The IPL 2025 continues to heat up with Match 39 on April 21, 2025, as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) takes on Gujarat Titans (GT) at the beautiful Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This evening's match, starting at 7:30 PM IST, will feature Ajinkya Rahane's KKR against Shubman Gill's GT in an exciting encounter between two top teams. 

Eden Gardens IPL Stats and Records

• Total Matches: 96
• Batting 1st Won: 40
• Batting 2nd Won: 56
• Highest Total: 262/2 by Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024
• Lowest Total: 49 all out by Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017
• Highest Run-chase: 262/2 in 18.4 overs by Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024
• Lowest Total Defended: 131 All Out by Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017
• Average 1st Innings Score: 166
• Average 2nd Innings Score: 153

Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR vs GT Match 39 - A Head to Head breakdown

KKR vs GT: Weather and Pitch Report

The weather in Kolkata will be perfect for cricket, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 34 degrees Celsius and a low probability of rain. The only test could be the humidity, which may test the players' stamina, as humidity is expected to be high. Overall, indications are that the match will go ahead as planned. The pitch at Eden Gardens is generally very hospitable to the batsmen, providing consistent bounce and pace which allows for aggressive stroke-play. The pitch may turn a touch for included spinners in the middle overs, but the fast bowlers may enjoy some swing early on under lights. Both teams would be aiming for a par score of 180-200 to set up a high-scoring thriller.

KKR vs GT: Match preview

With Ajinkya Rahane as their captain, Kolkata Knight Riders will try to exploit their home advantage at Eden Gardens. KKR's batting line-up consists of a mix of explosiveness coupled with steadiness. KKR has their top order open with Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine. Then the middle order will feature Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell. KKR have Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy as their best bowling attack. Chetan Sakariya is also part of KKR's pace unit, so they have plenty of depth there too. KKR have also just beaten Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets, so they are in some good form. 

Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, are also heading into this match with momentum after winning three successive matches earlier in the season. GT's batting appears strong at the moment with Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill, and then Sherfane Rutherford and his 180+ strike rate finish off with firepower. It has a really good bowling unit headed by Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan, and the spin control of Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore. With GT's bowling, which has been inconsistent at times, their ability to set massive totals is shown when GT recently won by 58 runs against Rajasthan Royals. 

This long-awaited battle should be a sight to behold, as both teams have relatively balanced squads. The middle overs will be important to see if spinners like Chakaravarthy and Rashid can change the outcome in their favor while bowlers like Arora and Siraj take the new ball and try and create early inroads. It will be a hotly contested match between KKR and GT as they both try and lay claim to being the best team in this IPL 2025 contest.