Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking for answers as they prepare to face each other at Eden Gardens. Both teams are seeking a Plan B after losing their opening games of the IPL season. A key concern for both KKR and SRH is their bowling, which has taken a hit, making it difficult for coaches Abhishek Nayar and Daniel Vettori to find the right team combination.
Bowling Attacks Under Scrutiny
In their opening match, all six bowlers used by both sides were expensive. KKR have traditionally relied on their spinners, but with Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana unavailable, the pressure is on Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine. The spin duo of Chakaravarthy and Narine conceded 78 runs in seven overs against Mumbai Indians, a significant concern for KKR. Chakaravarthy appeared to be lacking confidence, while Narine also struggled to contain the opposition.
There was poor captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane for not bowling Narine, who was KKR’s most economical bowler of the night, against Rohit Sharma, against whom he enjoys a good record. SRH’s bowling also came under fire after Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 203 runs in just over 15 overs. SRH, missing Pat Cummins, continued to concede runs in the Powerplay, giving away 76 against RCB.
Middle Order Concerns for KKR
KKR’s middle order woes from last season have resurfaced. Against MI, KKR made a decent start, reaching 78/1 in the Powerplay. However, they struggled in the middle overs, scoring only 19 runs in three overs (12-14). Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh have not been able to fill the void left by Andre Russell in the lower order.
Changes Expected as Teams Seek Solutions
Expect changes as both teams look to address their weaknesses. KKR will be hoping for a strong showing in their upcoming three home games.
Historical High Scores
- Three hundreds have been scored in SRH vs KKR IPL matches.
- David Warner hit 126 at Hyderabad on April 30, 2017.
- Harry Brook scored 100* at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 14, 2023.
- Heinrich Klaasen smashed 105* off 39 balls at Delhi on May 25, 2025.
Both teams will be aiming to rectify their shortcomings. SRH are missing their regular skipper Pat Cummins.