The IPL 2025 season brings an exciting clash between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. These two teams last met in the IPL 2024 final, where KKR dominated to lift the trophy. However, their fortunes in the current season have not been as favorable. KKR vs SRH is a crucial match, with KKR finding itself at the bottom of the points table after three games, while SRH sits just two places above them. With both teams struggling, this match is vital for their comeback.
Match Details
- Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Date: April 3, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Live Streaming: Star Sports Network, JioCinema
- Official IPL Website: IPL Official Website
Pitch and Weather Report
The Eden Gardens pitch has been a point of debate. A day before the match, two pitch options were presented—a dry surface and an even drier one. KKR has opted for the driest surface, aiming to leverage their spinners. While the surface could assist slow bowlers, SRH’s batting firepower against spin remains a key factor.
Weather Forecast: Kolkata is expected to be warm and humid with no significant chances of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted match.
Head-to-Head Record
KKR holds a strong advantage over SRH in IPL history.
| Year | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 8 wickets | Chennai |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 5 runs | Hyderabad |
| 2022 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7 wickets | Kolkata |
| 2021 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 10 runs | Abu Dhabi |
| 2020 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Super Over | Dubai |
Team News and Strategies
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Injury Updates: Anrich Nortje is close to full fitness but may not be available for this game.
Tactics & Matchups: KKR is likely to bring in Moeen Ali to strengthen their spin department, replacing Spencer Johnson. Dwayne Bravo, KKR’s mentor, emphasized the importance of adapting to pitch conditions, indicating that spin will play a crucial role.
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 Updates: No injury concerns for SRH.
Tactics & Matchups: Pat Cummins has had success against Sunil Narine in the past, dismissing him twice in seven deliveries in IPL history. Given KKR’s left-handed-heavy lineup, Travis Head might have additional bowling duties.
Probable Playing XI:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Travis Head
- Ishan Kishan
- Nitish Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
- Aniket Verma
- Abhinav Manohar
- Pat Cummins (c)
- 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. Their bowling struggles continue in IPL 2025.
- Sunil Narine has gone wicketless in 14 of his 25 IPL matches vs SRH.
- SRH has the best scoring rate in the powerplay this season (11.88), but they have also lost the most wickets (7) in this phase.
Expert Opinions
Dwayne Bravo (KKR Mentor): “For me, the team that adapts best will win. Whether the pitch is slow, turning, or flat, players need to assess and adjust.”
Ryan Cook (SRH Fielding Coach): “Both teams have strong batting line-ups. Last time we played here, it was a 200-plus contest. Looking forward to another high-scoring game.”
Conclusion
Both KKR and SRH are desperate for a win to move up the points table. With Eden Gardens set to offer spin-friendly conditions, this match could be a tactical battle rather than a high-scoring affair. Will Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad strategy to dominate with spin pay off, or will KKR vs SRH powerful batting lineup overcome the challenge? Tune in at 7:30 PM IST to find out!
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