It is that stage of the IPL where every match is make or break. For Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Sunday’s face-off against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens is just that.
With only 9 points from 10 games, KKR are walking a tightrope. Another slip-up and their playoff hopes will hang by a thread. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are already out of the playoff race. With just 3 wins from 11 games, they have got nothing to lose and that makes them dangerous.
But this won’t just be a battle between two teams. It will be about individual face-offs, the kind of matchups that can flip the script in a single over. Let’s take a closer look at 5 key player battles that could decide the outcome of KKR vs RR IPL 2025 clash .
1. Sanju Samson vs Sunil Narine
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Sanju Samson , possibly returning from injury, has never quite figured out Narine’s mystery.In 13 innings, Samson has managed just 66 runs off 82 balls against the Caribbean spinner, falling to him three times. That’s a strike rate of just 80.48, which says a lot about Narine’s stranglehold.
If Samson walks out to bat on Sunday, expect Narine to be thrown into the attack early to target him. This battle could set the tone.
2. Shimron Hetmyer vs Varun Chakaravarthy
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Shimron Hetmyer’s job is to destroy spin in the middle overs, but against Varun Chakaravarthy , he has barely got going. In four previous matchups, Hetmyer has scored just 7 runs in 10 balls and has been dismissed twice. That’s a shocking average of 3.5.
Varun’s variations have clearly left Hetmyer in two minds and if this battle plays out again, it could be another short stay for the big-hitting leftie. 3. Wanindu Hasaranga vs Varun Chakaravarthy
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Now this one’s a bit of a wildcard battle. Wanindu Hasaranga isn’t a top-order batter, but whenever he has faced Varun, it has been all one-way traffic in Varun’s favour. In just 4 balls, Hasaranga has been dismissed twice, scoring just 3 runs. That’s an average of 1.5.
If Hasaranga is promoted for a quick hit, expect Varun to be right on his heels. This battle will be short, sharp and spicy.
4. Ajinkya Rahane vs Wanindu Hasaranga
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Ajinkya Rahane may have the old-school charm but against Wanindu Hasaranga, it has been a struggle.In just 8 deliveries, the Sri Lankan spinner has dismissed him twice, conceding only 9 runs.
Rahane’s strike rate is over 110, but the average of 4.5 tells you he hasn’t stuck around long. If this face-off happens, it could be brief and brutal for the KKR captain.
5. Quinton de Kock vs Jofra Archer
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Now here’s a battle made for prime time. Quinton de Kock has taken the attack to Jofra Archer in the past: 76 runs in 37 balls at a strike rate of 205.4 but Archer has also had the last laugh, dismissing him twice. Their last face-off in IPL 2025 saw QDK hammer 28 off 8 against Archer, lighting up the powerplay.
With de Kock possibly returning to the XI, this rematch could bring fireworks right from the word go.
![KKR vs RR Player Battles [Source: @chinmayshah28, @MONIKA62892/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1746281120229_KKRvsRRplayerbatttles.jpg?type=mq)
KKR vs RR Player Battles [Source: @chinmayshah28, @MONIKA62892/x.com].jpg)
.jpg?type=mq "KKR vs RR: Dream11")
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