KKR vs RR: The IPL 2025 league has already produced surprises, with two of the top-three teams from last season—Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR)—starting their tournaments on a disappointing note. KKR were outplayed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, while RR were no match for the batting strength of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Uppal. Now, both sides are desperate to bounce back as they meet in Guwahati, each hoping to register their first points.
Historically, matches involving KKR and RR have been tight affairs, and this one is unlikely to be an exception. Nevertheless, both sides enter this game with evident problems to resolve. While KKR’s highly-hyped middle order fell apart against spin, RR’s pace attack had a night to remember the wrong way. Guwahati presents a new challenge, and the side that adjusts best will hold the advantage.
KKR’s Batting Concerns and Possible Adjustments
In spite of having a star-studded batting lineup, KKR’s weakness in the middle order was revealed against RCB’s rather inexperienced spin bowling. Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell are all performers against pace but not spin and hence become vulnerable to the sides that possess decent slow bowlers. RR is sure to try and target this weakness, and KKR could be in need of a batting rethink.
A likely tweak would have Sunil Narine drop down the order to offer solidity later in the innings. There is also a good case for pushing Rinku Singh up the order to allow him more balls to bat, something even KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted after the last game. With players like Ramandeep Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi also in the mix, KKR can go for a dynamic batting order depending on the situation in the match.
RR’s Bowling Woes and Venue Advantage
RR’s bowlers will be a relieved lot to bowl in Guwahati, a ground that has been generally more friendly for bowlers than Hyderabad. The black-soil track here churned out mediocre scores last summer, and even if the conditions have shifted a notch or two, there is every likelihood that the bowlers will find more to bowl about than they did against SRH.
One area of concern for RR is their death bowling. Jofra Archer had a forgettable spell against SRH, conceding figures of 0 for 76—the worst in IPL history. The Royals will need to be more disciplined with their lengths, particularly in the death overs, where they were unable to consistently hit yorkers. The addition of left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya can also be thought of, considering KKR’s weakness against spin.
Positives for Both Sides
Both sides have a few positives to take ahead despite their losses. For KKR, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane played good cricket with the bat and gave a solid start at the top. Rahane particularly seemed calm and made good use of his signature flick shot against pace.
For RR, Sanju Samson’s batting performance was reassuring given his continued recovery from surgery on his finger. The side will be relieved that his injury does not appear to impact his batting, although it does restrict his fielding role. Young talent Dhruv Jurel and Shubham Dubey also made it their business to demonstrate their power-hitting abilities, which might allay some middle-order fears.
KKR vs RR: Match Details
Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 7:30 PM (Local Time)
Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Weather: Hot and humid weather, with KKR set to have good crowd support.
Head-to-Head Record
The match between KKR and RR has been evenly matched in the years gone by, with both sides winning 14 matches each. Interestingly, two of their matches have also been tied, with RR having won the Super Over in those matches. Their recent match in Guwahati was rain-affected, and before that in the same season, RR also managed an incredible chase of 224 at Eden Gardens due to Jos Buttler’s last-ball hundred.
KKR vs RR: Team Watch
Rajasthan Royals
Injuries & Availability: Sanju Samson is still an Impact Player as he keeps working on his recovery. Riyan Parag will again take the reins of the side following a challenging captaincy debut.
Tactics & Matchups: The addition of Kumar Kartikeya may be a strategic ploy, given KKR’s vulnerability to spin. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the just-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and can emerge as an X-factor.
Likely XII:Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag (c), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Injuries & Availability: All players are said to be fit and available.
Tactics & Matchups: KKR’s bowling department will have to watch out for RR’s batting order, which tends to play spin comfortably. The side can think of playing in Anrich Nortje if he is fully fit as a utility bowler to bring extra pace into their attack.
Probable XII: Quinton de Kock (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora.
KKR vs RR: Key Stats & Facts
Anrich Nortje’s IPL record is the opposite: 34 wickets in 24 UAE matches (economy 7.65) but just 26 wickets in 22 India matches (economy 10.37).
KKR leaked 80/0 in the powerplay against RCB, their second-worst in IPL history.
Rahane’s flick shot has been his most successful stroke against pace since IPL 2023.
What They Said
“We could have capitalized better with the bat and ball against RCB. But we’re not worried; we’ll learn from it and come back stronger.” – KKR Bowling Coach Bharat Arun.
Final Thoughts
With both sides craving a victory, anticipate a fierce contest in Guwahati. KKR need to get their middle-order sorted, while RR need to ensure their bowling department performs better. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium conditions provide the twist of uncertainty, and this promises to be an interesting contest between two closely matched teams. The team that adjusts faster would most likely emerge with their first win of IPL 2025. source cricbuzz
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