The Titans head into Monday’s encounter at the top of the table. There are five sides level on 10 points, but the Titans have the best run rate of the lot and are therefore top.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | IPL 2025 Game 39 | Monday 21 April | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 4pm
The Knight Riders meanwhile have been struggling for consistency all season and are currently in seventh spot on the table with six points. A good run for them could see the defending champions to the top quite quickly, but similarly it could go the other way if they don’t find a way to win soon.
The Titans have a good record against KKR, having lost to them just once in four fixtures. The Titans have won twice while the most recent encounter between the sides was abandoned.
Last time out KKR were dismissed for a paltry 95 as PBKS managed to defend a desperately low total of 111. That game saw Protea Anrich Nortje play his first game of the season (he returned figures of one for 23), but his selection meant sacrificing Moeen Ali. Ali may well be back as he offers a lot more with the bat than Nortje and KKR will want to bounce back from their poor batting display last time out.
Titans’ batsman Sai Sudharsan is in excellent form, he is currently the second highest scorer in IPL 2025 with 365 runs at an average of 52.14. He is currently three runs behind Nicholas Pooran, the season’s top scorer.
there will be some in form bowlers in action on Monday. Varun Chakravarthy is currently IPL 2025’s most economical bowler, going at just 6.22 runs per over and averaging 16.8 per wicket. While he tops the economy list Titans bowler Washington Sundar is third with an economy rate of seven. Meanwhile with 14 wickets to his credit the Titans Prasidh Krishna is the tournament’s leading wicket taker.
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
This will be the fourth game at Eden Gardens this season. In each of the previous three games the skipper who won the toss elected to chase. It hasn’t been an overly successful strategy however with the team that has batted first managing to win twice.
KKR have a very good record at home at Eden Gardens they have won 53 out of the 90 matches they have played there.
In 2024 KKR were beaten just twice out of the seven games they played at home. Ironically the highest score they made at Eden Gardens in 2024 was 261 which was part of a losing cause as the Punjab Kings chased it down to complete the highest ever successful IPL run chase at the venue.
Eden Gardens is a venue that favours the side that chases. Of the 95 games played at the venue the chasing team has won 56 times.
Weather:
With humidity at a stifling 85% it is going to be sticky in Kolkata on Monday. The temperature itself will be at around 30 degrees at the time the game starts, down from a high of 36 and on its way to a minimum of 28 degrees. No rain is predicted and there will be a light breeze
Form (most recent game first):
Kolkata Knight Riders: L, W, L, W, L.
Gujarat Titans: W, L, W, W, W.
Key player:
Kolkata Knight Riders, Andre Russell: The West Indian has had a difficult tournament so far. He doesn’t bat in the top order and while he is meant to be the power-hitter who finishes innings or adds ballast to totals when batting first, he needs a platform to launch from – these have been conspicuously absent for KKR and Russell has spent a lot of his time coming in when KKR are on the back foot. Under the right circumstances though, he is devastating. If KKR can organize a good start, then don’t be surprised to see Russell coming in higher than he has previously as he looks to launch an assault on the Titans bowlers. When Russell is at the crease, anything can happen.
Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill: The Titans skipper has been in excellent form all competition, but despite that he is only their third highest scorer with Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler currently boasting better number than Gill. While 215 runs is nothing to be ashamed of, Gill will want to up his contribution to the top three and he will be eager to do it against his former KKR teammates. Expect a big contribution from him on Monday.
Verdict: Gujarat Titans
The Titans are in great form, and they are looking confident. They have players up and down the roster contributing and they are going about their business in a quiet yet ruthless manner. KKR have some explosive players, and they have a great record at Eden Gardens, but the Titans have momentum and winning form on their side, expect them to go solo up top when all is said and done in Kolkata.
