Cricket Prediction | KKR vs PBKS | Indian Premier League 2025 | 44th Match | April 26 – Can KKR Spark a Late Comeback?

KKR vs PBKS Match Analysis

The 44th match of IPL 2025, the match that every fan and player has waiting for, will take place on April 25th and be hosted at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Both teams come into this match looking to get momentum as the league stage of the tournament moves into the final phase.

Kolkata Knight Riders have been a formidable side this season with a blend of explosive hitters and experienced campaigners. Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership has brought stability to the top order, while players like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh continue to provide the firepower in the death overs.

Punjab Kings have shown glimpses of brilliance but are still striving for consistency. Skipper Shreyas Iyer anchors the middle order, while the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis provide the X-factor.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Team Preview & Squads

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders

Ajinkya Rahane brings a wealth of experience and calmness to the leadership role. Known for his composed approach and ability to guide youngsters, Rahane has been instrumental in managing tense situations.

KKR’s batting lineup is stacked with talent and power-hitters. Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz provide explosive starts, while Rinku Singh and Andre Russell finish games with brute strength. Venkatesh Iyer and Moeen Ali add all-round value to the middle order.

From thunderbolts to twisters, KKR’s bowlers offer the full menu of pace and spin. The spin threat goes to Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, especially on turning pitches. The pace attack of Anrich Nortje and Harshit ran swiftly, with a combination of aggression and control.

In their recent outing against Gujarat Titans at Kolkata, KKR struggled to chase down a steep target. GT posted a commanding 198/3, with KKR managing only 159/8 in reply. Despite a valiant effort from the middle order, the required run rate proved too much. The loss by 39 runs exposed some flaws in their finishing and death bowling.

Kolkata Knight Riders Squads

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer (Vc), Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Quinton de Kock (Wk), Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Chetan Sakariya, Rinku Singh, Luvnith Sisodia (Wicketkeeper), Varun Chakravarthy

Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings

While Shreyas Iyer as a leader provides much-needed steadiness and level-headedness for PBKS, he does have the ability to handle pressure and dictate the pace of his innings. The leadership elements of Shreyas involve leading from the front and remaining level headed under pressure.

Punjab boasts a flexible and aggressive batting lineup. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis bring world-class finishing abilities, while Josh Inglis and Prabhsimran Singh keep the scoreboard ticking. With firepower throughout the lineup, PBKS can score big or chase down any total.

Punjab offers a diverse bowling panel full of specialists. Chahal and Brar are the spinners. Arshdeep Singh and Ferguson are serious pace options among others who can change the pace of their deliveries.

In their previous match versus RCB at Mohali, pbks scored just 157/6 in their innings. Shashank Singh batted well but pbks could not find the extra gas at the end of the innings. The match ended with RCB firmly in control, as they wrapped up the chase inside 19 overs, losing just three wickets.

Punjab Kings Squads

Shreyas Iyer (C), Arshdeep Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Azmatullah Omarzai, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Aaron Hardie, Harnoor Singh, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis (Wk), Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Musheer Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod (Wicketkeeper), Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nehal Wadhera, Yash Thakur

KKR vs PBKS Outfield Report

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

The Eden Gardens pitch usually offers good bounce and carry for batsmen up front, but as the match continues, spinners begin to get some help from the dryer surface. Look for the first batting team to take advantage of the with the conditions before the pitch slows down.

Kolkata will see clear skies on match day with temperatures hovering around 28–30°C during the evening. Humidity could play a factor, especially in the second innings, potentially impacting grip and swing.

The Eden Gardens has witnessed some high-scoring thrillers over the years. A first-innings score between 180–200 is par, with anything above 200 being highly competitive. However, under lights, chasing sides have historically enjoyed better success if dew sets in.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

KKR has had the upper hand in recent encounters, winning 3 of the last 5 matches against PBKS.

KKR vs PBKS Prediction

According to cricket analysts Kolkata Knight Riders have a 54% chance of Winning.