In a crucial encounter of the IPL 2025 season, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders. Both teams have made significant changes in their lineups, aiming to strengthen their standings in the tournament.
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer expressed confidence in his side’s decision to bat first, especially considering the conditions. “We are batting first. Since we are playing on the same wicket they played on, we can see a few cracks. We will get a better idea of how it plays as the match progresses,” Iyer said during the toss. He emphasized the importance of seizing early momentum, particularly with wickets in the powerplay, which he believes can tilt the game in their favor. Notably, Glenn Maxwell and Azmatullah Omarzai have been included in the playing XI, providing extra depth in both batting and bowling.
The Punjab Kings’ playing XI features Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh opening the innings, followed by Shreyas Iyer himself at number three. Josh Inglis will handle the wicketkeeping duties, while Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Glenn Maxwell bolster the middle order. The all-round prowess of Azmatullah Omarzai, the bowling strength of Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh, and the spin wizardry of Yuzvendra Chahal round off a formidable unit.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (w), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane remains optimistic despite recent batting struggles. “It’s all about playing good cricket and chasing down whatever target is set. Our bowlers have been bowling really well and have shown a lot of improvement,” Rahane remarked. Acknowledging the batting unit’s inconsistent performances, he stressed the importance of bravery and positivity in this format. To bolster the side, Rovman Powell comes in place of Moeen Ali, and Chetan Sakariya replaces Ramandeep Singh.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
This match promises an exciting contest as both sides look to capitalize on their recent improvements and stay alive in the race for playoff contention. With Punjab Kings eyeing a big total and Kolkata Knight Riders banking on their bowling strength, fans are in for a thrilling evening of T20 cricket action.
