Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders’ Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy during their practice session ahead of an IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 2, 2025
| Photo Credit: PTI
Previous year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, lying low this time with just a win apiece, will look to regain momentum when they meet in the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday (April 3, 2025).
Title holder KKR will have a dual challenge of containing SRH’s explosive batters and realising its own batting potential. KKR has struggled as only three of its batters, Quinton de Kock, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, have gathered nearly 60% of its runs.
KKR’s below-par total (116), resulting in a humiliating loss, against Mumbai Indians warrants a few measures to revive its batting, also including 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 aggregate (443) in three matches shows the stark difference in firepower so far in both camps.
However, KKR can take a cue from Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, which earned early breakthroughs, and restrict SRH batters. Its opening bowlers, such as Spencer Johnson and Harshit Rana, should strike in Powerplay and set the stage for the spinners, including Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Following two defeats, SRH, which began by threatening the highest IPL total, will aspire to erect another massive one. The Pat Cummins-led attack, comprising Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel and Adam Zampa, has enough ammunition to tackle any opposition.
Its better head-to-head record (19-9) and home environment should comfort KKR in this crucial test.
Published – April 02, 2025 06:18 pm IST