Kolkata Knight Riders’ better head-to-head record (19-9) and home advantage could help them in this critical test at Eden Gardens in the City of Joy.
Previous year’s finalists, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who have only one win each this season, will attempt to recapture momentum when they face in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Eden Gardens on Thursday.KKR, the current title holders, will face the combined challenge of limiting SRH’s powerful batsmen while also achieving their own batting potential.
KKR has struggled, with only three batsmen, Quinton de Kock, skipper Ajinkya Rahane, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, accounting for roughly 60% of the team’s runs.KKR’s below-par total (116), which resulted in a humiliating loss to Mumbai Indians, necessitates a few measures to rejuvenate its batting, which features Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell, on a run-getters’ paradise.
The fact that SRH’s Travis Head, Aniket Verma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen have scored more runs than KKR’s combined total (443) in three matches demonstrates the glaring disparity in firepower between the two teams thus far.
However, KKR can learn from Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, who made early breakthroughs, and limit SRH batters.Its opening bowlers, Spencer Johnson and Harshit Rana, should strike in PowerPlay to set the tone for the spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. Following two defeats, SRH, which began by threatening the biggest IPL total, will aim for another huge one.
The Pat Cummins-led attack, which includes Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, and Adam Zampa, has enough weaponry to deal with any opposition.
KKR, on the other hand, should be encouraged by a better head-to-head record (19-9) and a home advantage in this vital match.
