For the first time since last Saturday, a side in the IPL 2025 has chosen to bat first after winning the toss. Shreyas Iyer, captain of Punjab Kings, called correctly at Eden Gardens and opted to bat, citing visible cracks on the pitch which he anticipates will aid spinners as the match progresses. Notably, this marks the first instance this year of a team batting first at this legendary venue.
The pitch is hosting its third match this season and reports suggest it’s dry and slightly exhausted. With a breeze present, Punjab Kings are hopeful that dew won’t play a significant role later in the evening. They have, however, kept Harpreet Brar as a potential Impact Player, depending on how the conditions unfold.
In terms of team composition, PBKS has made strategic changes, welcoming back Glenn Maxwell into the side. His inclusion is not only for his proficiency against spin but also to utilise his bowling skills. Azmatullah Omarzai also makes his way into the team.
On the other side, Kolkata Knight Riders, who find themselves in a challenging position this season, have introduced two new faces. Rovman Powell and Chetan Sakariya will debut for KKR. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is slated as their probable Impact Player. Interestingly, Ramandeep Singh, a retained player, is missing from both their starting XI and the substitutes.
With 10 points from eight matches, Punjab Kings sit fifth on the table but hold a game in hand, providing them an opportunity to climb higher. Defending champions KKR’s situation is more dire, placed seventh after securing just three wins from eight encounters.
Punjab Kings Squad:
1. Prabhsimran Singh, 2. Priyansh Arya, 3. Shreyas Iyer (captain), 4. Josh Inglis (wk), 5. Shashank Singh, 6. Nehal Wadhera, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Azmatullah Omarzai, 9. Marco Jansen, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Arshdeep Singh
Possible Impact Players: Harpreet Brar, Musheer Khan, Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad:
1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Venkatesh Iyer, 4. Ajinkya Rahane (captain), 5. Rinku Singh, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Rovman Powell, 8. Vaibhav Arora, 9. Chetan Sakariya, 10. Harshit Rana, 11. Varun Chakravarthy
Possible Impact Players: Anrich Nortje, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia
