°C, rain isn’t expected to play spoilsport.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Gujarat Titans (GT)- Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma.
