Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be eyeing a crucial win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 57th game of the ongoing IPL 2025. It will be the last home league game for KKR this season, and they will be eager to end it on a winning note. The defending champions also need to win the game to stay alive in the competition. They are currently at the sixth spot in the points table with three league games left and just cannot afford another slip-up. Their fate is no more in their hands, and KKR will have to win their remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs. KKR have already defeated CSK once this season and will be confident of doing a double on them.
While KKR will be desperate to win the upcoming match against CSK, they will have to do it without one of their key players - Venkatesh Iyer. Speaking at toss, captain Ajinkya Rahane revealed that Venkatesh Iyer would miss the game. The southpaw is unavailable for the game because of stitches on his hand. He has been replaced by Manish Pandey in the KKR playing eleven. "Lots of learnings from the previous match, guys are looking forward to this game. You are bound to lose close games, but you need to be confident. If there's a chance, we will try to give our best. Venkatesh Iyer misses out, Manish Pandey comes in," said Rahane.
Iyer was the costliest buy for the Kolkata Knight Riders, having been purchased for a whopping amount of INR 23.75 crore in the last auction. However, he has not managed to justify the huge price tag this season. In 11 games so far, he has scored only 142 runs, including a fifty. On the other hand, Manish Pandey will be playing his second game of the season. His only appearance this season came against the Mumbai Indians last month, where he scored 19 runs off 14 balls.
As KKR prepares to take on CSK, all eyes are on Manish Pandey, one of the most experienced batters in the KKR lineup. Known for his consistency and ability to build partnerships, Pandey's performance could be a game-changer in this high-stakes clash. Pandey made history as the first Indian batter to score a century in the IPL and has played for various teams over the years, including Mumbai Indians, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants. He was reacquired by KKR for INR 75 lakh in the IPL 2025 auction, reflecting the team's faith in his experience.
Pandey provides stability in the middle order, ensuring that KKR can recover quickly even if early wickets fall. His experience is crucial for guiding young talents like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Venkatesh Iyer. Pandey is capable of adapting to different situations, whether playing a steady innings or accelerating the scoring. With KKR relying on young players, his experience can provide much-needed stability.
In his IPL 2025 journey so far, Pandey has played at least one match, scoring 19 runs off 14 balls in his first appearance. He is known for rotating the strike and hitting boundaries under pressure, making him a reliable fielder with sharp reflexes. Against CSK, Pandey's experience in high-stakes matches will be invaluable. If KKR bats first, he can anchor the innings, ensuring the team posts a competitive total. If chasing, his ability to maintain composure can help KKR avoid collapses.
Manish Pandey's record against CSK is impressive, having played 20 matches, scoring 402 runs with an average of 28.71 and a highest score of 83*. His strike rate of 127.50 shows his ability to score quickly when needed. As KKR looks to secure a win, Pandey's experience and ability to perform under pressure make him a key player in this clash.
Meanwhile, CSK has also made significant changes to their playing XI, handing a debut to Urvil Patel, who replaced Shaik Rasheed. Devon Conway and Ravichandran Ashwin have also found a place in the playing eleven. The upcoming fixture is extremely crucial for KKR as they desperately need a win to stay alive in the playoffs race.
As Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bat first, he expressed confidence in his team. "We will bat first. Looks a good wicket. Last two games we batted first and did really well. We want to put runs on the board and defend it. What's important is taking one game at a time. Not thinking much about the future. Lots of learnings from the previous match, guys are looking forward to this game. You are bound to lose close games, but you need to be confident. If there's a chance, we will try to give our best," Rahane stated.
The Kolkata Knight Riders' playing XI for this critical match includes Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy. The impact substitutes are Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Anrich Nortje, and Mayank Markande.
As the match unfolds, fans can watch the live action on Star Sports Network and stream it online via JioHotstar. Stay tuned for live updates and match highlights as KKR battles CSK in this crucial IPL encounter.
