IPL 2025: Predicting Kolkata Knight Riders’ XI vs Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders are having a difficult time of making it to the playoffs this season. Ajinkya Rahane and his side have to win all their four remaining games to make it to the top four spots. The likes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians have started pulling away from the rest, while Gujarat Titans have also been one of the best sides in the campaign so far.

KKR beat Delhi Capitals by 14 runs in their last match to give themselves some hope. In their next game KKR, take on Rajasthan Royals in what could be a potentially tricky encounter. With RR out of the tournament, they have nothing but pride to play for and this nothing to lose approach could come to bite KKR if they aren’t cautious.

Here is the likely KKR XI vs RR

Top order – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine

Afghanistan wicketkeeper and batter has replaced Quinton de Kock in the KKR XI and has shown flashes of his old self with the bat. In the last game against DC, Gurbaz got a start before he was dismissed by Starc. Sunil Narine is another player who will have to step up not only with the bat but also with the ball in hand. Narine led the side in place of Rahane who had got injured while and changed the game with his tactical genius.

Middle Order –Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh

Rahane has been one of the leading lights for KKR with the bat this season. The veteran batter has been amongst the runs and shown the selectors why he is still a capable and dependable batter in the middle order. Venkatesh Iyer who was purchased for INR 23.75 Crores has failed to do justice so far but will want to come good for his team in the most crucial point of the season.

Lower-order- Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell

Rovman Powell who started the season on the bench hasn’t been able to show his talents well so far this season. Powell who is a former RR player will want to help his new side win the game and keep their hopes of making it to the playoffs alive. Andre Russell and Anukul Roy did reasonably well and played a small but important role in the win over DC.

Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy

The fast bowling charge will be on Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora who have blown hot and cold this season. Varun Chakravarthy will be a key bowler for the home team and with the pitches getting slower by the day, Chakravarthy will be handful for the RR batters at this stage of the campaign.

KKR XI vs RR

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora

Impact player – Angkrish Raghuvanshi

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