KKR vs SRH 1st Match Prediction, Pitch Report and Who Will Win?

The Indian Premier League 2025 season is all set to kickstart at the iconic Eden Gardens. After thrilling games and a record number of sixes last season, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad will set the stage on fire. KKR were well above the rest of the teams last year as they not only finished the group stage at the top of the table but also beat SRH with ease in the Qualifier 1 and Final to clinch their third IPL title. SRH on the flip side, blew hot and cold in parts but put in a resilient show in the entire season with their ruthless batting approach. Pat Cummins has imported the Australian winning mentality into the Hyderabad franchise. SRH has imploded with bat and ball, entertaining the passionate cricket fans. The team management and the captain have been bullish, stating that they know about the risks that come with their approach, but they are going to stick to the same in the IPL 2025 season as well.

KKR vs SRH: Head-to-Head

KKR met SRH thrice last season and they have won all three games. The first one was the final over thriller at Eden Gardens. The second one was a straight-forward win in the Qualifier 1 at Ahmedabad and the third one was the one-sided final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. KKR has the upper hand when it comes to the overall record between the two teams. KKR has won 19 out of 28 IPL matches, including one in a super over, while SRH has won the remaining 9. 

Read more: Top 10 Most Dangerous Batsman in IPL History

KKR vs SRH: Team News

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired the services of Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the IPL 2025 auction. Gurbaz took the opening spot last year after Philip Salt left for England duties. Given the success Sunil Narine had at the top last year and the flat pitches on offer, KKR is expected to continue with Narine as an opener. Looking at the KKR squad, their top contenders for captaincy are Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has the most exciting batting line-up in the world coming into the IPL 2025 season. Abhishek Sharma is coming on the back of a blistering 135 off 54 balls against England. His opening partner Travis Head is scoring runs for fun irrespective of the format. Then they have Heinrich Klaasen, who is known for his six-hitting ability. One can expect a cracker of a game to kickstart the IPL 2025 season.

KKR vs SRH: Pitch and Weather Report

The pitches at the Eden Gardens Kolkata venue saw a slight transformation last season with teams scoring 200 plus. It’s the Indian summer, so the days will be warm and the evenings will be humid.

KKR Probable playing XI

Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (WK), Venkatesh Iyer (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora (IMPACT PLAYER)

SRH Probable playing XI

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa (IMPACT PLAYER)

The “Super Sub” Thing:

Basically, teams got to swap a player mid-game, like a super sub. Teams that used this smartly won more.

More Bouncers!

Bowlers could throw more fast, high balls, which made things tougher for batters. This changed how bowlers attacked.

Pitch Matters, Duh:

Some pitches were batting paradises, others were spin-friendly. Teams that figured out the pitch fastest did better.

Powerplay Punch:

Those first few overs? Super important. Teams that scored big or took early wickets usually got ahead.

Death Over Drama:

The last few overs are chaos. Teams that bowled well or hit big then won.

Spin to Win:

Spinners are always key in India. Teams with good spinners controlled the game.

Catching and Fielding:

Dropped catches and sloppy fielding cost teams big time. Sharp fielders saved runs and took wickets.

Good Team Mix:

Teams with a mix of experienced stars and young guns did best. Balance is key.

DRS Calls:

Teams could now challenge wide and no ball calls, so getting those calls right was more important than before.

Basically, it was a mix of smart tactics, adapting to the pitch, and good old-fashioned skill. If a team can nail those things, they’ve got a good shot at winning.

KKR vs SRH: Who Will Win?

KKR has players who are better suited to tackle the adverse conditions at Eden Gardens. However, SRH has shown that they are dangerous with their ruthless batting approach. SRH will most likely start their IPL 2025 campaign with a win.

Summary 

In short, the 2025 IPL season is kicking off with a rematch of last year’s final: Kolkata Knight Riders versus Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR dominated last season, but SRH is coming in hot with a seriously powerful batting lineup. Expect a high-scoring, exciting game at Eden Gardens. While KKR has the home advantage, SRH’s explosive batting might just give them the edge for a win in this opening match. Ultimately, it boils down to who can execute their strategies better, adapt to the pitch, and handle the pressure.