Match 39 of the 2025 Indian Premier League season brings a match-up between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on April 21.
The defending champions are having a torrid time in the IPL so far and are languishing in sixth position in the points table, having lost four of their first seven matches. Their last defeat, at the hand of the Punjab Kings, was a particularly embarrassing one.
Batting first, the Kings’ batting order had collapsed after a quick start by openers Priyansh Arya (22 off 12) and Prabhsimran Singh (30 off 15). None of their middle- and lower-order batters reached double figures barring Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Xavier Bartlett as PBKS were bundled out for 111. The KKR bowlers were very effective—Harshit Rana bowled a fiery three-over spell of 25/3 and was ably supported by spinners Sunil Narine (14/2 in three overs) and Varun Chakaravarthy (21/2 in four overs).
In response, the Knight Riders started poorly, losing both their openers for a score of 7. Captain Ajinkya Rahane (17 off 17) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37 off 28) then steadied the ship. Once they got out, however, no one really got going. Andre Russell (17 off 11) looked like he could take KKR home towards the end but succumbed to the pressure as the reigning champions got bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs.
While the KKR batters did fail to apply themselves, a lot of credit has to be given to the PBKS bowlers and fielders for keeping them under pressure at all times even with such a low total. Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the Punjab bowlers with figures of 28/4 in his four overs, while pacer Marco Jansen wreaked havoc with figures of 3/17 in three overs to help PBKS defend the lowest-ever total in IPL history.
As for the Gujarat Titans, they played table-toppers Delhi Capitals in their last fixture. Batting first, DC had raced off to a quick start courtesy of Abhishek Porel (18 off 9) and KL Rahul (28 off 14). Karun Nair also delivered 31 off 18 balls, but the Capitals then lost a few quick wickets before Axar Patel (39 off 32) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21) wrestled back some momentum. Ashutosh Sharma (37 off 19) then helped DC reach 203/8. Prasidh Krishna was the pick of the GT bowlers, registering 4/41 in his four overs.
In response, the Titans lost Shubman Gill early as he got run-out off a superb throw from Karun Nair. After that early scalp, however, Sai Sudharsan (36 off 21) and Jos Buttler (97* off 54) stitched a quickfire 60-run partnership. Sherfane Rutherford (43 off 34) then brought up a match-winning partnership with Buttler to take the Titans home, with Rahul Tewatia delivering the winning runs.
Considering the form of the two teams, GT have the edge over KKR courtesy of their in-form top-order batters and the fact that their bowlers have chipped in with wickets in crunch situations.
Fantasy XI: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler (wk), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rashid Khan, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Winners Prediction: Gujarat Titans
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