Kolkata, India — Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) go face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for one crucial IPL 2025 match wey go happen for Eden Gardens on May 7. Dis game na KKR last home league match this season, and dem dey very eager to win am. Defending champions CSK also need dis win to keep their playoff hopes alive, as dem dey sit for sixth position with only three games left.
Current situation dey put KKR under serious pressure because dem must win their remaining matches to stand a chance to qualify for the playoffs. After one victory against CSK earlier this season, KKR get confidence say dem fit beat dem again.
Dis match go happen without one of KKR key players, Venkatesh Iyer, wey no fit play due to stitches wey dey for him hand. Captain Ajinkya Rahane confirm dis news during the toss, saying: “Venkatesh Iyer misses out, Manish Pandey comes in.” Rahane also express say, “Guys dey look forward to this game, we go try our best if we get chance.”
Iyer na di most expensive buy for KKR after dem sign am for INR 23.75 crore, but him performance no dey match the price tag as he don only score 142 runs in 11 games this season. Now, Manish Pandey go replace am in di eleven. Pandey don get experience, and him go try to fill di gap. Last match wey he play, he score 19 runs against Mumbai Indians.
Manish Pandey dey critical for KKR’s success as dem dey rely on him to maintain stability for di middle order. “If we bat first, I fit anchor di innings, and we go post a competitive total. If we dey chase, my experience go help us no collapse,” Pandey state.
For dis match against CSK, Pandey don play 20 matches before and score 402 runs with average of 28.71, plus him strike rate of 127.50 wey show say he fit score fast when e matter. E dey come in with great form and if KKR want to make playoffs, dem need Pandey make big contribution.
CSK also don shake their lineup as dem dey try give debut to Urvil Patel, wey go replace Shaik Rasheed. Devon Conway dey come back alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, and dis changes mean CSK na no pushovers despite dem already eliminated from di playoff race.
When Rahane win di toss and decide to bat first, im express belief in him team: “We dey boot first. Na good wicket. Di last two matches we bat first, we do well. We want put runs for di board and defend am. We go just take one game at a time.”
The KKR playing XI for dis critical match include: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Di impact substitutes na Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Anrich Nortje, and Mayank Markande.
Fans fit catch di live action on Star Sports Network, and dem fit stream online via JioHotstar. Stay tuned for live updates and match highlights as KKR battle CSK for dis crucial IPL encounter.
