IPL 2025 MATCH KKR vs LSG : KKR aim to capitalize on spin-friendly conditions against in-form LSG

IPL 2025 MATCH KKR vs LSG : Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are steadily finding their rhythm in IPL 2025, with only Rishabh Pant and Ravi Bishnoi yet to hit peak form. Mitchell Marsh has been in scintillating touch, racking up three fifties in four matches, while Nicholas Pooran leads the tournament’s run charts. In LSG’s last outing against Mumbai Indians, Pooran fell cheaply, but the middle order stepped up — Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, and David Miller all contributing crucial runs. The Indian pace unit has also been impressive, with Digvesh Rathi emerging as a strong contender for the tournament’s best young player.

Now, as LSG prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, their ability to handle spin could be the key. The match is set for a sweltering afternoon — conditions tailor-made for spinners. Since IPL 2024, Aiden Markram has been dismissed by spin five times in 12 innings, Mitchell Marsh’s strike rate drops significantly from 194 to 139 against spin, and Rishabh Pant averages just 15.4 against leg-spin.

Nicholas Pooran, however, remains a standout. He has already crossed 200 runs this season and holds the highest strike rate (209) against spin since IPL 2024. Yet, even he has found Sunil Narine difficult to handle. If Pooran and Miller can counter KKR’s spin trio effectively, LSG may well have the firepower to swing the match in their favor.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) also appear to be gaining momentum, particularly after their strong performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh showed maturity and composure on a slow, tricky surface — a condition that could become common at Eden Gardens this season.

Ajinkya Rahane and the promising Angkrish Raghuvanshi have added a layer of consistency to the batting lineup. However, KKR will be hoping for more solid starts from their openers and greater involvement from Andre Russell, who’s yet to spend significant time in the middle. As the tournament progresses, unlocking Russell’s explosive potential could prove vital to KKR’s campaign.

KKR vs LSG: A Battle Beyond Cricket at Eden Gardens

Off the field, this contest carries a special emotional edge for Kolkata’s football-loving fanbase. With both Mohun Bagan and Lucknow Super Giants owned by the same group, many local supporters traditionally loyal to Mohun Bagan momentarily shift their allegiance to LSG on matchday — creating a unique cross-sport bond.

Form Guide

• Kolkata Knight Riders: W L W (last three matches, most recent first)

• Lucknow Super Giants: W L W

Team News and Likely XII – Kolkata Knight Riders

Quinton de Kock starred with an unbeaten 97 against Rajasthan Royals but has otherwise struggled with single-digit scores in his other three outings. KKR might contemplate bringing in Rahmanullah Gurbaz if the inconsistency continues.

Moeen Ali, who didn’t bowl against SRH, might still retain his place ahead of Spencer Johnson, depending on pitch conditions at Eden Gardens, which has been favouring slower bowlers.

KKR Probable XII:

• Quinton de Kock (wk)

• Sunil Narine

• Ajinkya Rahane

• Angkrish Raghuvanshi

• Venkatesh Iyer

• Rinku Singh

• Andre Russell

• Ramandeep Singh

• Moeen Ali

• Harshit Rana

• Vaibhav Arora

• Varun Chakravarthy

Lucknow Super Giants – Team Update & Probable XII

Mayank Yadav, who is currently bowling at around “90–95% fitness” at the Centre for Excellence, remains unavailable for selection. While Aiden Markram can serve as a part-time third spinner, LSG may be tempted to field one of their left-arm options — M. Siddharth or the more versatile Shahbaz Ahmed, who also adds depth with the bat.

LSG Likely XII (Probable)

1. Aiden Markram

2. Mitchell Marsh

3. Nicholas Pooran

4. Rishabh Pant (wk)

5. Ayush Badoni

6. David Miller

7. Abdul Samad / Shahbaz Ahmed

8. Shardul Thakur

9. Avesh Khan

10. Akash Deep

11. Digvesh Rathi

12. Ravi Bishnoi

The Big Question: Are KKR Underutilising Andre Russell?

Andre Russell has faced just 16 balls across matches this season and managed only 10 runs. Despite showing glimpses of form with the ball, questions are being raised about whether KKR are making the best use of one of their costliest retentions.

With KKR’s deep and flexible batting lineup, Russell is often pushed lower down the order, limiting his impact with the bat. But with matches at Eden Gardens likely to be closely contested and spin-dominant, giving Russell more time in the middle might be the boost KKR need in crunch situations.

In the Spotlight: Ravi Bishnoi and Vaibhav Arora

Ravi Bishnoi finds himself under mounting pressure this season. After a dip in form during IPL 2024, his struggles have continued in IPL 2025. With just three wickets in four matches and the worst economy rate among all spinners this season, his spot in the playing XII is far from secure — a surprising situation given he was one of LSG’s three pre-auction retentions.

Adding to the challenge is the rise of Digvesh Rathi, whose consistent performances are starting to outshine Bishnoi’s. If Bishnoi fails to make an impact soon, the team management may be forced to look elsewhere. That said, the spin-friendly Eden Gardens pitch could offer him the perfect platform to bounce back and reclaim his confidence.

Vaibhav Arora, on the other hand, has been quietly effective in KKR’s pace attack. With conditions expected to assist slower bowlers, especially in the afternoon heat, Arora’s subtle variations and ability to exploit grip and bounce could play a vital role. With KKR seeking breakthroughs early against LSG’s strong top order, Arora might just be the X-factor they need.

Vaibhav Arora – Powerplay Specialist Under the Scanner

Vaibhav Arora earned the title of “powerplay specialist” from teammate Venkatesh Iyer after KKR’s last win — a nod to his consistency with the new ball. His numbers against left-handed batters back that claim, with an impressive average of 9.60.

However, there’s a clear contrast when he bowls to right-handers — the group he’ll primarily face on Tuesday. Against them, he concedes at a strike rate of 152.63 and an average close to 38. With LSG’s top order packed with aggressive right-handed batters like Markram, Marsh, and Pooran, Arora’s challenge will be to find ways to contain them early on.

Can he adapt and overcome the mismatch? That could be a key factor in how the powerplay battle plays out.

Pitch and Conditions – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• Pitch: The surface at Eden Gardens has leaned toward being slow and spin-friendly, especially in day games. Expect grip and turn for spinners, which might bring the likes of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi into play.

• Bounce is often true in the early overs, aiding strokeplay, but it slows down as the match progresses — which is why batting first may offer an advantage.

• Weather: It will be a hot and humid afternoon in Kolkata with temperatures hovering around 36–38°C. The heat could test fitness levels, especially for bowlers during long spells in the field.

Stats and Trivia – KKR vs LSG, IPL 2025

📌 Toss Trends:
Only two captains have chosen to bat first this season — both decisions came during day matches, reflecting how conditions can favour spin and slow bowlers under the sun.

📌 Eden Advantage?
Since IPL 2023, teams batting first at Eden Gardens have won 8 out of 17 matches.

• Average 1st innings score: 191

• Lowest total defended: 176 (excluding rain-affected games)

📌 Match-up Mayhem:

• Andre Russell vs Shardul Thakur – pure carnage! Russell has smashed 54 runs off 19 balls at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 284.

• Sunil Narine vs Nicholas Pooran – the mystery spinner dominates this battle. Pooran has managed just 25 runs off 33 balls against Narine in the IPL.