IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs KKR- Match 44

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) are at a critical juncture in IPL 2025, with five wins in eight group-stage encounters to be in the fifth position in the points table at a net run rate of +0.177.

Shreyas Iyer’s army is going into their next fixture on the back of their defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Chandigarh. They couldn’t make much difference in the batting despite getting a supreme advantage in the opening partnership.

PBKS will now be up against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 44th fixture of the IPL 2025 on April 26, 2025, at the Eden Gardens.

IPL 2025: PBKS Playing XI vs KKR- Match 44

Openers- Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh (wk.)

Priyansh Arya continued his excellent time in the opening position against Bengaluru in IPL 2025. The Southpaw clubbed 22 runs in 15 balls at a strike rate of 146.67, thanks to three boundaries and one six.

Also Read: Watch: Colin Munro Accuses Iftikhar Ahmed Of Chucking

He is PBKS’ second leading run-getter in 2025 with 254 runs in eight innings at an average of 31.75 and a strike rate of 201.58, thanks to one century at the best score of 103 runs against the Chennai Super Kings. The youngster has used the pace of the bowlers and the short balls beautifully to get the job done.

Prabhsimran Singh has provided them with the vital aggressive start in the season with 209 runs in eight innings at an average of 26.12 and a strike rate of 168.54, scoring one fifty at the best score of 69 runs.

Middle order- Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis/Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis

Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS leader, is the top run-getter of the season for the franchise with 263 runs in eight innings at an average of 43.83 and a strike rate of 185.21, including the best score of three half-centuries with three half-centuries.

Josh Inglis got a chance in three games of the IPL 2025 as the PBKS management decided to drop Glenn Maxwell in the side. But the wicket-keeper batter couldn’t do much with the bat and returned with three poor knocks. Maxwell could return for the game against Kolkata, looking at how Inglis has performed against the spinners.

Nehal Wadhera is another bright spot on the side, with 183 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of nearly 150. Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh couldn’t do a significant job in the last game towards the back end of the innings.

Stoinis needs to bat well in the five or six positions to provide them with the late flourish in the death overs.

Bowlers- Marco Janse, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett (Impact)

Marco Jansen bowled well for his figures of 0/20 in three overs in the last game, but they couldn’t pick wickets with the new ball apart from Arshdeep Singh, who sent back Phil Salt in the first over of the defense.

Also Read: BCCI Initiates Strict Action On India vs Pakistan Cricket Future After Pahalgam Attack

Xavier Bartlett went for 0/28 in three overs, while Harpreet Brar, the left-arm spinner, returned with 1/27 in four overs. Chahal went for 36 runs in the last game. But as a bowling unit, PBKS will be much more confident going into the game after their famous victory against KKR in the first round, where they defended 111 runs with a 16-run win margin.

PBKS Predicted Playing XI vs KKR- IPL 2025, Match 44

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis/Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Janse, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar

Impact Sub: Xavier Bartlett