The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opted to bat first after winning the toss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:30 PM. Led by Ajinkya Rahane, KKR have decided to stick with the strategy that’s worked for them in recent games—put runs on the board early and apply scoreboard pressure.
Speaking at the toss, Rahane remained calm and focused. “We will bat first. It looks a good wicket. In the last two games, we batted first and did well. We want to stick to that plan. It’s about taking one game at a time, learning from the previous match, and staying confident,” he said. With Venkatesh Iyer sitting out, experienced campaigner Manish Pandey has been brought into the playing XI.
KKR’s Playing XI features a strong blend of power hitters and spin options:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Their Impact Subs include: Harshit Rana, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Anrich Nortje, and Mayank Markande.
On the other side, CSK skipper MS Dhoni made two changes, bringing in Devon Conway and Urvil Patel in place of Rasheed and Curran. The 43-year-old veteran reflected on the ground’s emotional significance for him: “I have played a lot of cricket here while growing up. This feels like a home ground. Now is the time to get answers for the next season. We are experimenting with the middle order and bowling to finalize a strong XI or XII for the future,” he remarked.
CSK’s Playing XI includes a mix of youth and experience:
Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Devon Conway, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, and Matheesha Pathirana.
Their Impact Subs: Shivam Dube, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton, and Deepak Hooda.
With both teams in transition mode—KKR eyeing momentum ahead of playoffs and CSK seeking clarity on combinations—tonight’s game could be pivotal. The Eden Gardens surface is expected to be batting-friendly early on, and KKR will hope their decision to bat pays off with a solid total.
