IPL 2025: KKR Playing XI vs SRH- Match 15

The three-time champions of IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), have been irregular with their performances in the IPL 2025 campaign, with two defeats in three encounters.

They started the event with a defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens before opening their account with a victory against the Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. But a heavy defeat against the Mumbai Indians dropped them to the bottom of the points table.

IPL 2025: KKR Playing XI vs SRH- Match 15

Openers- Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock (wk)

Sunil Narine was the game-changer for KKR in the previous season, with the bat in the opening position. His partnership with Phil Salt was one of the reasons why the middle-order batters can swing the blade hard and go for the big shots from the start.

Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR Playing XI vs MI- Match 12

The 2025 season is different. Kolkata has Narine and Quinton de Kock opening batting, while both the southpaws have not come to the party together. Most of the opponent sides have exposed the weakness of the West Indies batter, who has not gotten any free deliveries to nail.

On the other hand, De Kock, after a tough game against Bengaluru, carried the Knight Riders over the line with a match-winning unbeaten knock of over 90 runs. But he again couldn’t do much against the Mumbai Indians. This is one of the reasons for them recording the lowest strike in the first six overs among all 10 franchises.

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

Ajinkya Rahane was under pressure, having taken over the leadership duties of the defending champions. But he gained confidence after a fiery half-century against the RCB side in the opening clash of the IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens. But he again looked unsettled in the next two games, just like the other batters,

At number four, Venkatesh Iyer is another struggling batter in the middle order. His price tag, perhaps, has pressurized him in this aspect. Angkrish Raghuvanshi looked stable among most of the renowned Indian batters, but the trouble is also with Rinku Singh and Andre Russell’s poor form.

Kolkata has managed the lowest strike rate in the last five overs of the innings in the IPL 2025 so far. For that reason, because Spencer Johson hasn’t looked good with the ball yet for the KKR side, the management can think of adding Moeen Ali in the side to get four overs of spin and use him as a floater wherever required.

Ramandeep Singh’s 22 runs in 12 balls against Mumbai is the only positive for the KKR side from the previous encounter.

Bowlers- Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora/ Chetan Sakariya

In the bowling department, apart from the two spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, most of the bowlers have not been able to make an impact in the contest. Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, unlike the previous season, have not picked up wickets in the powerplay and middle overs.

In the absence of left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, they can include Chetan Sakariya in the side. They can also include Anukul Roy’s left-arm spin in the playing eleven. But in that case, the nature of the surface will be crucial for the franchise.

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KKR Predicted Playing XI vs SRH- IPL 2025, Match 15

Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Moeen Ali/ Spencer Johnson, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact Sub: Anukul Roy/Vaibhav Arora/Chetan Sakariya