The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a thrilling IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens on April 8. Both teams have won two matches each this season, making this a crucial game for their playoff hopes.
With KKR’s spin attack taking on LSG’s power hitters, and star players like Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, and Mitchell Marsh in action, this match promises fireworks.
KKR vs LSG: Match Preview & Key Battles
1. Spin vs Power-Hitting: Pooran & Miller Face KKR’s Mystery Spinners
- Nicholas Pooran is the top run-scorer this season with a strike rate of 209 vs spin since IPL 2024.
- But Sunil Narine has troubled him, keeping Pooran to just 25 runs in 33 balls in past IPL matches.
- David Miller will also be crucial—if he and Pooran attack KKR’s spinners (Narine, Varun Chakravarthy), LSG can post a big total.
2. Mitchell Marsh vs KKR’s Bowling
- Marsh has three fifties in four games but struggles against spin (strike rate drops to 139).
- Narine could be brought early to stop him—Marsh has a strike rate of just 85.71 against the mystery spinner.
3. Andre Russell’s Role – Is KKR Underusing Him?
- Russell has faced only 16 balls this season, scoring just 10 runs.
- With KKR’s deep batting lineup, he’s batting lower—but fans want to see more of his explosive hitting.
- If he gets going against Digvesh Rathi or Shardul Thakur, KKR could finish strong.
Team News & Likely Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Probable XII
| Player | Role |
| Quinton de Kock | Wicketkeeper |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batter |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder |
| Rinku Singh | Batter |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder |
| Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder |
| Moeen Ali | All-rounder |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowler |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler |
Will KKR drop de Kock for Gurbaz? The South African has been inconsistent (one big score, three failures).
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Probable XII
| Player | Role |
| Aiden Markram | Batter |
| Mitchell Marsh | All-rounder |
| Nicholas Pooran | Wicketkeeper |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper |
| Ayush Badoni | Batter |
| David Miller | Batter |
| Abdul Samad/Shahbaz Ahmed | All-rounder |
| Shardul Thakur | Bowler |
| Avesh Khan | Bowler |
| Akash Deep | Bowler |
| Digvesh Rathi | Bowler |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler |
Pitch Report & Toss Impact
- Eden Gardens had a sticky, low-grass pitch last game.
- Spinners will dominate, especially in the afternoon heat (33°C).
- Teams batting first have won 8 of 17 games here since IPL 2023.
- Dew won’t be a factor, so chasing may not be easy.
Key Player Battles to Watch
| Matchup | Stats (IPL) | Who Has the Edge? |
| Pooran vs Narine | 25 runs in 33 balls, 3 dismissals | Narine |
| Russell vs Thakur | 54 runs in 19 balls, SR 284 | Russell |
| Marsh vs Narine | SR 85.71 | Narine |
| De Kock vs Avesh Khan | De Kock struggles vs pace early | Avesh |
| Rinku vs Thakur | SR 118.18, 1 dismissal | Even |
Where to Watch: IPL 2025 Live Streaming
- TV: Star Sports Network
- Streaming: JioCinema (Free)
- Time: 3:30 PM IST
5 FAQs About KKR vs LSG IPL 2025
Who has a better record in KKR vs LSG matches?
KKR leads 3-2 in head-to-head IPL matches.
Can Nicholas Pooran dominate KKR’s spinners?
Pooran has a great record vs spin (SR 209) but struggles against Sunil Narine.
Will Mayank Yadav play for LSG?
No, he’s still recovering (bowling at 90-95% fitness).
What is the best betting strategy for this match?
Bet on spinners performing well (Narine, Varun, Bishnoi).
Pooran & Miller are good picks for top LSG scorers.
Which team is stronger in IPL 2025 so far?
Both have 2 wins & 2 losses, but LSG’s batting looks stronger.