Anrich Nortje To Replace Moeen Ali? KKR's Probable XI vs LSG

Aashay Chopade

Kolkata Knight Riders unit (Source: AP Photos)Kolkata Knight Riders unit (Source: AP Photos)

It's time for Match 21 of IPL 2025 and all focus shifts to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the home of the defending champions, KKR. They will take on Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants and both teams who have blown hot and cold would be hoping to stamp their authority in the 'City of Joy'.

KKR Look To Assert Dominance In Home Comfort

KKR have a new leader, Ajinkya Rahane in this season and though he has done well both with the bat and as a captain, they are still far away from the convincing performances they dished out in the last season. The focus is also on the nature of the pitch and they would be hoping for a slow and turning deck like the last encounter against SRH which they dominated.

The pitch would not be the same one though, but there are signs that it won't be a batting paradise, and so let's see how KKR will shape their arsenal for the LSG challenge.

The opening duo of Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine are expected to continue despite inconsistent performances from both of them. Both are quality players and naturally aggressive and if Quinton de Kock can get going like he did against RR, it would be a big plus for KKR. Narine's power-hitting is also crucial for KKR and the lack of express pace if LSG bowling attack might help his cause.

Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh's Return To Form A Positive Sign For KKR

The biggest positive for KKR is how their middle order went about its business in the last match. Ajinkya Rahane has looked fluent while young Angkrish Raghuvanshi has also shown consistency. He scored fifty in the last game and so did KKR's big buy, Venkatesh Iyer. 

Iyer and Rinku Singh smashed SRH bowlers all over the park on a tacky pitch, and applied themselves beautifully which they would be expected to do against LSG too. Overall, KKR now have most of their batters in form and they would be looking to make that count in the next match.

Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh have not done lot with the bat, and there is a case of sending Ramandeep up the order to maximise his power-hitting potential. Andre Russell, on the other hand, has done well with the ball, and continues to be a critical asset for KKR. Moeen Ali played the last game, but did not bowl and neither he batted, but his presence gives options to captain Ajinkya Rahane and that could go in his favour.

Moeen Ali's All-Round Prowess Set To Keep Anrich Nortje Waiting

However, if KKR aspire to have more firepower in their pace attack, they can go with Anrich Nortje who bowled full tilt ahead of the game. He can also boost their death-bowling, but with LSG boasting of quite a few left-handers and the pitch expected to be on the slower side, Moeen Ali could be persisted with.

Also, as mentioned earlier, Russell is bowling well, so he could be use at the death. There is an option of Ramandeep Singh as well. Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana both bowled well in the last match and all these factors are likely to keep Anrich Nortje on the sidelines again. 

If KKR bat first, Vaibhav Arora would come in as an Impact Player while Angkrish Raghuvanshi would be the Impact Player choice if KKR bat second. Thus, the team in Purple and Gold is expected to go with the same arsenal again.

KKR's Probable XI vs LSG For IPL 2025 Match

Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine,  Ajinkya Rahane (c), , Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer (vc), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

Impact Players: Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Rovman Powell