KKR VS RR – Indian Premier League, 2025

Although Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are not yet out of the playoffs, their margin of error has almost disappeared. They can still score 17 points, but only if they have a flawless last four game performance. Two of these games take place at Eden Gardens, where they have just one win out of four completed games this season. Their penultimate home game falls on Saturday afternoon.

KKR must create new ground this season by grouping back-to-back victories for the first time if it is to remain in the race for a top-four finish. Though their previous game against Delhi Capitals (DC) wasn’t flawless, a couple of their performances gave some optimism that fight still resides inside them. Sunil Narine dismissed three top-notchers, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell discovered their spark, and the openers at last set a strong basis. For KKR, repeating all of that and maximizing Venkatesh Iyer will help them to have playoff dreams. A loss would leave them hanging by a thread, not totally destroy them.

Rajasthan Royals (RR), already eliminated, but a side that’s struggling, are opposing them. The Vaibhav Suryavanshi – Yashasvi Jaiswal display against Gujarat Titans was brilliant, but what followed was a subdued capitulation against Mumbai Indians, when they fell by 100 runs.

Although it will be difficult to lift oneself to play alongside Sanju Samson still ailing and Sandeep Sharma out of the competition, a suffering side with nothing to lose might be a formidable one. The management has one eye on IPL 2026 and beyond, hence as their bowling coach Shane Bond said on the eve of the game, certain players would be ready to maximize any chances given to them in their last few games.