Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2025 Match Preview: In the unpredictable world of cricket, fortunes turn faster than a googly. Just a year ago, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders lit up the grand finale of IPL 2024. KKR triumphed and etched their name in history with a third title. Fast forward to IPL 2025, and the two former finalists now stare at an anti-climactic end—both teams are out of playoff contention. But pride, redemption, and form for the future are still on the line as they face off in their final league game of the season.
Date & Time: Sunday, May 25, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Match Start Time (Global): 2:00 PM GMT | 10:00 AM EST
SRH: Explosive Start, Unfortunate Fade
SRH’s 2025 season began with fire, notably demolishing Rajasthan Royals in a record-breaking win. Their aggressive batting formula worked well initially, but once teams adjusted and figured out counters, the Sunrisers began to slide. Travis Head couldn’t match last year’s fireworks, and though Abhishek Sharma showed glimpses of brilliance—scoring over 400 runs at a strike rate above 180 for the second consecutive year—the overall spark fizzled out.
That said, they’re arriving in Delhi with momentum. After a stunning 200+ run chase against LSG and a confident defense of 231 versus RCB, Pat Cummins’ men seem to have rediscovered their groove. The Arun Jaitley pitch, traditionally batting-friendly with short boundaries, may just offer SRH another shot to finish strong.
KKR: A Season of Spin but Not Enough Bite
KKR’s spin duo—Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine—have arguably been the best in the league. With a combined economy of just 6.03 in away games, they’ve stifled opponents consistently. However, KKR lacked consistent batting to complement their bowling. Venkatesh Iyer, their big buy, turned out to be a flop, eventually losing his spot in the XI.
The team struggled especially in the middle overs, where spin dominated and the innings often lost steam. The departure of key players post the mega auction added to the instability. Still, with a strong spin base and youth potential, this final game offers a chance to experiment and rebuild.
What to Expect in Delhi?
Expect a hot, humid evening with temperatures in the mid-30s. The pitch has offered runs in plenty this season and the ground dimensions heavily favor stroke-makers. While spinners might find some grip, it won’t be enough to stop a run-fest if the batters find their rhythm. Both teams boast firepower with the bat, so a high-scoring thriller is on the cards.
Team Watch
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Injuries/Unavailability: No concerns.
Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.
Key Stat: SRH has won all four games where they scored 200+, but only one of eight where they didn’t.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Injuries/Unavailability: Rovman Powell and Moeen Ali didn’t return post break. Shivam Shukla has replaced Powell.
Probable XII: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson.
Tactical Note: KKR will rely on their spinners, Varun and Narine, especially against SRH’s explosive top order. But SRH recently dominated RCB’s spin pair, so a new plan may be needed.
Head to Head Record
KKR 20 – SRH 9
KKR has won 6 of the last 8 matches between these sides, including the 2024 final.
Did You Know?
- Abhishek Sharma is now the only batter in IPL history with 400+ runs at a 180+ strike rate in two consecutive seasons.
- Pat Cummins has taken 12 wickets at an economy of 7.37 in his last 7 games.
- SRH is the only team in IPL 2025 without a 50+ opening partnership.
Where to Watch SRH vs KKR Live?
India:
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (Select HD/SD channels)
- Live Streaming: JioCinema (Free in multiple languages)
USA:
- TV Broadcast: Willow TV
- Live Streaming: ESPN+ / Sling TV
UK:
- TV Broadcast: Sky Sports Cricket
- Streaming: Sky Go app
Australia:
- Broadcast: Fox Cricket
- Streaming: Kayo Sports
South Africa:
- Broadcast: SuperSport Cricket
- Streaming: SuperSport App
There’s no playoff berth at stake, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for. With several players eyeing national selection and team managements planning for the future, expect plenty of firepower, tactical trials, and cricketing pride on display. Delhi awaits a spectacle as SRH and KKR look to sign off IPL 2025 on a high.
