Match 39 of the IPL 2025 will see the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the legendary Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday, April 21.
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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Preview
Over the years, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have featured in 259 matches, but only three of those have been against Gujarat Titans (GT)—a surprisingly low number. In fact, only the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers have faced KKR fewer times. Interestingly, GT haven’t encountered any other team as infrequently.
It’s unfortunate, as KKR and GT offer an intriguing contrast in styles. Both sides value match-winning spinners, yet their batting philosophies differ drastically. At their peak, KKR are adventurous and unorthodox—opening with Sunil Narine and often turning to spin in the death overs. In contrast, GT adopt a more measured approach. Their top order is built around three anchors who accumulate the bulk of the runs, while their success largely hinges on disciplined bowling and error-free execution.
IPL 2025 hasn’t been kind to the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The loss of key players Phil Salt and Shreyas Iyer at the auction left a gaping hole in their batting line-up. As a result, they currently hold the second-lowest scoring rate in the tournament—just 9.05 runs per over. What’s keeping them in the hunt is their exceptional bowling attack, which boasts the best economy rate (8.30) this season. Even so, they’ve managed only three wins from four matches, barely staying afloat.
The defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have endured a turbulent start to their IPL 2025 campaign. Defending a title is always a tough task—more so when a mega auction follows the championship season. KKR found themselves on the wrong side of several crucial decisions, most notably the widely debated choice to not retain Shreyas Iyer, their title-winning captain. They also lost the guidance of mentor Gautam Gambhir, who moved on to become the head coach of the Indian men’s national team.
To compound matters, KKR haven’t had the luxury of tailor-made home pitches, a recurring frustration for the franchise in recent seasons. With all these disruptions, it’s no surprise their campaign has lacked cohesion.
At the halfway mark, KKR sit with three wins and four losses—a subpar return by their own standards. Still, all is not lost. In T20 cricket, momentum can swing in an instant. To spark a turnaround, though, KKR’s batting must evolve—especially when it comes to facing spin. Their lineup has shown a clear weakness against quality spin bowling. Barring Sunil Narine, whose approach is more brute force than finesse, and Venkatesh Iyer, most of their batters struggle to settle against spin early in their innings.
That shortcoming was brutally exposed in their shocking collapse against Punjab Kings, where they failed to chase down a modest target—marking the lowest successful defense in IPL history. It’s the kind of defeat that can haunt a team’s confidence unless addressed quickly. Their lower middle order has also failed to step up, leaving glaring holes in the batting department heading into the second half of the season.
On the flip side, KKR’s spin attack has been their biggest asset. With a combination of experience and variety, it remains one of the most potent in the league.
But that strength will be put to the ultimate test against Gujarat Titans—undoubtedly the best side against spin this season. Statistically, no team comes close to matching GT’s proficiency against slower bowlers. That sets the stage for a gripping contest, with KKR’s elite spinners going up against GT’s top-order masters of spin. The outcome of this battle could very well shape the trajectory of both teams’ seasons.
The Gujarat Titans have enjoyed a largely seamless campaign in IPL 2025 so far, registering five wins from their first seven outings and looking well on course to seal a playoff spot in the near future. What’s impressive is that they’ve achieved this despite their captain, Shubman Gill, not quite hitting top gear yet. The burden of run-scoring has instead been carried exceptionally well by Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, whose form at the top has laid a strong foundation in most matches. Their dominance has meant the lower middle order hasn’t been tested much—but there’s no shortage of firepower waiting in the wings if required.
On the bowling front, while Rashid Khan has had a subdued season by his lofty standards, the Titans haven’t felt the pinch. Their pace unit has more than stepped up, with Prasidh Krishna emerging as a standout performer. Mohammed Siraj has chipped in with crucial spells, while Sai Kishore has quietly taken on the role of lead spinner in the absence of Rashid’s usual spark, delivering consistent breakthroughs.
With form, balance, and confidence all firmly on their side, Gujarat Titans head into the clash as strong favourites. However, they’ll be wary of KKR’s star-studded roster—brimming with match-winners capable of single-handedly swinging the momentum. On their day, KKR’s big names can dismantle even the most settled opposition.
KKR lead the charts for the most economical spin attack this season, conceding just 6.51 runs per over — the only team yet to go above the 8 RPO mark.
Gujarat Titans’ top three batters have been responsible for a staggering 69.86% of the team’s total runs this season (excluding extras).
Jos Buttler has a stellar record at Eden Gardens, having scored two centuries and a fifty in seven innings at the venue. His strike rate there stands at an impressive 165, well above his IPL career strike rate of 148.74.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Recent Form
Kolkata Knight Riders LWLWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Titans WWWLW
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Head-to-Head
KKR 1-2-GT
- Matches Played: 03
- Won by Kolkata Knight Riders: 01
- Won by Gujarat Titans: 02
- Tied: 00
- No Result: 00
- First-ever Fixture: April 23, 2022
- Most-recent Fixture: April 29, 2023
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Kolkata is expected to be hot and humid, and in the three games played this season, teams winning the toss have opted to chase, with mixed results. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) successfully restricted KKR to 174 and won, while the other two matches saw successful defenses of totals above 200.
The pitches have generally been batting-friendly, offering good pace and carry. The short boundaries have further facilitated power hitting, as seen in previous seasons. However, the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad stood out, with the pitch offering some assistance to spinners. KKR has expressed a preference for such tracks at home, though whether they will get their wish remains uncertain. With Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore in the opposition, a pitch that favors spin could be a double-edged sword.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Team News and Predicted XI
Kolkata Knight Riders – Team News
In their last match, KKR gave Anrich Nortje his debut, believing his extra pace could help them target the Punjab Kings (PBKS) batting. While Nortje did his job, this decision meant sacrificing Moeen Ali’s batting strength. The conditions will dictate which of the two plays, but given Moeen’s all-round capabilities, he remains the favorite, especially after PBKS was bowled out for just 95. There have been no reported injuries or availability issues for KKR.
Sunil Narine has had a solid record against Shubman Gill, dismissing him twice in 12 deliveries while conceding only 13 runs. Narine has also kept Jos Buttler relatively quiet, giving up just 61 runs off 57 balls with one wicket. Considering Buttler’s strong matchup stats against other KKR bowlers, including Varun Chakravarthy, and GT’s heavy reliance on their top order, Narine will be a crucial figure in this contest.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Predicted XI
- Sunil Narine
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Ajinkya Rahane (capt)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Moeen Ali/Anrich Nortje
- Vaibhav Arora
- Varun Chakravarthy
Gujarat Titans – Team News
Kagiso Rabada remains unavailable after returning home for a personal emergency. Gujarat Titans (GT) have a fairly settled line-up, with only one player rotated based on conditions. This could be Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, or Kulwant Khejroliya. Washington adds extra batting depth, but he only plays if the pitch is expected to be slow.
GT boast the best average (52.37) and strike rate (162.4) against spin of any team this season. Additionally, their top-three batters have the highest cumulative average (49.72) among all teams this year. Their performance against KKR’s top spin attack will be crucial. Jos Buttler will be a key figure in this match, not only because of his stellar form but also due to his excellent strike rate against KKR’s bowlers. His strike rate against Varun Chakravarthy is 190, rising to 212.50 against Anrich Nortje and 215.78 against Andre Russell. Buttler also has two IPL centuries against the defending champions, both scored at this venue.
Gujarat Titans – Predicted XI
- Shubman Gill (capt)
- B Sai Sudharsan
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Shahrukh Khan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Arshad Khan
- Sai Kishore
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
- Ishant Sharma/Washington Sundar/Kulwant Khejroliya
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Players To Watch Out For
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Andre Russell has faced only 31 balls and bowled just 39 so far. Midway through the league stage, his batting strike rate is just over 75. His point of entry has varied across the matches: 14.6, 10.3, 19.3, 14.6, and 10.4.
KKR’s usage of him hasn’t been particularly inefficient: there have been easy wins when he wasn’t needed to bat or when he came in during the 20th over, two collapses, and two ideal moments when he entered with five overs to go. Russell will look to capitalize on these opportunities, especially with the middle order struggling.
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)
Shubman Gill is not having a poor IPL by any means, with an average of 36 and a strike rate of 149. However, he is being overshadowed by the other two members of GT’s “holy trinity”—B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler.
Gill has managed just 215 runs of the 895 scored by the top three in seven matches. After being run out in the previous game, and now facing his former team, Gill will be eager to get back among the runs.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 65-75
- Gujarat Titans Total: 210-220
- Match Result: Kolkata Knight Riders win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Gujarat Titans win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 55-65
- Kolkata Knight Riders Total: 200-210
- Match Result: Gujarat Titans win the match
When and Where To Watch Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Monday, April 21, at the Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
FAQs
How many times have Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) faced each other in the IPL?
KKR and GT have faced off just three times in the IPL, with GT leading the head-to-head 2-1.
What is Kolkata Knight Riders’ strength in IPL 2025?
KKR’s strength in IPL 2025 lies in their exceptional spin attack, boasting the best economy rate in the league at 6.51 RPO.
How has Shubman Gill performed in IPL 2025 so far?
Shubman Gill has had a decent IPL 2025 with an average of 36 and a strike rate of 149, but he has been overshadowed by his teammates, B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler.
What makes Gujarat Titans’ batting top order so strong?
GT’s top three batters have been the backbone of their runs, contributing a staggering 69.86% of the team’s total runs this season (excluding extras).
Why is Sunil Narine important for KKR against Gujarat Titans?
Sunil Narine has a strong track record against GT’s top players, dismissing Shubman Gill twice and keeping Jos Buttler quiet with a superb economy rate. He will be key to KKR’s strategy against GT.
