IPL 2025: KKR Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 31

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are coming into the clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Chandigarh after a dominating performance with both bat and ball in hand against the Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Moeen Ali, and Sunil Narine blew away the five-time champions for just 103 runs on the board in the first innings. Later, Narine’s fiery knock helped them chase down the score with eight wickets in hand and nearly ten overs to spare.

With the huge victory, the Knight Riders have gone up to the fourth position in the points table, thanks to three wins and as many defeats in six clashes at a net run rate of +0.803.

Their next fixture will be against an injured Punjab Kings, led by KKR’s former campaign-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, who is currently in great touch with the bat in hand.

IPL 2025: KKR Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 31

Openers- Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock’s form has been a huge concern for the KKR management. In the 104-run chase, the left-handed batter could have increased his belief and trust by going through a solid knock with the bat. He rocked back and thumped Anshul Kamboj over mid-wicket for a huge six.

In the second over of the innings, the southpaw cracked two sixes in three balls against Khaleel Ahmed. The first one was smashed over deep backward square-leg, while the second one went over the fine-leg region. But he missed the same shot and saw his off-stump getting disturbed.

Sunil Narine, on the other hand, looked relaxed and was nailing the big shots by clearing his front leg. The KKR batter slogged Ravichandran Ashwin for two successive sixes to end with a 44-run knock in 18 balls.

That laid down the winning platform for the franchise as they looked to make an aggressive finish to the low chase.

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS vs KKR Match Prediction, Who Will Win Today Match 31?

Middle order- Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Impact)

It was such a clinical performance from the KKR side that they didn’t even need their impact player, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, with the bat in hand. Ajinkya Rahane swept the spinners beautifully to remain unbeaten on 20 runs in 17 balls in the eight-wicket victory.

His captaincy was incredible in the previous game. He made the right bowling changes, putting the fielders in the right position to create pressure on the batters. Rinku Singh, who hasn’t had a lot of chances to bat up the order, stayed undefeated on 15 runs in 12 balls at a strike rate of 125.

Moeen Ali was excellent with the new ball as he picked the wicket of Devon Conway and returned with figures of 1/20 in his four overs, including a maiden. But there will be questions for the KKR management about whether they want three spinners in Chandigarh. Anrich Nortje, who is recovering from his injury, could make his debut for the side in the clash.

Bowlers- Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy

Vaibhav Arora went at an economy rate of 7.8 in the previous game, and that was the highest economy for any KKR bowler in the entire game. He picked up the ninth wicket of Noor Ahmed, who couldn’t judge the bounce of the surface.

Varun Chakravarthy leaked 13 runs in the very first over before giving away just nine runs in the last three to earn two wickets in the bank. Sunil Narine, with the ball, continued his magic and ended with 3/13 in four overs.

KKR Predicted Playing XI vs PBKS- IPL 2025, Match 31

Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk.), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali/Anrich Nortje, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact Sub: Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs KKR- Match 31