At 62 for 2, KKR were in control with Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi at the crease. But Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin caused a collapse on a pitch offering variable bounce, leading to their downfall.
Six runs scored from the opening over when Priyansh hit a switch-hit maximum to score six runs from it. A huge LBW appeal was lodged next ball when his reverse sweep failed.
| Match | Date | Venue | Toss | Result | Notable Performances | Key Moments | Points Table Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – IPL 2025, Match 31 | April 7, 2025 | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh | PBKS won toss, elected to bowl first | PBKS won by 16 runs | PBKS: Yuzvendra Chahal – crucial wickets, Priyansh Arya – switch-hit six; Glenn Maxwell – all-round support. KKR: Ajinkya Rahane & Angkrish Raghuvanshi – solid start, Andre Russell – big hitting late. | – KKR 62/2 with Rahane & Raghuvanshi in control before Chahal’s spell caused collapse.- Rahane’s dismissal (no review) triggered fall of wickets.- Andre Russell’s two sixes and four fours not enough to chase target.- PBKS defended 112 successfully. | PBKS strengthened mid-table position, staying in playoff contention.KKR’s loss deepened struggles, staying near 7th place. |
KKR vs PBKS
KKR have found success difficult this season, winning only three games and sitting seventh in the standings. On Tuesday they face Punjab who currently lie fifth and boast an excellent batting line-up that should thrive on this batting-friendly surface. It should be an exciting match between two sides that may very well determine their season’s fates.
This match will take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh and was won by PBKS after they elected to bowl first at a toss decision made earlier. Although conditions should favor batting in the latter stages of play, the forecast predicts rain which may make things more challenging.
After an impressive start to the season, KKR recently suffered their first defeat at Sunrisers Hyderabad and need to recover quickly in order to keep playoff hopes alive. Their batting strength is undoubtedly one of their strongest assets this year and there is plenty of talent within their middle order that could step up and lead their side to victory.
Even after their recent loss, PBKS remain a dangerous team. They boast an excellent record on the road and will look to improve their home form against KKR in this matchup. Although the reigning champions may not be at their best right now, with just a few wins over the coming weeks they could turn things around dramatically.
The match will be shown live on Star Sports 1 and Hotstar in India, with live streaming available via Hotstar website and full match replay provided by KKR website.
Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi Rinku Singh Angkrish Raghuvanshi Rinku Singh Andre Russell Ramandeep Singh Harshit Rana Anrich Nortje/Moeen Ali Varun Chakaravarthy and Vabhav Arora will be key figures to keep an eye out for in KKR’s batting line-up.
KKR have an advantage in this matchup as the defending IPL champions. They have defeated PBKS 27 times previously, and hope to add one more win on Saturday. However, this year has seen them make strides forward and become serious contenders for a top four finish in the league.
Match 31 of IPL 2025
Punjab Kings under Ajinkya Rahane have had an uneven start to 2025 Indian Premier League play with three wins and two losses – they’re looking for consistency when they meet Kolkata Knight Riders for their 31st game on April 7th! Both sides aim to reach the top four so this matchup should prove exciting.
KKR have struggled to break free from the middle table position, as their batting struggles against SunRisers Hyderabad demonstrated. Furthermore, their bowling has been inconsistent; therefore if they want a place in the playoffs this match must improve significantly for them.
Meanwhile, PBKS have looked strong at the top of their order, and will be confident of scoring big against Mullanpur on a pitch known for being batsmen-friendly. Both sides boast some incredible batsmen; this match could become an intricate game of strategy as PBKS may rely on more accurate bowling to claim victory.
PBKS’ game against KKR will mark their inaugural hosting in this tournament and they are determined to make a strong impression at home. In order to succeed they must play well early on while leaning on their bowlers for support.
At 62 for 2, KKR held control of the game with Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi at the crease, but Rahane’s dismissal – which wasn’t reviewed and didn’t survive an appeal process – opened up a floodgate of wickets falling regularly for Kings XI Punjab.
Harshit Rana was the last man out, edging Yuzvendra Chahal’s delivery into the backward point fielder and giving KKR two overs remaining to chase 112. They needed 17 runs from 36 balls with just two overs remaining, yet Andre Russell hit Chahal for two sixes and four fours to bring closer towards victory; ultimately however they fell 16 runs short and lost by default. Punjab kings vs kolkata knight riders match scorecard
Scorecard
KKR will look to reverse their recent slide and boost morale against an improved Punjab Kings side on Tuesday. After suffering defeat against them at home in their previous encounter, defending champions will be desperate for victory and will hope their batsmen come up big to get back their season underway.
Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh will be key figures for Punjab’s batting, having scored consistently. Yuzvendra Chahal will lead their bowling department; Nehal Wadhera and Josh Inglis will provide depth. Lastly, Glenn Maxwell adds much-needed attacking options with both bat and bowl.
Eden Gardens’ pitch is designed to facilitate batsmen. Both teams will need a win to remain competitive, and this match could prove close. KKR must rely on its top order performing strongly while spinners control middle overs. Furthermore, any loose ends must be addressed quickly.
Varun Chakaravarthy had a bad over, conceding 16 runs in it while Andre Russell struck two fours off it – misreading a googly to edge to Quinton de Kock at deep square leg for four runs off it.
Harshit Rana falls to Marco Jansen when attempting a cut off the fourth ball which turned and hit his stumps hard enough. Marco took an excellent catch as the ball bounced erratically off them both to capture Harshit Rana!
KKR are now eight down and need 33 off 36 balls in an over of high-scoring cricket.
KKR have an opportunity to snap their losing streak and stay alive in their chase for a playoff berth, thanks to Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell Ramandeep Singh Harshit Rana Varun Chakaravarthy Angkrish Raghuvanshi Moeen Ali Anrich Nortje who all need to strike some powerful blows to help their side score more and win this game!
Prediction
KKR and PBKS both desperately require a win to improve their IPL 2025 standings. Although KKR have an inexperienced bowling attack, their batsmen have been in excellent form this season and should look to take full advantage of this at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Meanwhile, PBKS’ top order has struggled in recent matches, meaning they must find ways to stop the downward slide of their table standings.
Early in the season, these two teams met up at Mullanpur for an intriguing low-scoring encounter that ended with PBKS successfully defending a target of 112 to win by 16 runs. Both will look to repeat that success at Eden Gardens on Saturday – with the victor likely cracking into the top four in terms of table positioning.
Ajinkya Rahane will look to make amends after missing out on a big score against the Punjab Kings and Andre Russell will look to return to form after an inconsistent start to the season.
Eden Gardens should remain conducive for batting, which should benefit both teams. Unfortunately, rain may lead to seepage and alter ground conditions, leading to concern from both camps.
Sunil Narine will be an outstanding option if you’re making a cash pick in this game for KKR, while Ajinkya Rahane remains an exceptional bet due to his reliability in tournament play. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh should all be considered when selecting your Dream Team.
Moeen Ali and Yuzvendra Chahal from Punjab Kings’ bowlers may prove especially useful; both could play pivotal roles if included. Anrich Nortje and Harshit Rana will be vital contributors for the visitors in terms of batting.
Varun Chakaravarthy and Vaibhav Arora could make ideal picks if KKR opt to bowl first; their presence could provide relief against Punjab King’s middle order batting line-up. Ultimately, though, this match’s outcome will ultimately depend on several unforeseen factors.
