Manish Pandey To Replace INR 23.75 Crore Venkatesh Iyer? KKR's Probable XI vs SRH

Manish Pandey & Venkatesh Iyer [Source: @iplt20.com, @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have their backs against the wall as they gear up to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 15 of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens on April 3. Sitting at the bottom of the points table with just one win from three matches, the Knights are desperate to bounce back after an 8-wicket hammering from Mumbai Indians.

With pressure mounting, team selection could be the biggest talking point in this key match. Now ahead of the crucial clash against SRH, let;s look at KKR's probable XI.

Top Order Stays Put

No chopping and changing expected at the top. KKR will back their seasoned openers: Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock. Sure, both failed to get going in the last outing but you can’t keep them quiet for long.

De Kock already played a blinder, an unbeaten 97 against Rajasthan and if he gets going, SRH bowlers better have a Plan B.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane will slot in at No. 3 again. He has shown glimpses of form but has not yet converted his starts into a big knock.

Time Running Out For Venkatesh Iyer? Pandey Knocking Hard

The big talking point ahead of the SRH clash is the No. 5 slot. Venkatesh Iyer has looked out of sorts. The INR 23.75 crore man has failed to impress with scores of 6 and 3 in two matches and hasn’t rolled his arm over either.

With Manish Pandey breathing down his neck after a handy cameo in the last match, it might be time to ring in the changes.

Here's how the two stack up:

Table - Venkatesh Iyer & Manish Pandey IPL Stats

Manish Pandey brings a wealth of experience and stability. If KKR want composure in the middle and someone to soak pressure, Pandey looks like a no-brainer.

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Rinku, Russell & Ramandeep To Round Off The Lower Middle Order

Rinku Singh is a certainty and will look to fire after a quiet couple of games. Andre Russell is always a game-changer and Ramandeep Singh adds muscle down the order. Expect fireworks if these guys get going.

Same Bowling Combo To Continue

Despite the loss, the KKR bowling unit looks set to remain unchanged. Harshit Rana and Spencer Johnson will lead the pace attack with Varun Chakravarthy weaving his magic with spin. If needed, Vaibhav Arora can be brought in as the Impact Player.

KKR’s Probable XI vs SRH

Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakravarthy

Impact Subs: Venkatesh Iyer, Vaibhav Arora, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Anrich Nortje

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