In the 44th match of IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders will host Punjab Kings on Saturday at the Eden Gardens Stadium. The two teams are just 4 points away from each other in the point table, and a win will give both squads an advantage for the rest of the fixtures.
Match Details
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Match 44, IPL 2025 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date & Time | Saturday, April 26, 2025, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming Details | JioStar Network Channels, JioHotstar (app & website) |
PBKS vs KKR Preview:
KKR:
Kolkata Knight Riders came up short against Gujarat Titans in their previous encounter—the 39th match of the 2025 IPL. Batting first, Gujarat posted an impressive 198 for 3, thanks to standout knocks from Shubman Gill (90 off 55) and Sai Sudharsan (52 off 36). Gill was later named Player of the Match for his commanding innings.
In response, KKR couldn’t keep up with the required rate and fell short of the target. Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with a steady 50 off 36 balls, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi chipped in with a quick unbeaten 27 off 13. Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana picked up a wicket each, but it wasn’t enough. Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan both took two wickets as Gujarat sealed a comfortable 39-run win.
PBKS:
In their previous outing—the 37th match of IPL 2025—Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a comfortable 7-wicket win over Punjab Kings. Batting first, Punjab posted 157/6, with Prabhsimran Singh scoring a quick 33 off 17 and Shashank Singh remaining unbeaten on 31 off 33. Harpreet Brar and Arshdeep Singh picked up a wicket each.
In reply, RCB made the chase look easy. Virat Kohli led the way with a brilliant unbeaten 73 off 54 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal supported with a solid 61 off 35. Bengaluru chased down the target in 18.5 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Kohli was named Player of the Match, and with the ball, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Head-to-Head Record
KKR and PBKS have played 34 matches against each other so far, with the former winning 21 and the latter 13.
| Matches | 34 |
| Won by Kolkata Knight Riders | 21 |
| Won by Punjab Kings | 13 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First Played | May 3, 2008 – PBKS won |
| Last Played | April 26, 2024 – PBKS won |
IPL 2025 – KKR at the Eden Gardens Stadium
| Matches Played | 92 |
| Won | 53 |
| Lost | 39 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Batting Average | 29.26 |
| Bowling Run Rate | 8.62 |
| Runs | 14984 |
| Wickets | 512 |
KKR’s Performance at the Eden Gardens Stadium – Post Toss
| Year | Matches | Wins | Loss | Runs | Wickets | Average | RPO | |
| won toss & batted | 2008-2024 | 28 | 11 | 17 | 4281 | 162 | 26.42 | 7.75 |
| won toss & fielded | 2008-2025 | 64 | 37 | 27 | 10270 | 345 | 29.76 | 8.84 |
| lost toss & sent in | 2008-2025 | 64 | 27 | 37 | 11083 | 411 | 26.96 | 8.79 |
| lost toss & fielded | 2008-2024 | 28 | 17 | 11 | 3860 | 139 | 27.76 | 7.78 |
IPL 2025 – PBKS at the Eden Gardens Stadium
| Matches Played | 13 |
| Won | 4 |
| Lost | 9 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| Batting Average | 29.48 |
| Bowling Run Rate | 8.79 |
| Runs | 2182 |
| Wickets | 74 |
PBKS’ Performance at the Eden Gardens Stadium – Post Toss
| Year | Matches | Wins | Loss | Runs | Wickets | Average | RPO | |
| won toss & batted | 2008-2023 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 885 | 27 | 32.77 | 8.85 |
| won toss & fielded | 2011-2024 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1293 | 35 | 36.94 | 9 |
| lost toss & sent in | 2011-2024 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1420 | 52 | 27.3 | 8.87 |
| lost toss & fielded | 2008-2023 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 895 | 27 | 33.14 | 9.3 |
KKR vs PBKS Pitch Report:
Eden Gardens in Kolkata offers a balanced pitch, providing pace and bounce early on for fast bowlers. As the game progresses, the pitch slows down, favoring spinners with some turn. The outfield is quick, making it ideal for high scores, but batting can become tricky as the match wears on. Dew may also assist chasing teams in the second innings.
KKR vs PBKS Weather Report:
The weather at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on April 26th at 7:30 PM is expected to be warm and humid, with a temperature around 27°C (81°F). There’s no significant chance of rain, so the match should go ahead without interruptions.
Predicted Playing XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Punjab Kings:
Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Player: Harpreet Brar
Key Factors :
- Pitch Conditions :
- The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to favor batters , with spinners likely gaining traction as the game progresses 6.
- KKR’s Strengths :
- Batting : Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, and explosive openers (e.g., Rahmanullah Gurbaz) can dominate powerplays.
- Bowling : Spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy could exploit the turning track 6.
- PBKS’ Threats :
- Batting : Shikhar Dhawan’s consistency and Jonny Bairstow’s firepower make them dangerous.
- Bowling : Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar’s ability to take wickets under pressure 6.
Prediction :
- KKR is likely to edge this match due to their balanced squad, spin-friendly pitch, and home advantage.
- PBKS could challenge if their top order fires early, but KKR’s depth in both batting and bowling makes them favorites.
X-Factor : KKR’s ability to restrict PBKS in the middle overs with spin could decide the outcome
2025 IPL TEAM
Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super kings Gujrat Titans Kolkata knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru