Kolkata Knight Riders, currently sitting at 7th place with just 3 wins from 8 matches, are all set to take on Punjab Kings, who are at 5th with 5 wins in 8 games. In the previous encounter in this IPL season, Punjab team won by 16 wickets, with Yuzvendra Chahal named as the man of the match for his stellar spell.
The two teams have clashed 32 times in IPL history — with Kolkata Knight Riders winning 21 and Punjab Kings winning 11. With KKR showing strong all-round form and PBKS desperate to revive their campaign, this match promises high-intensity cricket. Both sides have star players, and the history between them makes it even more exciting. Let’s see which team comes out on top!
Live Streaming Info
Fans can catch the KKR Vs PBKS live on Star Sports Network in India, Fox Sports in Australia, and Ten Sports in Pakistan. The match will commence at 7:00 pm PST, 7:30 pm IST, 2:00 pm GMT.
Team Analysis
Kolkata Knight Riders boast a fiery batting unit this season. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer has been outstanding at the top, consistently providing quick starts with his aggressive approach. He is ably supported by Sunil Narine, who has reinvented himself as a destructive opening batter. The middle order, anchored by Riku Singh and Andre Russell, provides both stability and explosive hitting, making KKR a dangerous team in high-scoring games.
In the bowling department, Varun Chakravarthy has been their go-to spinner, tying up the batters with his variations during the middle overs. Andre Russell, despite being slightly expensive, has chipped in with vital wickets at key moments. However, a point of concern for KKR is their death bowling, which has occasionally leaked runs under pressure, especially when Russell or Harshit Rana is off rhythm. Their fielding efforts have also been subpar and this affects the momentum of the team, while simultaneously leaking out important runs.
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have struggled with consistency, especially in their batting. Shashank Singh has been a bright spot, playing some crucial knocks under pressure. Prabhsimran Singh, though explosive, has lacked consistency at the top. The middle order, reliant on Josh Inglis and MarcusStoinis, has not delivered match-winning performances often enough, leading to Punjab’s frequent collapses.
Bowling remains a dominant bag for Punjab. Arshdeep Singh has been picking wickets regularly but has struggled with economy in the death overs. In the spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal is a key asset as the veteran star is yielding quick wickets while also keeping the economy in check. Marco Jansen, expected to lead the attack, has had a quiet season so far. Unless the pace battery steps up, Punjab will find it difficult to restrict KKR’s powerful batting lineup on a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch.
Conclusion
The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings is set to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The pitch here is known for favoring batsmen, with totals often crossing 200 runs. This condition suits Kolkata Knight Riders, who have a strong and deep batting lineup. Key impact players for KKR include Venkatesh Iyer and Varun Chakravarthy, while for Punjab, Shashank Singh and Arshdeep Singh will need to deliver big performances. If you want to watch KKR vs PBKS live, scroll above and click on the link provided.
