Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a crucial afternoon encounter at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday, May 4, as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive in IPL 2025.
The defending champions have struggled to live up to expectations this season, particularly at home, where they have suffered three defeats in five matches. With two more games left at their fortress, KKR will need to step up, especially with their inconsistent batting and unpredictable bowling. Despite their patchy form, they still have a path to 17 points—if they manage to win their remaining fixtures.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are out of contention for the playoffs and will be playing only for pride. One bright spark for them has been Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is expected to continue shouldering responsibility, particularly in the absence of regular skipper Sanju Samson.
Pitch Conditions
Eden Gardens has typically favoured batters this season, with the average first-innings score hovering around 200. The last afternoon game here, featuring KKR and LSG, saw a massive run-fest with over 500 runs scored. Another high-scoring match is on the cards, with the pitch likely to offer little assistance to spinners.
Head-to-Head
KKR lead narrowly with 15 wins to RR’s 14 in their past IPL meetings. Earlier this season, KKR claimed a dominant victory over RR in Guwahati.
Weather Forecast
A slightly overcast afternoon is expected, but there’s minimal chance of rain disrupting play. Humidity levels will be high and tempartures will be between mid 30s.
Where to watch
Live coverage will be available on the Star Sports Network, and the match can be streamed on the JioCinema app and website.
Match Prediction
KKR will be red-hot favourites to win the game against RR.