KKR vs LSG Playing 11, Toss and Match Preview

KKR vs LSG Playing 11: The stage is set for a thrilling mid-table clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 21 of IPL 2025 at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. Both teams, tied with two wins and two losses this season, are vying for crucial points to climb the standings. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the latest updates, including the toss result, team compositions, and key player battles.

Toss Update: KKR Opt to Bowl First

Table of Contents

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to field first, citing the pitch’s favorable conditions for bowling early. “The wicket looks good, and the temperature isn’t too hot, so we expect minimal wear and tear,” Rahane stated. KKR made one change to their lineup, bringing back Australian pacer Spencer Johnson in place of Moeen Ali to bolster their pace attack.

LSG captain Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, confirmed no changes to his side, emphasizing a focus on “positives” from their previous games. Despite Pant’s personal form remaining under scrutiny (scores of 0, 15, 2, and 2 this season), LSG’s bowling unit appears strengthened with the return of key players like Akash Deep and Avesh Khan.

Confirmed Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Impact Sub Options: Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Mayank Markande.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi.
Impact Sub Options: Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Shahbaz Ahmed.

IPL 2025 SCHEDULE

Head-to-Head and Recent Form

Historically, LSG holds a slight edge over KKR, winning three of their five encounters. However, at Eden Gardens, the rivalry is evenly balanced at 1-1. The last meeting between these teams in May 2024 saw KKR dominate with a 98-run victory, powered by Sunil Narine’s 81-run blitz.

Key Stats:

Overall H2H: LSG 3–2 KKR
At Eden Gardens: 1–1

KKR enters this match fresh off an 80-run thrashing of Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Venkatesh Iyer (60 off 29 balls) and Rinku Singh (32* off 17 balls) orchestrated a 91-run partnership to post 200/6. LSG, meanwhile, edged past Mumbai Indians by 12 runs, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s explosive form (201 runs this season at a strike rate of 218.48).

KKR vs LSG Preview: Spin vs Firepower in the City of Joy

Key Players to Watch

Nicholas Pooran (LSG): The Orange Cap contender has been LSG’s backbone, dismantling bowlers with his aggressive strokeplay. His battle against KKR’s spinners, particularly Varun Chakaravarthy (6 wickets at 6.27 economy), will be pivotal.
Varun Chakaravarthy (KKR): The mystery spinner has dominated LSG’s batters, dismissing Rishabh Pant three times in six T20 innings and maintaining an average of 10.3 against him.
Andre Russell vs LSG’s Southpaws: Russell’s duel with Pooran, Pant, and David Miller could decide the middle overs. Pooran has scored 117 runs against Russell in T20s but has fallen to him five times.
Venkatesh Iyer (KKR): After a slow start, his 60-run knock against SRH signals a return to form. His ability to counter Shardul Thakur (2 dismissals in 5 innings) will be crucial.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The Eden Gardens pitch has offered varied challenges this season. In KKR’s last game, a 200+ total proved defendable, but spinners like Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine extracted sharp turn. Early swing for pacers and dew in the second innings could favour teams chasing, though KKR’s decision to bowl first reflects confidence in their bowling depth.

Weather forecasts predict humid conditions (33°C) with minimal rain interference. Cloud cover may ease as the game progresses, but dew could complicate LSG’s bowling plans in the latter half.

Tactical Insights

KKR’s Spin Dominance: With Narine and Varun, KKR will aim to stifle LSG’s middle order early. Aiden Markram’s struggles against Varun (4 dismissals in 8 T20 innings) add to LSG’s concerns.
LSG’s Pace Strategy: Shardul Thakur (7 wickets this season) and Avesh Khan will target KKR’s openers. Quinton de Kock’s record against Thakur (46 runs, 2 dismissals) suggests a tense powerplay.
Impact Subs: KKR may deploy Vaibhav Arora for death overs, while LSG could introduce spinner M. Siddharth if the pitch slows down.

Conclusion

With both teams eyeing a playoff berth, this clash promises high-octane action. KKR’s spin arsenal and LSG’s power-hitting lineup set the stage for a tactical showdown. Fans can catch the live telecast on Star Sports and stream via JioHotstar.

As the sun sets over Eden Gardens, the question remains: Can Pant’s LSG break KKR’s home dominance, or will Rahane’s men continue their resurgence? The answer lies in the battle of strategies, form, and nerves under pressure.

Also Read:

For Hindi Updates: Click Here