Match Info
Match: KKR vs CSK – Match 57, IPL 2025
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Preview
With the league stage winding down, KKR has a must-win match against a CSK side already eliminated from playoff contention. CSK will have nothing to lose but pride while KKR have playoff hopes still hanging by a thread.
KKR leapfrogged back into the race for playoffs this season sitting 6th on Points Table with 11 points from 11 matches (5 wins, 5 losses, and 1 no result). They come in as returning champions, but have not found the form that saw them clinch the title last season. They now have 3 matches left in the league stage and have no margin for error
CSK have had a terrible season with injuries to numerous players including captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, which forced MS Dhoni back into the captaincy. Even the legendary MS Dhoni has not been able to save CSK’s season, with the side having ventured into testing some younger players, they clearly turned their attention to the future.
What To Expect
Pitch: Eden Gardens has batted well this year but with spinners accessing some help as well. This should be a well-scoring game that may include a little bit of spin challenge
Conditions: Perfect for strokeplay; Narine and Chakaravarthy may find a gripping surface
Head-to-Head
Overall: KKR 11 – 19 CSK
2022 – Present: KKR 3 – 2 CSK
Tactics & Match-ups
Once again, KKR are extremely reliant on the spin-bowling duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy who have made short work of the CSK middle order.
Ajinkya Rahane, the KKR captain, and their leading run-scorer this season has been impressive against pace attacks but has a poor record against spin teams; CSK may see this as an opportunity.
CSK are likely to provide chances to many of their younger players including Urvil Patel, while Ravi Jadeja and Sam Curran will be keys for Edward’s team again with bat and ball.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Team Watch
Injury Update: No injuries reported
Players to Watch: Andre Russell (in great form), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane
Tactics: Spin as much as you can through the middle overs. Be Daring in the powerplays!
Probable XII:
Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Chennai Super Kings – Team Watch
Injury Report: Vansh Bedi has been ruled out, Urvil Patel has been added
Players to Watch: Ravindra Jadeja (coming off of his career T20 best), Sam Curran, Shivam Dube
Tactics: Spin early against Rahane and use the youth energy in the field and in the batters arms!
Probable XII:
Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda/Urvil Patel, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj
Did You Know?
KKR spinners have taken 31 wickets this season, more than any other team.
Ayush Mhatre has hit 3 PowerPlay sixes, which is more than half of CSK’s total PowerPlay sixes.
Ravindra Jadeja scored his highest-ever T20 score (77) in C49 against RCB.
From the Dugout
“When I see five overs on the scorecard and I see thirty balls I think about if I can face fifteen of those, I will get forty runs based on my power.”
– Andre Russell, on handling pressure
“We need to practice more yorkers… You have to trust batters when they are connecting.”
– MS Dhoni, on bowling strategy
Final Word
It is a crucial clash with KKR looking to stay alive in the playoff race and CSK looking to play for pride and youth development. It should be competitive as KKR pushes for the playoffs with a full-strength side while CSK look to spoil the fun.
