The finalists of IPL 2024 are finally going head-to-head this season. However, their individual circumstances in 2025 are not as favorable. After three games, Kolkata Knight Riders stand at the last position on the table, while Sunrisers Hyderabad are just two spots above as they prepare for their matchup at Eden Gardens.
The two teams that racked up high scores last season might end up in a low-scoring matchup on Thursday. The persistent impasse between Kolkata Knight Riders and the pitch curator at Eden Gardens appears to have concluded, and for the time being, it looks as if the franchise has prevailed.
A day before the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, two pitches were prepared – one dry and another drier – and it is understood that the franchise has the option to make a final decision on which surface to use. They have chosen the driest one.
KKR’s batting woes
For the defending champions KKR, their entire batting order has been weak. In the previous season, their opening partnership established matches by averaging 43.9 with a strike rate of 207. This season, they are averaging 15.3 and hitting at 100. The batsmen from 4th to 8th spot- encompassing the retained group of Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh – are averaging 17.22 with a strike rate of 117.3. It seems they have developed a weakness to the short ball as well. Out of the 12 KKR dismissals to fast bowling this season, nine have occurred from deliveries pitched at or shorter than the 8 to 10 meter range.
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Sunrisers struggling to find momentum
SRH has struggled during powerplays, both in batting and bowling. Abhishek Sharma’s bat has produced pleasing sounds, yet he has managed only 31 runs across three innings. In matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, their batters continued to be aggressive despite losing wickets, resulting in totals that were ultimately inadequate.
Their fast bowling was intended to improve the team, but they haven’t made a difference in the initial six overs. Their powerplay economy (11.4) ranks as the worst of all teams this year, and despite having quality bowlers like Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, and Harshal Patel, the economy rate (11.7) of their pace attack is quite bad. Only RR’s fast bowlers (11.8) have performed worse.
Even though both teams encounter similar problems, their strategies differ. Following the recent loss Cummins stated that SRH won’t alter their batting strategy, whereas KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo mentioned on the eve of the match that their batters need to go beyond aggression and employ clever tactics. Thursday will reveal which philosophy prevails.
