As the IPL 2025 season races toward the playoffs, every match now carries added weight — and Match 44 promises fireworks as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Saturday, April 26. With KKR looking to solidify their position in the top four and PBKS desperate to stay in contention, fans can expect a thrilling clash packed with big hits, fierce bowling, and tactical brilliance. This article dives deep into both teams’ squads, past performances, key players, pitch analysis, and a detailed prediction to help you gear up for the match.
Match Overview: KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2025 Match 44
- Fixture: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings
- Match Number: 44
- Date: April 26, 2025 (Saturday)
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Updated Pitch and Weather Report – Eden Gardens 2025
The Eden Gardens pitch continues to be one of the most batter-friendly surfaces in IPL 2025. However, bowlers who vary their pace and use the short boundaries strategically have found some success.
- Pitch Behavior: Favorable to batters; spinners can turn the tide in middle overs
- Average First Innings Score: 175+
- Weather Forecast: Clear skies, 27–36°C, high humidity, no rain expected
KKR and PBKS squads for IPL 2025
| KKR Squad (IPL 2025) | PBKS Squad (IPL 2025) |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Nehal Wadhera |
| Manish Pandey | Harnoor Singh |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Shreyas Iyer |
| Rinku Singh | Musheer Khan |
| Luvnith Sisodia | Pyla Avinash |
| Quinton de Kock | Prabhsimran Singh |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Vishnu Vinod |
| Sunil Narine | Josh Inglis |
| Andre Russell | Marcus Stoinis |
| Ramandeep Singh | Glenn Maxwell |
| Anukul Roy | Praveen Dubey |
| Rovman Powell | Priyansh Arya |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Moeen Ali | Aaron Hardie |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Marco Jansen |
| Harshit Rana | Harpreet Brar |
| Vaibhav Arora | Suryansh Shedge |
| Mayank Markande | Shashank Singh |
| Umran Malik | Lockie Ferguson |
| Anrich Nortje | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Spencer Johnson | Arshdeep Singh |
| – | Xavier Bartlett |
| – | Kuldeep Sen |
| – | Vijaykumar Vyshak |
| – | Yash Thakur |
Head-to-Head Record – KKR vs PBKS
- Matches Played: 32
- KKR Wins: 20
- PBKS Wins: 12
KKR clearly has the upper hand in head-to-head meetings. However, PBKS defended a mere 111 against KKR earlier this season — proving that anything is possible in T20 cricket.
Players to Watch Out For
KKR Key Players
- Sunil Narine – Explosive starts and tight overs
- Andre Russell – Match-winner in both departments
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi – Consistent top-order run-scorer
- Vaibhav Arora – Breakthrough pace option
PBKS Key Players
- Priyansh Arya – The batting revelation of IPL 2025
- Prabhsimran Singh – Aggressive opener
- Shreyas Iyer – Calm and composed under pressure
- Yuzvendra Chahal – Leading the wicket charts
- Arshdeep Singh – Lethal with the new and old ball
Crucial Matchups
- Russell vs Chahal – Big hitter vs smart spinner
- Narine vs Arshdeep – Early momentum vs swing control
- Arya vs Chakravarthy – Rookie talent vs mystery spin
- Stoinis vs Russell – All-rounder showdown
Strategic Approaches
KKR Game Plan:
- Utilize Narine in the powerplay
- Use Russell as a death overs enforcer
Spin choke between overs 7–15
PBKS Game Plan:
- Get a fiery start in the powerplay
- Target Russell and Chakravarthy for boundary overs
- Let Chahal control the tempo post powerplay
Current Form – Last 5 Matches
- KKR: W,L,W,L,L
- PBKS: W,L,W,W,L
Match Prediction – Who Will Win KKR vs PBKS in IPL 2025?
While PBKS has shown flashes of brilliance, the Eden Gardens advantage and KKR’s more balanced squad make them the favorites for this match. Expect PBKS to fight hard, but KKR’s experience and home crowd might just tip the scales.
Predicted Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Conclusion
As IPL 2025 intensifies, KKR vs PBKS in Match 44 is shaping up to be a pivotal encounter for both teams. With stars like Russell, Chahal, Narine, and Arya ready to shine under the Kolkata lights, fans can expect a thrilling contest full of surprises. Whether you’re a KKR loyalist or a PBKS believer, this match could deliver season-defining moments. Don’t miss it!
Also Read: Which is the Highest Fan Following IPL Team 2025? All IPL Team and Their Owners
