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High Stakes at Eden Gardens
KKR seek first home win against SRH as both teams battle to regain momentum in IPL 2025. With two losses each from their last three games, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad are under pressure to deliver when they clash on Thursday in Kolkata.
Yes, KKR seek first home win against SRH, and this match could be the turning point in what has been a bumpy start to the season for both teams.
KKR: Cracks After a Strong 2024
After dominating IPL 2024 with just three losses, KKR now find themselves struggling. Ajinkya Rahane’s side opened with a heavy defeat to RCB, followed by another home loss that exposed their bowling limitations.
The Eden Gardens pitch, once a fortress, has come under fire. A flat surface allowed RCB’s Phil Salt and Virat Kohli to dominate, raising questions about why KKR’s request for a spin-friendly track was denied. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy, key in their Champions Trophy win, was smashed for 45 runs in that match.
Squad Concerns and Missing Stars
KKR’s squad composition after the mega auction is under scrutiny. The release of Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Phil Salt, and Mitchell Starc has backfired. All four have excelled for other franchises in IPL 2025, with Starc’s 5/35 for DC against SRH a painful reminder of what KKR let go.
New signing Spencer Johnson has yet to impress, and Anrich Nortje remains injured. Even their big re-signing, Venkatesh Iyer, has scored only 9 runs in two innings. Retained stars like Rinku Singh, Narine, Russell, and Ramandeep Singh have been quiet too.
| KKR’s Concerns | Impact |
|---|---|
| Pace bowling | No impact without Starc or Nortje |
| Key player form | Most stars off-colour |
| Over-aggressive batting | Backfiring on moderate pitches |
SRH: From Highs to Lows
Sunrisers Hyderabad started with a bang—scoring a record 286/6. But since then, it’s been a decline. Their last two scores (190/9 vs LSG, 163 all out vs DC) suggest their all-attack strategy needs a rethink.
Skipper Pat Cummins will rely on his pace unit, especially Mohammed Shami, who returns to Eden Gardens—his home in domestic cricket. The two could be dangerous on a wicket that has so far helped batters more than bowlers.
Tactical Recalibration Needed
Both sides must rethink their approach. KKR assumed every pitch needs 200+ to win, which hasn’t worked. SRH need stability in the middle overs after explosive starts.
With experienced stars, aggressive batting depth, and pressure mounting, this could be one of the season’s most tactical matches yet.
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