On Tuesday, 8th April 2025, Eden Gardens in Kolkata will witness an intense battle between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 21st match of the season.
Both Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants have had their fair share of ups and downs in IPL 2025. With two wins and two losses each, both teams are sitting in the middle of the points table. KKR holds the fifth position, while LSG is just one spot behind them at sixth.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Team Preview
Kolkata Knight Riders have had a mixed IPL 2025 campaign, but their commanding 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased their potential. In the batting department, Venkatesh Iyer’s explosive 60 off 29 balls set the tone, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 50 off 32 provided stability in the middle. Ajinkya Rahane’s composed 38 added experience at the top, and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 32 ensured a strong finish, proving his ability to close games effectively.
KKR’s bowling unit stepped up in their last match, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge, bagging 3 wickets for 22 runs in a match-winning spell. Vaibhav Arora also impressed with a 3-wicket haul for 29 runs, strengthening their pace attack. Andre Russell contributed with two wickets
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Team Preview
Lucknow Super Giants have been inconsistent in IPL 2025 but secured a crucial win against Mumbai Indians, thanks to their strong batting performance. Mitchell Marsh’s explosive 60 off 31 balls set the tone at the top, while Aiden Markram’s composed 53 off 38 provided stability. Ayush Badoni chipped in with a valuable 30-run cameo, and David Miller’s 27 runs in the death overs ensured a solid finish, highlighting the team’s depth in the batting lineup.
LSG’s bowling unit showed promise, with Digvesh Singh Rathi impressing with 1/21 in 4 overs. Shardul Thakur’s 1/40 helped contain the opposition in the middle overs, while Akash Deep and Avesh Khan picked up a wicket each, proving economical. Although Ravi Bishnoi went wicketless, he remains a key factor in LSG’s spin attack. With this balanced performance, LSG will look to build momentum in upcoming matches.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Match Details
Date and Time: 8th April, Tuesday, 3:30 PM IST
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Live Streaming: JioHotstar (app & website)/ Star Sports Network
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Pitch Report
The Eden Gardens surface from the last match was slightly slow but remained favorable for batters. Kolkata Knight Riders’ strong performance suggests another similar pitch, where grip and turn could challenge stroke-making.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Weather Report
The match will be played under a partly cloudy sky, with moderate humidity levels adding to the playing conditions. Fortunately, no rain is expected, ensuring an uninterrupted contest.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Toss Report
The toss will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of every IPL 2025 match, as seen in previous editions of the tournament. Based on recent trends, teams winning the toss are likely to opt for fielding first, given the challenges of defending totals in the latest matches.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Team Analysis
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Strength
KKR boasts a powerful batting lineup with Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Quinton de Kock, while their spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy adds depth to the attack. The team strikes a fine balance between youth and experience, providing young players with valuable mentorship. As defending champions, KKR aims to maintain their winning momentum and secure back-to-back titles.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Weakness
KKR faces challenges with an inexperienced pace attack, relying on Anrich Nortje alongside young bowlers like Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, and Vaibhav Arora. The team is adjusting to a leadership transition under Ajinkya Rahane, which, combined with changes in support staff, may take time to settle. KKR’s heavy dependence on key players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell makes them vulnerable if they underperform or face injuries.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Strength
Lucknow Super Giants boast a powerful batting lineup, featuring explosive players like Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller, ensuring firepower in the middle and death overs. Their pace attack, led by Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan, provides strength, though fitness concerns remain. In the spin department, Ravi Bishnoi’s leg spin and Shahbaz Ahmed’s left-arm orthodox add crucial depth, offering variety in the bowling attack.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Weakness
LSG’s spin unit struggled in IPL 2024, with Bishnoi’s economy rate proving costly. Their batting heavily depends on overseas players, lacking a stable middle-order anchor amid a lineup full of explosive hitters. Mitchell Marsh’s inconsistent form raises concerns in the opening pair, while slow over-rate penalties could impact their momentum.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Key Players
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Varun Chakravarthy: In Kolkata Knight Riders’ last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Varun Chakravarthy delivered a stellar bowling performance, picking up 3 wickets for 22 runs. His ability to deceive batters with his variations played a crucial role in dismantling SRH’s batting lineup. In the upcoming clash, Chakravarthy’s spin will be vital in restricting the opposition, especially in the middle overs where he thrives.
Sunil Narine: Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine achieved a major milestone in KKR’s last match, completing 200 wickets for the franchise. Though he picked up just 1 wicket for 27 runs, his economical bowling helped control the game. Narine’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a key asset for KKR, and his experience will be crucial in their next encounter.
Andre Russell: Russell played a supporting role in KKR’s dominant 80-run victory over SRH, taking the final wicket to seal the win. While he didn’t get much opportunity with the bat, his explosive hitting and death-over bowling remain vital for KKR.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Nicholas Pooran: Pooran has been in red-hot form, leading the Orange Cap standings with 145 runs. In his last match against Mumbai Indians, he played a blazing knock of 70 off 26 balls, registering the fastest fifty of IPL 2025. His aggressive batting will be crucial for Lucknow Super Giants, especially in chasing or setting up big totals.
Mitchell Marsh: Marsh was instrumental in LSG’s win over MI, scoring 60 off 31 balls, setting a new IPL record by facing 30 balls in the powerplay. His ability to dominate the early overs gives LSG a strong foundation, and his all-round skills make him a game-changer. Expect him to continue his aggressive approach in the upcoming match.
Shardul Thakur: Thakur has been a revelation for LSG, leading their pace attack after joining as a replacement. In his last match against SRH, he picked up 4 wickets for 34 runs, earning the Purple Cap. His knack for taking crucial wickets early and at the death makes him indispensable for LSG. His ability to swing the ball and break partnerships will be key in their next fixture.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Probable Playing XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) probable playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) probable playing XI: Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (wk), Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, M Siddharth, Mayank Yadav
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Head-to-Head Records
Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants have clashed five times in the IPL, with LSG holding the edge with three wins, while KKR has managed to secure victory twice.
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Dream 11 Prediction
Wicket- Keepers: Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran (VC)
Batters: Mitchell Marsh, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane
All-rounders: Sunil Narine(c), Andre Russell, A Markram
Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh
IPL 2025, Match 21: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Full Squad
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) full squad for IPL 2025: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) full squad for IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant (c), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bisnoi, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Matthew Breetzke.
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