Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue their survival mission in IPL 2025 as they take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in yet another must-win match. After back-to-back victories—one away against Delhi Capitals and another narrow win at home against Rajasthan Royals—KKR remain in the playoff hunt, but the equation is simple: win all three remaining matches to reach 17 points and hope other results go their way.
Their recent revival has been driven by clutch performances—Sunil Narine’s game-turning spell against DC, Andre Russell’s rescue act with the bat against RR, and continued consistency from Varun Chakravarthy. While questions remain about their middle-order depth and the optimal use of their fourth overseas slot, KKR have started to find answers under pressure.
Now, they face a familiar and formidable opponent in MS Dhoni’s CSK. Although CSK are unlikely to make the playoffs, their pride and legacy as five-time champions mean they’ll be eager to finish strong. Their narrow two-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous game showed they still have fight left.
When these two teams met earlier this season, KKR dominated—bowling CSK out for just 103, with Narine starring with both bat (44) and ball (3 for 13). With spin likely to play a key role once again at Eden Gardens, the battle between the slow bowlers could be decisive, though CSK’s spinners haven’t been in the best form.
Tactical Decisions and Player Watch
A major question for KKR is who their fourth overseas player should be. Rovman Powell has power-hitting ability but has been batting too low at No. 8. Moeen Ali, a floater who offers offspin, hasn’t made much of an impact. With CSK expected to open with a young pair, should KKR consider the pace threat of Anrich Nortje or Spencer Johnson instead?
For CSK, 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre has been a revelation. His aggressive knock against RCB (94 off 46) brought much-needed urgency to their top order, which has had the slowest powerplay scoring rate this season (8.1). Mhatre’s strike rate of 189 in the first six overs is the best among all players with at least 50 balls faced.
On the other hand, KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane has been effective in the powerplay as well, striking at 185 and averaging over 100 against pace. However, his struggle against spin—averaging just 16.9 and striking at 115—remains a concern, especially given recent dismissals to spinners like Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
Team Updates
KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit confirmed that Rinku Singh is fit after a minor injury scare. Moeen Ali may retain his spot as the spin-bowling allrounder, and Russell’s batting position could be flexible depending on the match situation.
KKR (probable XII):
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5. Venkatesh Iyer, 6. Rinku Singh, 7. Andre Russell, 8. Ramandeep Singh, 9. Moeen Ali, 10. Harshit Rana, 11. Varun Chakravarthy, 12. Vaibhav Arora
CSK (probable XII):
- Ayush Mhatre, 2. Urvil Patel/Shaik Rasheed, 3. Sam Curran, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. Ravindra Jadeja, 6. Shivam Dube, 7. MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8. Deepak Hooda, 9. Khaleel Ahmed, 10. Noor Ahmed, 11. Anshul Kamboj, 12. Matheesha Pathirana
Urvil Patel, a recent addition to the CSK squad, could make his debut. The Gujarat batter was the top six-hitter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and smashed a 28-ball century—the joint second-fastest in T20 history.
Pitch & Conditions
Eden Gardens has seen high scores this season, with teams batting first winning four of five completed matches. The average first-innings total is 203, and the surface appears conducive for another 200+ game. Rain, however, remains a concern, as it has been throughout the week. This match will be played on the same pitch where Punjab Kings scored 201 in a game later abandoned due to weather.
