The IPL 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) and Rajasthan Royals(RR) will take place on Sunday, May 4, at 3:30 PM IST at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and it will be broadcast live on JioStar Network and JioHotstar.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who are currently sitting 7th in the table with 4 wins out of 10 matches, need to win all their remaining matches to stay in the playoff race. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been knocked out of the playoff competition after losing 8 out of 11 matches.
In their recent match on March 26, 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) achieved an impressive win. They defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 8 wickets. Chasing a target of 152, KKR scored 153/2 in just 17.3 overs. This victory was fueled by a strong batting performance, with significant contributions from their top order. Earlier, in the 2024 IPL season, these teams faced off twice.
On April 16, 2024, RR clinched a thrilling win by 2 wickets, successfully chasing KKR’s formidable total of 223/6. Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 107 off 60 balls was crucial in that record-equaling chase. Their second scheduled match on May 19, 2024, unfortunately got abandoned due to rain.
Eden Gardens Pitch & Weather Report
- Pitch: High-scoring venue with an average first-innings score of 203. Teams batting first have won 3 out of 4 completed games this season.
- Weather: Rain is expected from morning till afternoon, with clearer skies post 5 PM IST. A full 20-over contest might be affected.
🔍 Head-to-Head Record
- Total Matches: 30
- KKR Wins: 15
- RR Wins: 14 (including two Super Over wins)
- No Result: 1
- Last Encounter: KKR defeated RR by 8 wickets, chasing 152 in 17.3 overs. Cricket WorldCricTracker
🔑 Players to Watch
Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR)
- Ajinkya Rahane: Leading scorer for KKR with 297 runs at a strike rate of 149.2. Needs 61 runs to reach 5,000 IPL runs.
- Varun Chakravarthy: 13 wickets in 10 matches with an economy of 7.15. Needs 4 wickets to complete 100 IPL wickets.
- Sunil Narine: Economical in middle overs with an economy rate of 8.0. Cricket World+1CricTracker+1
Rajasthan Royals(RR)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: Top scorer for RR with 439 runs at a strike rate of 154.04.
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Notable for a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans; strike rate of 232.6 against pace.
- Jofra Archer: Key pacer with potential to exploit early swing conditions. CricTracker+1Cricket World+1Cricket World
🧠 Match Prediction
- Win Probability: KKR – 55%, RR – 45%
- Toss Prediction: Teams might prefer to field first, considering weather conditions and chasing advantage at Eden Gardens.
🏏 Batting Statistics
🔝 Top Run-Scorers
| Player | Team | Runs | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane | KKR | 297 | ~149 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 439 | ~154 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | KKR | 241 | ~145 |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | RR | Not specified | ~232 |
🎯 Bowling Statistics
🎳 Top Wicket-Takers
| Player | Team | Wickets | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varun Chakravarthy | KKR | 13 | ~7.15 |
| Vaibhav Arora | KKR | 12 | ~7.50 |
| Sunil Narine | KKR | 10 | ~7.80 |
| Jofra Archer | RR | 9 | ~8.20 |
Note: Jofra Archer has shown signs of returning to form, leading in dot balls on multiple occasions. The Guardian
🛡️ Bowling Strengths
- KKR: A balanced attack with spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, complemented by pacers like Vaibhav Arora.
- RR: Reliant on Jofra Archer’s pace and experience, but lack depth in spin options.Wikipedia
📈 Recent Form
- KKR: Coming off a victory against Delhi Capitals, with Sunil Narine’s all-round performance being a highlight.
- RR: Suffered a heavy 100-run defeat to Mumbai Indians, leading to their elimination from playoff contention. Reuters
📝 Conclusion
While KKR aims to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win, RR will look to play spoilsport and end their season on a high note. The match promises to be an exciting contest between KKR’s balanced squad and RR’s young talents.
