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

In the last five PBKS vs KKR head-to-head encounters between the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Ajinkya Rahane-led side has enjoyed a slight advantage of 3-2.

Both sides will face each other on April 15, 2025, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

One of the vital aspects in the shortest format is how the teams have performed in the middle overs, using the spinners.

Kolkata is ahead in the battle, thanks to their two premier spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Punjab also has Yuzvendra Chahal in the side, but the leg-spinner is yet to find his rhythm with the ball in hand.

Going into the PBKS vs KKR fixture of the IPL 2025, the Kings have carried the highest economy rate of 10.84 in the five innings. They have leaked 488 runs in 270 balls at an average of 61, the most with a huge margin.

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They have also picked up only eight wickets in this period, which is the lowest among all the sides. Punjab has been smashed for 27 sixes in this duration, besides going for 39 boundaries. They need to develop this performance with better planning.

For the Knight Riders, it’s entirely a different story altogether. In six innings, their bowlers have been nailed for 434 runs at an average of 24.11 and a strike rate of 17.28. They have picked up 18 wickets during the period before the PBKS vs KKR clash, which is the most in the period.

The Knight Riders have an economy rate of 8.37, which is the third best among all ten franchises this season. They will want to put the spin web before an aggressive Punjab batting in Chandigarh.

PBKS vs KKR Head-to-Head Records

PBKS vs KKR: Previous Contest In IPL

Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders batted first to post 261/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Phil Salt and Sunil Narine thumped the Punjab bowlers around the park for an opening stand of 138 runs in just 10.2 overs. The leader nailed 28 runs in just 10 balls.

In reply, Punjab chased down the top successful target of the IPL with eight balls to spare. Jonny Bairstow drilled 108 unbeaten runs in 48 balls at a strike rate of 225, while Prabhsimran bashed 54 runs in 20 balls. Shashank smashed 68 runs in 28 balls to take them over the line.

PBKS vs KKR Playing XIs

Punjab Kings

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen/Aaron Hardie, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Xavier Bartlett.

Impact Sub: Yash Thakur/Vijaykumar Vyshak

Kolkata Knight Riders

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.

PBKS vs KKR Player Prediction

Best Batter Prediction: Priyansh Arya

The Punjab opener, Priyansh Arya, looks to be batting with a fearless mindset in the tournament. After his century against CSK, he thumped 36 runs in just 13 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He could come up with another huge score in this game.

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Best Bowler Prediction: Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy’s variations will be key to restricting the aggressive batting line-up to a low score.

PBKS vs KKR Winner Prediction

Looking at both sides’ overall performance, Punjab is strong in the batting, while Kolkata has better resources with the ball. Overall, the team batting first in the fixture should win the game.