Shreyas Iyer has switched groups, however the model of cricket he desires to play hasn’t modified one bit. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) of 2025 are fairly much like the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) of 2024. The KKR of 2025, in the meantime, seem like a slight downgrade on their title-winning cost final yr.
Each groups bat extraordinarily deep, with emphasis on excessive intent on the high of the order and sustaining it via the center overs. They’re rife with all-rounders of each varieties, and Shreyas’ function in these two approaches can’t be overstated.
Actually, the present PBKS skipper claimed that his crew will bat first throughout circumstances to attempt to benefit from their unbelievable depth and hitting means. They did that in Hyderabad, however the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) managed to overtake a mammoth 246-run goal with startling ease.
Punjab will need to get again to profitable methods once they return to Mullanpur, the place they are going to face KKR on Tuesday, April 15. The Knight Riders are on the again of a thumping win over the Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK), however what they’re looking for is consistency. Having did not notch up back-to-back wins within the competitors thus far, the defending champions might be eager on sending a message to their former skipper.
PBKS’ squad for IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Josh Inglis, Vishnu Vinod, Prabhsimran Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Yuzvendra Chahal, Pravin Dubey, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett.
KKR’s squad for IPL 2025: Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mayank Markande, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Chetan Sakariya.
Can PBKS take one other step in the direction of turning their disappointing house document round? Or will KKR make them keep within the backside half of the IPL 2025 factors desk?
IPL 2025: Can PBKS bounce again towards inconsistent KKR?
Lockie Ferguson might be a large loss for PBKS, who lack wicket-taking risk of their bowling assault. Yuzvendra Chahal has been far off the tempo, as has turn out to be the norm in latest occasions, whereas the opposite quick bowlers have not carried out sufficient to offer Shreyas common breakthroughs.
KKR definitely have an edge within the bowling division, with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy being main factors of distinction. PBKS are properly behind on that entrance, having conceded greater than 200 in 4 of their 5 encounters in IPL 2025.
And within the batting unit, Kolkata arguably have the firepower to do properly, even when it hasn’t translated into performances thus far. Quinton de Kock is due, as are Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh. In opposition to a struggling bowling assault, they may get to spend a while on the crease.
PBKS’ batting would possibly is nothing to scoff at, however KKR may need a slight edge for this one.
Prediction: KKR to win Match 31 of IPL 2025.