Indian Premier League 2025, 44th Match played between KKR vs PBKS at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, stay updated with ScoreWaves for Indian Premier League 2025 44th Match Fantasy Tips, Playing 11, Pitch reports, Fastest cricket score, fastest updates, sports news and more
Things are getting seriously intense at the top of the IPL 2025 table. Just two points separate Gujarat Titans in first place from Lucknow Super Giants in sixth, and right in the middle of this tight playoff race are Punjab Kings. Sitting fifth with 10 points, PBKS find themselves in a good spot — and with a game in hand over most of their rivals, tonight’s clash against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders is massive. A win could launch Punjab as high as third in the standings. If that’s not motivation enough, what is? With the tournament now deep into its business end, every win feels like gold dust. And taking down the reigning champs would not only boost morale but would also feel extra sweet for Shreyas Iyer, who captained KKR to the title last season and now leads PBKS.
But don’t expect KKR to just roll over. They might be further down the table, but they’re still very much alive in the playoff hunt with six points from eight games. A victory tonight would bring them right back into the mix. Plus, there’s a bit of pride on the line. KKR will be desperate to set the record straight after that embarrassing defeat to Punjab earlier this season, when they failed to chase down just 112 and were bowled out for 95 — setting an unwanted IPL record for the lowest unchased total. If KKR want to stay in the playoff conversation, they simply have to win tonight.
KKR and PBKS have had some fierce battles over the years, with KKR historically holding the upper hand. With the match being played at Eden Garden, KKR will have the home advantage, and their spin-heavy attack of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy could be a major threat on a turning track. Their batting lineup, led by Andre Russell, Rinku Singh and new signing Ajinkya Rahane, looks solid, and they’ll be go to strongly their title defense with a win. On the other hands, PBKS boasts an explosive batting unit, featuring Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Badhera, Shashank Singh, and Glen Maxwell. However, their biggest concern has always been their bowling attack like Harpreet Barar, which often struggles in high-scoring encounters. While Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen add depth, they’ll need to handle KKR’s aggressive top order. Given KKR’s superior bowling attack and home conditions, they might start as slight favorites. But PBKS’s firepower makes them dangerous, and if their bowling holds up, an upset could be on the cards. Let’s break down their head-to-head record to see who holds the edge ahead of the IPL 2025 opener:
Total Matches Played: 34
KKR Wins: 21
PBKS Wins: 13
No Result/Abandoned Matches: 1
KKR: L L W L W
PBKS: L W W L W
As far as fantasy cricket is concerned, PBKS might have the edge with their explosive batting lineup led by Priyansh Arya, PrabhSimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Badhera, Shashank Singh, and Glen Maxwell but KKR’s balanced squad and the presence of all-rounders like Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh and Sunil Narine make them a formidable opponent. Eden Gardens, with its high-scoring potential, might slightly favor the batting-heavy teams, so expect a run-fest.
Injury Update: Currently no injury concern.
Match: KKR vs PBKS 44th Match of IPL 2025
Date: 26 April 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Stadium: Eden Garden
Location: Kolkata
Eden Garden in Kolkata is known for its vibrant atmosphere and a pitch that offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. The surface generally provides good pace and bounce, making it favorable for both fast bowlers and batsmen in the early overs. As the game progresses, the pitch tends to favor spinners, who can exploit the turning ball in the middle overs. The fast outfield and short boundaries make it a high-scoring venue, with 180-190 being a competitive total.
| IPL Stats | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 96 |
| Batting First Won | 40 |
| Bowling First Won | 56 |
| 1st Innings Average Score | 166 |
| 2nd Innings Average Score | 172 |
| Highest Total | 262/2 |
| Lowest Total | 49/10 |
| Highest Chased | 262/2 |
| Lowest Defended | 131/8 |
Possible Playing 11 for KKR:
Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Players: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Moeen Ali
Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis, Shashank Singh(w), Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Sub: Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vaishak, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh
Ajinkya Rahane: 50 (36), 17 (17), 31 (29), 61 (35), 38 (27)
A. Raghuvanshi: 27* (13), 37 (28), 20* (17), 5 (4), 3 50 (32)
Venkatesh Iyer: 14 (19), 7 (4), DNB, 45 (29), 60 (29)
Andre Russell: 21 (15) + 1/13, 17* (11) + DNB, DNB + DNB, 7 (7) + 1/32, 1 (2) + 2/21
Sunil Narine: 17 (13) + 0/36, 5 (4) + 2/14, 44 (18) + 3/13, 30 (13) + 0/38, 7 (7) + 1/30
Harshit Rana: 1/45, 3/25, 2/16, 2/51, 1/15
Vaibhav Arora: 1/44, 1/26, 1/31, 0/35, 3/29
Varun Chakravarty: 0/33, 2/21, 2/22, 0/31, 3/22
Priyansh Arya: 22 (15), 16 (11), 22 (12), 36 (13), 103 (42)
Prabhsimran Singh: 33 (17), 13 (9), 30 (15), 42 (23), 0 (2)
Shreyas Iyer: 6 (10), 7 (10), 0 (2), 82 (36), 9 (7)
Shashank Singh: 31* (33), 1 (5), 18(17), 2 (3), 52 (36),
Marco Jansen: 0/20 + 25*(20), 2/10 + DNB, 3/17 + 1(2), 0/39 + 5(5), 0/48 + 34(19)
Arshdeep Singh: 1/26, 2/23, 1/11, 1/37, 0/39
Yuzvendra Chahal: 1/36, 2/11, 1/5, 1/56, 0/9
Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh
Batsman: Ajinkya Rahane, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer
All-rounders: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Marco Jansen
Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Choice 1: Sunil Narine (C), Marco Jansen (VC)
Choice 2: Shreyash Iyer (C), Vaibhav Arora (VC)
Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh,
The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision
Also Read: Sourav Ganguly Urges India to Cut All Cricketing Ties with Pakistan After Pahalgam Attack
Share this post
When you think of India’s golden era of Test cricket in the 21st century, it’s impossible to leave out the name Virat Kohli. Kohli redefined India’s attitude in the longest format of the game. From a young, aggressive lad stepping into a heavyweight team to leading it to the pinnacle of the ICC rankings, Kohli’s Test journey has been one for the ages. "Virat Kohli’s Greatest Test Milestones" is more than just a list of stats; it's a tribute to a player who wore his heart on his sleeve and changed Indian cricket forever.
Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket after a remarkable 14-year journey. In an emotional Instagram post, he reflected on the personal impact of the format and expressed deep gratitude. Kohli retires as one of India’s greatest Test players, leaving behind a legacy of passion, discipline, and unmatched commitment to the game.
Smriti Mandhana delivered a record-breaking performance in the Sri Lanka Tri-Series Final, scoring the highest by an Indian woman in an international final. She smashed the most sixes in a WODI by an Indian woman and equaled the record for most fours by a left-hander, marking her as the standout star of the match.
Rohit Sharma has officially bid farewell to Test cricket, drawing the curtains on a remarkable red-ball career that took its time to blossom but ultimately left a lasting legacy. For years, critics doubted whether his white-ball brilliance would ever translate to the longer format. But when it did, it was worth the wait. So, here’s a look at Rohit Sharma’s top five Test knocks.
Ajinkya Rahane has joined the elite 5000-run club in IPL history, becoming the ninth player to achieve the feat. Now leading Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, Rahane continues to impress with both his batting and leadership. His milestone reflects years of consistency, adaptability, and class across multiple franchises in the world's biggest T20 league.
ScoreWaves © 2025 Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Views:
Download Our App
IOS
Google Play Store