The 31st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is currently underway between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first, putting KKR to bowl under the afternoon sun on April 15, Tuesday.
This much-anticipated mid-season clash sees both teams looking to gain crucial points in the race for playoffs, with each side bringing strong line-ups and strategic changes to the pitch.
Toss Update: PBKS to Bat First
Opting for a bat-first approach, Shreyas Iyer expressed confidence in his team’s ability to post a competitive total. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders made a significant change to their playing XI, replacing all-rounder Moeen Ali with South African pacer Anrich Nortje to strengthen their bowling attack.
Playing XI for PBKS vs KKR – IPL 2025 Match 31
Punjab Kings:
Priyansh Arya
Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
Shreyas Iyer (c)
Nehal Wadhera
Josh Inglis
Shashank Singh
Glenn Maxwell
Marco Jansen
Xavier Bartlett
Arshdeep Singh
Yuzvendra Chahal
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Quinton de Kock (wk)
Sunil Narine
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
Venkatesh Iyer
Rinku Singh
Andre Russell
Ramandeep Singh
Harshit Rana
Vaibhav Arora
Anrich Nortje
Varun Chakaravarthy
Key Players to Watch
Shreyas Iyer: Back as captain for PBKS, Iyer will be key to anchoring the innings.
Glenn Maxwell: Known for his explosive strokeplay, Maxwell’s role in the middle overs could be decisive.
Andre Russell: The Caribbean powerhouse remains KKR’s X-factor with both bat and ball.
Varun Chakaravarthy & Yuzvendra Chahal: The leg-spin duel promises to be intriguing as both look to dominate in the middle overs.
Venue Buzz
This is one of the early high-profile encounters at the newly inaugurated Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. Known for its sporting wicket and scenic backdrop, fans can expect an exciting contest between bat and ball.
As the race to the IPL 2025 playoffs heats up, every match counts, and both PBKS and KKR will be eager to register a win. With big names and form players on both sides, cricket lovers are in for a thrilling evening.
