The 53rd match of IPL 2025 will witness Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) locking horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens on May 4. With just four wins from 10 matches, KKR find themselves in a do-or-die situation, desperately needing a victory to stay alive in the playoff race. Their recent 14-run win over Delhi Capitals, powered by a brilliant knock from young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, has injected some much-needed momentum into their campaign. They’ll be eager to build on that performance, especially playing in familiar home conditions.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have had a disappointing season and are already out of playoff contention. With just three wins from 11 games, they’ve struggled to find consistency, and their 100-run thrashing by the Mumbai Indians in the previous match further highlighted their shortcomings. Despite being out of the race, the Royals will be keen to dent KKR’s hopes and play the role of spoilers.
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The head-to-head record between the two sides has been closely contested. KKR lead the tally with 15 wins, while RR have clinched 14 victories. One encounter ended without a result. Notably, KKR defeated RR by 8 wickets earlier this season and have a 6-4 edge at Eden Gardens.
#1 Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Harshit Rana
Yashasvi Jaiswal has found a purple patch with the bat, registering five 45+ scores in his last six innings. His aggressive intent during the Powerplay, where he strikes at 166.88 this season, sets the tone early for Rajasthan Royals. But standing in his way will be Harshit Rana, Kolkata Knight Riders’ go-to man with the new ball. Rana has scalped 14 wickets in the Powerplay this season, but his economy rate of over 9 means the duel could swing either way.
#2 Ajinkya Rahane vs Fazalhaq Farooqi
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane has been the backbone of their batting unit this season. His elegant starts have provided stability, but he’ll be tested by RR pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the early overs. The Afghan left-arm quick has picked up 62 Powerplay wickets in T20s at under 7 runs an over. Rahane averages 36.69 against left-arm pace in IPL—setting up a fascinating contest up front.
#3 Riyan Parag vs Varun Chakravarthy
Riyan Parag’s evolution into a dependable middle-order batter has been one of RR’s few positives this season. His strong record against spin—averaging 64.40 against tweakers since IPL 2024—makes his upcoming battle with KKR’s Varun Chakravarthy one to watch. Chakravarthy, known for his subtle variations, has dismissed Parag in their only IPL meeting. This tactical clash could shape the middle overs.
