In one of the most dramatic comebacks in IPL history, Punjab Kings (PBKS) stunned defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with a 16-run victory in Mullanpur, defending a mere 111—the lowest total ever successfully defended in the league. The win left head coach Ricky Ponting in awe, especially after the team’s recent criticism for failing to defend 245 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. PBKS, after opting to bat first, had a strong start with Prabhsimran Singh (30) and Priyansh Arya (22) adding 39 runs early, but a double-wicket over by Harshit Rana quickly halted their momentum.

From there, wickets tumbled as Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine tightened the screws, eventually bundling PBKS out for 111. During KKR’s chase, they appeared in control at 62 for 2, but an unexpected collapse followed, with the team losing eight wickets for just 33 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal turned the tide with a match-winning spell of 4 for 28, dismantling the middle order, while Marco Jansen delivered a crucial 3 for 17, including the prized scalp of Andre Russell. The stunning fightback showcased PBKS’s resilience and marked one of the greatest defensive efforts in the tournament’s history.

See Also: IPL 2025: Bowler with most number of dot balls so far

"Just about the best win that I've ever had and a season-defining moment. The heart rate still up a bit for me - it's probably up over 200. I don't need many of those games like that at my age of over 50 now. It just goes to show how funny a game it is. Only three days ago, we couldn't defend 246 [245] and here we are, defending 112 [111] with 16 runs up our sleeves. We actually said to the guys at the halfway mark that really small chases like this are sometimes the hardest. The wicket wasn't easy. You can see right through the game it was holding up," Ponting told the broadcaster in the post-match

Best win I ever had: Ricky Ponting

Ponting, who witnessed from the sidelines as PBKS defended the lowest total in IPL history, 111 runs ,to secure a stunning 16-run win, remarked that it was the best victory in his IPL coaching career since 2014. He reflected that such wins are always the sweetest and added that if they could pull off a result like that, it would rank among the finest victories most players had ever experienced. Having coached many IPL matches, Ponting felt this might just be the most memorable win he had been a part of.

"But we just said that wins like this are always the sweetest ones. If we can pull this off, then this would be as good a win as most guys have probably been involved in. I've coached a lot of games in the IPL and that might just be about the best win that I've ever had,” Ponting concluded.

The 31st match of IPL 2025 was played between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at Chandigarh ground. And in this match, Punjab Kings created history by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs and with this, Punjab Kings became the first team to defend the lowest total in the history of IPL. Punjab Kings had set a target of just 112 runs in front of Kolkata team, in response, Kolkata team was all out for 95 runs.

Talking about this match, Punjab Kings team could not score a big score and Kolkata team had a target of only 112 runs. But the real game starts when Yuzvendra Chahal comes to bowl. Chahal first dismissed Ajinkya Rahane LBW on a score of 17 runs, after which he also dismissed Angkrish Raghuvanshi who was looking dangerous. Chahal then dismissed Rinku Singh and then Ramandeep Singh on two consecutive balls to bring back Punjab Kings. Chahal took four wickets for 28 runs in four overs.
In this match played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, Punjab Kings were all out for 111 runs while batting first. This is the second lowest score of the current IPL season. Barring openers Priyansh Arya (22) and Prabhsimran Singh (30), the rest of the batsmen were seen struggling on the home ground. Apart from these two, only Nehal Wadhera (10), Shashank Singh (18) and Xavier Bartlett (11) could score in double figures.

The team lost six wickets for 80 runs and experienced spinner Narine made it difficult for Punjab to make a comeback by dismissing Suryansh Shedge (four) and Marco Jansen (one). Shashank and Bartlett took the team past 100 with a 23-run partnership for the ninth wicket but both were dismissed within three balls. This resulted in Punjab's innings being reduced to 111 runs. This was their fourth lowest score in the IPL. Harshit Rana (three wickets for 25 runs) was the most successful bowler for KKR, while Varun Chakraborty (two wickets for 21 runs) and Sunil Narine (two wickets for 14 runs) took two wickets each. And the entire innings of Punjab Kings collapsed on a flat wicket.

ALSO READ: [WATCH] IPL 2025: KL Rahul meets head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of DC vs RR clash

Kolkata Knight Riders team failed in run chase

Chasing the target of 112 runs, Kolkata's condition was also bad. In the very first over of the innings, Sunil Narine was bowled by Marco Jansen after scoring five runs with a four. In the next over, Xavier Bartlett, who was playing his first IPL match, got Quinton de Kock (2) caught by Suryansh Shedge on the boundary. Captain Ajinkya Rahane (17) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37), who came as an impact player, took the team from a score of seven runs for two wickets and took it to 62 runs. Both played well and took advantage of some lifelines.

With this, KKR tightened the grip. In the eighth over, Chahal got Rahane out LBW and brought Punjab back. In his next over, he gave the fourth blow by getting Raghuvanshi caught by Bartlett. Glenn Maxwell's spin changed the course of the match by sending Venkatesh Iyer (7). Chahal then brought KKR to its knees by dismissing Rinku Singh (2) and Ramandeep Singh (0) in two consecutive balls. Rinku was stumped and Ramandeep's catch was taken by Shreyas at leg slip. After this, Jansen bowled Harshit Rana and gave the eighth blow to KKR

Twitter reactions after PBKS wins 31th match of IPL 2025

PBKS Celebrating after defending 111 score against KKR...

Rayadu be like : Why are they celebrating like they won the IPL trophy 🏆 😆😆#KKRvPBKS pic.twitter.com/ZsdWjzZjwb

— Star Factor (@Musicalibrary) April 15, 2025

Wow, what a match.. poor KKR can't even chased 100+ score. 🤔

Congratulations to PBKS for the WIN 💥#PBKSvsKKR pic.twitter.com/GAL2HXY72Y

— Ravi (@itsravirk) April 15, 2025

I can’t believe PBKS actually managed to win!! pic.twitter.com/jY6dveqAFe

— Anika Singh 🇮🇳 (@AnikaSingh_13) April 15, 2025

What a game! PBKS just defended the lowest ever total in IPL history. Absolute nail biter & a sensational comeback! KKR got crushed at the finish line, Talk about scriptsss 💥#PBKSvKKR pic.twitter.com/0GlkH3GQO3

— BlackGold✨ (@b1ackgoldd) April 15, 2025

PBKS BOWLED OUT FOR JUST 111.#PBKSvsKKR#Ramcharitmanas_UntoldSecret pic.twitter.com/Iy9pAOyUQ7

— L K KUSHWAHA♐ (@Samrat13031996) April 15, 2025

Baap baap hota h
Beta beta

Ab apne papa shreyas ka moo mai lega ??

PBKS
Highest ever total chased 262 Vs KKR
Lowest ever total defended 111 Vs KkR

We officially own you irrelevant KKHaar.

— 𝐏𝐁𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 🦁 (@LionOfPBKS) April 15, 2025

🗣️"KKR made a slow track and won"
Ironically PBKS lost on a similar track in their home ground 😂😂💉💉 pic.twitter.com/yEypwKUpvn

— Arka (@ARKA0432) April 5, 2025

After PBKS, KKR lost 7 wicket on 76 score
Chahal and Maxwell....🔥#PBKSvKKR pic.twitter.com/uIS5P7fxv3

— Dr Artistic Soul (@dr_artisticsoul) April 15, 2025

KKR did what they are best at.
They are best at getting fk ed.
KKR 95 all out🤣🤣🤣🤣 lowest score of IPL 2025#PBKSvKKR pic.twitter.com/kB7pTmHgdU

— jataayu (@WoKyaHotaHai) April 15, 2025

KKR holds the record for the lowest score of the season once again.#KKRvsPBKSpic.twitter.com/KE2WWI3cXj https://t.co/vjFZqPGgPT

— Satya (@YoursSatya) April 15, 2025

Worst defeat in the history of IPL for KKR.Congrats to my fellow PBKS fans..One more thing Rinku Singh is a brainless lad.He created panic with his atrocious batting against spin. Venky & Ramandeep played most useless shot ever.Rahane should have reviewed #PBKSvsKKR #KKRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/D85hSjjnm7

— Cover Drive (@day6596) April 15, 2025

Lowest Score Team In The Season To Defend 111runs 🤣🤣🤣

Karma Will Never Leave Ra kukka @thalabheem113#PBKSvsKKR pic.twitter.com/KWwMKWVseX https://t.co/QV7q8cQe67

— TheyCallHim #OG🚩 (@ItsMe_Santhu) April 15, 2025

As part of a lively Poila Baisakh observance marking Bengali New Year, IPL 2025 , Khalija Kolkata Knight Riders organized a cooking segment named Knight Bite, uniting cricket players Manish Pandey with South Africans Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje in an intercultural cook-off. Paturi stood as the focal point of this cooking show because it consisted of grilling fish or prawns inside banana leaves. The cricketers introduced South African peri-peri marinade to the recipe to produce a cross-cultural fusion through food. Their mutual enthusiasm combined with their rapport during cooking resulted in a celebratory mixed dish that captured the essence of their united spirit.

South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock demonstrated impressive kitchen skills when he proclaimed he is a professional chef in his family home. The girls of my household relax while I handle the entire cooking responsibility. Nortje revealed to cameras that cooking has been out of reach for him over a substantial period of time. Their mutual fishing interest enhanced the cooking experience as de Kock described the intense excitement of this sport through his words: "The adrenaline rush... places around the world you go to..." The Amazon and St. Charles, along with mid-Africa, form my list of visited places. Their mutual love for fish fit perfectly with the seafood paturi task despite the fact that they did not need to fish for their ingredients.

Also Read: WATCH: Shocking footage of MS Dhoni limping — Major setback for CSK’s IPL hopes?

A KKR veteran and 2014 IPL champion, Manish Pandey added both sentimental feeling and positive energy to the episode. The Bangladesh captain described his award-winning experience with KKR as the inaugural step in both trophy victories while noting that the IPL final took place in his residential city of Bangalore. The team’s extraordinary performance during the last season gained his admiration, as he stated, “The way everybody played last year was unbelievable, so I really hope the boys are ready to win another trophy.” His presence added warmth and a sense of KKR’s enduring legacy.

A Fusion Feast and Festive Cheer

The cricketers prepared fish and prawns using banana leaves as wrap before grilling them to completion under the peri-peri marinated solution. They directly sampled their dish which earned them great approval from themselves. The spicy dish did not bother De Kock at all because he answered directly "No, not for me." South Africans ended the episode by celebrating Poila Baisakh through toasting while trying to pronounce “Shubho Nobo Borsho” (the Bengali phrase for Happy New Year).

Also Read: Unbelievable crowd chaos: craziest Fan moments caught in IPL 2025 stadiums!

The mix of cricket with food preparation showcased team members in a heartwarming way to their fans while demonstrating their individual characteristics off the pitch. The combination of Bengali and South African comfort foods in the episode symbolized how KKR represented different cultural backgrounds to create a stage for social unity. Knight Bite became a real connection between cricketers through their laughter and camaraderie during recipe creation so fans desired additional off-field adventures after the episode aired.

In the 31st match of the IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders made a key change against the hosts Punjab Kings, as Moeen Ali missed out on the match, and Anrich Nortje replaced him. Here, we will know why Moeen Ali is missing the game despite performing well in their last game against the hosts Chennai Super Kings. 

IPL 2025: KKR cricketer Moeen Ali bowled impressively

Out of KKR's first six matches in the IPL 2025, Moeen Ali played three games, and the defending champions won all those matches. Meanwhile, KKR lost all the remaining three IPL 2025 fixtures where the English player wasn't present. In the match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, Ali was the second-best bowler for KKR with the bowling figures of 4-0-23-2. He took two crucial wickets in the match by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal (29) and Nitish Rana (8). 

While Moeen Ali had no significant action in their home match against SunRisers Hyderabad, he was the new ball partner in their last game against CSK. In that match, Ali dismissed the CSK opener Devon Conway (12) and ended with the bowling figures of 4-1-20-1. 

Punjab Kings and KKR are playing at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. This T20 venue isn't generally popular for the spin bowlers, while the pacers can have a significant impact. While KKR already have the strong spin bowling options as Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR benched Moee Ali and chose the pacer Anrich Nortje. 

See Also: WATCH: Shocking footage of MS Dhoni limping — Major setback for CSK’s IPL hopes?

Anrich Nortje makes debut for KKR

South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has finally made his IPL return as he is making his debut for Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday evening. The right-arm fast bowler is making his cricket return after four months, as he was sidelined from the game due to a back injury. He also missed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

After making his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals in the 2020 edition, Anrich Nortje previously only played for the Delhi franchise and picked up 60 wickets in 46 matches in five years. 

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players were in a good mood as they had a merry flight to Chandigarh before their IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday, April 15. A clip shared by the franchise caught a lighthearted rapid-fire session with Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Venkatesh Iyer. The clip was filled with jokes, playful jibes, and laughter, reflecting the close camaraderie among the players.

KKR's mood was predictably upbeat following their emphatic victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. That commanding performance has given the Shreyas Iyer-led team a boost in confidence, who now look to carry their momentum forward in Mullanpur, where they face a Punjab Kings side still reeling from a stunning loss. PBKS could not defend a massive total of 246 in their previous match, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma's jaw-dropping century that took the game away.

Mid-Air Jokes Keep Morale High

During the flight, the Knights played a quick-fire game of jokes. It was not long before Harshit Rana was the prime target of jokes. When asked who tends to be late for flights, all three of them – Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer – pointed directly at the Delhi speedster. Rana, never one to miss a chance, laughed and named Ramandeep instead.

ALSO SEE: Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are most admired players in IPL 2025

The second question was regarding who in the team is always having food. Again, Rana chose Ramandeep, stating the all-rounder is always with food. This elicited more giggles from the group.

When it came to the "sleeping giant" of the team, Venkatesh humorously christened head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Meanwhile, Rana and Arora both said Rovman Powell wears the crown. Right on cue, the camera cut to Powell, sound asleep on the flight, confirming their choice most ridiculously.

No filters, all fun! Knights in rapid fire mode ⚡ pic.twitter.com/iiUKi5D237

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 14, 2025

The Funniest Moment: A Browser Confession

The highlight came when the players were questioned whose browser history they would least like to open. With no hesitation, Ramandeep stated, "Harshit Rana ka browser nahi khol sakta hu [I cannot open Harshit Rana's browser]." The team erupted in laughter, and even Vaibhav Arora concurred. But Rana was not going to let it go quietly. He pointed straight back at Ramandeep, saying his would be worse. The back-and-forth jibes created a hilarious segment that fans enjoyed on social media.

ALSO SEE: Top players with most Player of the Match Awards in history of IPL

KKR and PBKS are presently placed at positions number five and six on the IPL points table. With both teams hoping to make it to the top four, Tuesday's game is of great significance. A victory here would bring either team close to the playoffs.

While KKR's players were smiling and joking on the flight, they are aware of the serious task at hand. But with team morale high and everyone having a good time with each other, the Knights appear set not only to battle, but to enjoy themselves while doing so.

In the 31st match of the IPL 2025, Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (PBKS vs KKR) has been scheduled for Tuesday evening (April 15) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium (Mullanpur). 

Punjab Kings are in sixth place with six points after five matches, recording three wins and two losses. Meanwhile, the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders are in fifth position with six points after playing six games, managing three wins and three losses. After securing victories in their first two games of the season, PBKS claimed only one win out of their last three fixtures. Meanwhile, KKR have recorded the results of lost, won, lost, won, lost, and won, respectively. 

In their three away games of this season, the three-time IPL champions KKR recorded two wins and one loss. On the other hand, the IPL 2014 runners-up have recorded one win and one loss in Mullanpur this season.  

See Also: PBKS vs KKR: Match 31 weather and pitch report IPL 2025

IPL 2025, Match 31: PBKS vs KKR - Playing XIs Status - Big changes waiting

Lockie Ferguson is out of the tournament, and it is a sure change for Punjab Kings. Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai is a strong replacement name in the squad.  

As Mullanpur isn't a strong spin-bowling friendly wicket, KKR may need to drop Moeen Ali. While Spencer Johnson has disappointed this season, Anrich Nortje's fitness will take centre stage for Tuesday evening. As KKR already have three strong pace bowling names, including Andre Russell, Manish Pandey or Rovman Powell can be other alternative replacement option for the franchise.  

IPL 2025, Match 31: PBKS vs KKR Probable Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are preparing to take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) tomorrow (April 15) at Mullanpur Stadium. KKR and PBKS, both with 6 points, are currently in fifth and sixth place, respectively. KKR, with a slightly better net run rate, holds its spot over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 points table. Though PBKS played a game less than KKR— KKR with 6 points after playing 6, and PBKS with 6 points after playing 5. A win over the defending champion will take the Punjab-based team to a higher position on the ladder.

Read More: Which team used the impact player rule best in IPL 2025?

KKR have so far experienced a bumpy road with 3 defeats. To hoist the trophy in back-to-back seasons, they need to show their team bonding and a performance as a unit on the field. KKR, on their social media platforms, shared some moments from their practice session. A video with the caption "Gurbaz: Making of a Mystery Spinner" shows Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz teaming up with Sunil Narine and bowling in the net.

Narine started his cricket career as a mystery spinner. Later, he developed his batting skills, and now he is a regular opening batter for KKR. But his aura as a spinner still lives on. New generation players try to replicate the West Indian cricketer's bowling action, the same we can see in the video with Gurbaz.

Watch the video here;

Gurbaz: Making of a Mystery Spinner 😅 pic.twitter.com/U6ZiB5JeJS

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 14, 2025

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is waiting for his turn in the first XI

Afghanistan's star opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has recently been seen honing his spin bowling skills in the nets, drawing inspiration from none other than Sunil Narine. Observing Narine’s unique grip and bowling action closely, Gurbaz decided to experiment with his own version of spin, adding a new dimension to his cricketing skillset. Although yet to make his first appearance in IPL 2025 for the Kolkata Knight Riders, the young batter is making the most of his time in training sessions.

Gurbaz has been a part of the KKR setup since 2023. That season marked his best IPL performance so far, where he amassed 227 runs across 11 innings. However, the following year saw limited opportunities, with the Afghan opener getting to play just two innings and scoring 62 runs. Across his IPL journey with KKR, Gurbaz has accumulated 289 runs from 13 innings—a promising record that he’ll look to build upon in the current season.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) will play against Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) in the thirty-first match of IPL 2025 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Punjab. KKR won the title last season, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) just missed the playoffs.

Impact Players: Punjab Kings (PBKS)

 Suryansh Shegde: An all-rounder has played 9 T20 matches, As a batter, they have scored 131 runs in 9 innings at a good strike rate of 251.92 and an average of 43.67. In Bowling, he took 8 wickets in 9 innings, with their best performance being 2/11. 

Nehal Wadhera: A left-handed batter who played 20 IPL matches and batted in 16 innings, scoring 350 runs at a strike rate of 140.00 and an average of 23.33. Their ability to find the boundary often makes them a valuable asset to the team, likely playing a middle-order role. match against LSG in IPL 2025, Last time he played against SRH he scored 27 run in 22 balls.

Vyshak Vijaykumar:  The last time he played for RCB, an extra bowling option was in the second innings. In the last match against GT, he bowled 4 overs conceding 28 runs without any wicket.

Priyansh Arya: A Promising all-rounder has played 28 T20 matches, batting in all 28 innings and scoring 1,181 runs at an impressive strike rate of 181.69 and an average of 45.42. His powerful hitting helps the second innings if batting conditions are good and he can bowl some magical spin if the team needs it. Last time he played against SRH he scored 36 runs in 13 balls.

ALSO READ: PSL 2025: KAR vs LAH Player Battles to Watch Out

Impact Players: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Angkrish Raghuvanshi: A promising youngster who is showing an impact when batting second. He played this role the most for KKR's last IPL season, scoring 163 runs in 10 matches. Last time he played against LSG, he scored 4 runs in 5 balls.

Manish Pandey: A dependable batter who can come in as an impact player if KKR loses early wickets while batting first. In the twelfth match against MI in IPL 2025 in a crucial situation he played very calmly and scored valuable 19 runs in 14 balls.

Mayank Markande: A leg-spinner who can be used as an impact player in the second innings if the team needs a spin.

Vaibhav Arora: A pacer who swings the ball and can be brought in as an impact in the second innings if the pitch helps fast bowlers. Against SRH, he bowled crucial powerplay overs but the ball didn't swing in that pitch. In last match against CSK, he bowled four overs and took 1 wicket an economy of 7.75.

The 25th match of IPL 2025 was played between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. In this match, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets and registered their third win of this season. And this is the fifth consecutive defeat of Chennai Super Kings this season. It had never happened before that Chennai Super Kings lost five matches in a row. But this has happened and Chennai's team has lost five matches in a row.
This was the condition of the match

Talking about this match, Chennai Super Kings team lost the toss and came out to bat first. Chennai had a very bad start and Chennai Super Kings opener Devon Conway was out LBW off Moeen Ali's ball after scoring just 12 runs. After that, Rachin Ravindra also became the victim of Harshit Rana after scoring four runs in 9 balls. For Chennai Super Kings, Rahul Tripathi played a slow innings of 16 runs in 22 balls. He was clean boarded off Sunil Narayan's ball. Vijay Shankar scored 29 runs in 21 balls. Shivam Dubey remained unbeaten on 31 runs in 29 balls.

Apart from this, Ravichandran Ashwin scored 1, Ravindra Jadeja scored zero, Deepak Hooda scored zero, Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 1, Noor Ahmed returned to the pavilion after scoring one run. In this way, Chennai Super Kings could score only 103 runs at the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. From the Kolkata Knight Riders team, Sunil Narayan took three wickets for 13 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Varun Chakraborty took two wickets for 22 runs in four overs, Harshit Rana took two wickets for 16 runs in four overs. Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Arora also got one wicket each.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: Why CSK’s batting is the weakest this season

KKR achieved the target easily

Chasing the target of 104 runs, the Kolkata Knight Riders team had a great start. Quinton de Kock played an innings of 23 runs with the help of three sixes in just 16 balls. Apart from this, Sunil Narine played a brilliant innings of 44 runs with the help of two fours and five sixes in 18 balls. He was clean bowled by Noor Ahmed.

Apart from this, captain Rahane scored 20 runs in 17 balls and Rinku Singh scored 15 runs in 12 balls. In this way, Kolkata Knight Riders achieved the target in 10.1 overs. Noor Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj got one success each from Chennai Super Kings and Chennai Super Kings had to face a crushing defeat.

Twitter reactions after KKR wins 25th match of IPL 2025

KKR win...... But CSK lost 💛💔🤧#CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/W7tvVYiK48

— MissViratian💖👸🏻 (@JerseyNo_18) April 11, 2025

KKR won the match against CSK

Congratulations purple team 💜

KKR fans: Dhoni captain ah vandha neenga kaagli daw... Idhu chumma muttu kudukuradhila 😭 pic.twitter.com/5QBGQ4jZbf

— 𝕏 (@asdeep_trends) April 11, 2025

KKR won the match by 8 wickets! #CSKvsKKR #KKRvsCSK pic.twitter.com/c6CXsDqSiK

— KOTH Gaming (@KOTHGaming_) April 11, 2025

If they have removed Ruturaj Gaikwad and the reason was not injury but captaincy ,

Then the joke is on CSK #CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/VqfOXKODMf

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) April 11, 2025

2 Times IPL champions for a reason😎#KKRvsCSK pic.twitter.com/m2qxCkDiWw

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) April 11, 2025

KKR hitting runs effortlessly
CSK batters pic.twitter.com/nDeTxXaJwx

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) April 11, 2025

After watching #Csk ‘s performance only one meme comes to my mind

Tripati 🤦🏻‍♂️ Hooda impact player yendhira @ChennaiIPL

Nuvvu yentha binna retire aipothey @msdhoni ne peru chedipokunda untadhi #CSKvsKKR #IPL pic.twitter.com/dQeecVER4C

— Karthik Chowdary (@KChowdaryyy) April 11, 2025

Nacho .. unbelievable win by KKR 😍 #KKRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/3wAniMQD1n

— Funnily Serious (@notionalvieww) October 10, 2020

A lesson need to be learn from KKR

No Orange cap,
No Purple cap

Still won the Trophy, Virat Kohli should understand and start playing for the team.pic.twitter.com/S0xaHrVzJK

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) May 26, 2024

Easy win for KKR.
Intha Tinpot CSK va mudichu vittu sikram 2 point ooda kelambunga da ooruku. pic.twitter.com/H5eyMl5D4T

— CHE RAM (@A_n_b_e_S_i_vam) April 11, 2025

Ammo Harshit rana bowling inka asalu 6 lu 4 lu ivadu oka wicket tisadu already ink okti loading 🥵 🔥
Easy peasy win for kkr 🔥🥵 150 kuda kotaru csk

— suksha 🚩 (@porapilabacha) April 11, 2025

The IPL 2025 25th match has been scheduled for Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (CSK vs KKR). MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk, Chennai) will host this fixture on Friday evening (April 11).

Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings started the IPL 2025 with a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians, but then suffered four consecutive losses against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (50 runs), Rajasthan Royals (6 runs), Delhi Capitals (25 runs), and Punjab Kings (18 runs).

Meanwhile, the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling to perform confidently. Apart from beating Rajasthan Royals in their second game and SunRisers Hyderabad in their fourth match by eight wickets and 80 runs, respectively, they lost against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (7 wickets), Mumbai Indians (8 wickets), and Lucknow Super Giants (4 runs).

See Also: IPL 2025: CSK vs. KKR - A Head-to-Head breakdown

IPL 2025, Match 25: CSK vs KKR (Playing XIs Status) - MS Dhoni set to return as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury

CSK's batting is a big concern, especially their top-order batters, who have failed to provide strong starts. Meanwhile, bowlers' hard work has been denied due to poor fielding. They need to make strong improvements in their performance. As the skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the tournament due to an elbow injury, MS Dhoni will lead the team for the rest of the tournament. Rahul Tripathy or Deepak Hooda can replace Gaikwad for the upcoming match.

The batting of KKR is also in question, as the top-order batting is a concern for them too. While Chennai offers more for the spinners, English all-rounder Moeen Ali may replace Spencer Johnson for the upcoming match. 

IPL 2025, Match 25: CSK vs KKR Probable Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings Predicted Playing XI: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway/Khaleel Ahmed (Impact Player Sub), Rahul Tripathi/Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (Captain and wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Rinku Singh, Vaibhav Arora/Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Impact Sub), Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Moeen Ali/Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakravarthy.