Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 39th match of IPL 2025. The game will begin at 7:30 PM IST on Monday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Interestingly, Abhishek Nayar returns to the KKR squad after his coaching stint with India’s national team, which gives the side a timely boost.
GT Hold the Advantage
So far, GT have performed better in past matchups. They have won two out of four matches against KKR. In fact, their only previous clash at Eden Gardens ended in a GT win in 2023.
Moreover, GT come into this game with strong momentum. They won their last match just a day ago. Therefore, they will aim to extend their winning run. On the other hand, KKR have been inconsistent. They defeated Chennai Super Kings convincingly, but then suffered a heavy defeat against Punjab Kings.
KKR Problems
KKR’s biggest problem has been their batting. They have lost matches that seemed within reach. Although their bowlers have done well, the batters haven’t capitalized.
For example, Ajinkya Rahane has led from the front. He has scored the most runs and stepped up during key moments. Additionally, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has performed well at number four.
Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine have delivered only in isolated games. Despite being high on the run charts, they haven’t been consistent.
Furthermore, star players Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh have had quiet seasons. They’ve contributed only in one innings. Similarly, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh have not adapted to match situations. Their focus on power-hitting has backfired.
On the bowling side, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana have stood out. They’ve picked up key wickets at crucial times. Even though Vaibhav Arora has been slightly expensive, he usually bowls in the powerplay. Notably, Narine and Arora have picked enough wickets that Russell hasn’t needed to bowl.
Now, with Anrich Nortje returning from injury, KKR’s pace attack gets a major boost. However, it remains to be seen how well he adapts to the conditions at home.
Gujarat Titans Plans
GT captain Shubman Gill returns to familiar territory at Eden Gardens. He, along with Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, forms a strong top order. Together, they have scored most of the team’s runs. Moreover, Sherfane Rutherford, used as an impact player, has made useful contributions.
However, the lower middle-order has disappointed. Both Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia haven’t made the most of their chances with the bat.
In contrast, GT’s bowling has been impressive. Former KKR pacer Prasidh Krishna has found great form. He leads the wicket-takers with 14 wickets and wears the Purple Cap. Alongside him, Mohammed Siraj has bowled well with the new ball. Also, Sai Kishore has delivered with his spin.
On the downside, Rashid Khan hasn’t looked like his usual self. Other pacers also haven’t made much impact so far.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Kolkata usually supports both batters and bowlers. Generally, a score between 160 and 180 runs is considered competitive. However, slower bowlers might get help as the ball could stick on the surface.
Consequently, the toss becomes important. The team that wins it might choose to bowl first, as dew is expected during the second innings. Interestingly, in the last match at this venue, Lucknow Super Giants scored 238 runs, but that was in an afternoon game. Conditions will be different on Monday night.
Weather Report
The weather looks good for a full match. The temperature will hover around 28°C on Monday evening. Humidity will be high at 85%. However, there’s only a 1% chance of rain, so a full game is very likely.
Probable Playing XI's
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Quinton de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje and Varun Chakaravarthy (Impact player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Vaibhav Arora)
Gujarat Titans (GT): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj (Impact player: Ishant Sharma/Sherfane Rutherford)