KKR eye win over RR to keep playoff hopes alive

Kolkata

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens today (Sunday), hoping to stay in the IPL 2025 playoff race. To qualify, KKR must win all four of their remaining matches, beginning with this must-win game.

KKR, currently in seventh place, have struggled at home, winning just once in five games. Inconsistency from batters like Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer has hurt their campaign, and the team hasn’t found a steady opening pair. However, captain Ajinkya Rahane, recovering from a hand injury, is expected to play. On the bowling front, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy have been impressive.

Rajasthan Royals, already out of playoff contention, suffered a 100-run defeat against Mumbai Indians recently. With nothing to lose, RR could still pose a challenge. Skipper Sanju Samson has missed much of the season due to injury, which weakened their batting depth.

Despite the setbacks, young stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi have shown promise. However, others like Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer have struggled. Their bowlers have also lacked impact, with Jofra Archer and Maheesh Theekshana being both expensive and ineffective.

KKR will rely on strong performances from their bowlers and hope their batters find form. A win on Sunday is vital to keep their playoff chances alive as the league stage nears its end.