Are the Defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders Out of the IPL 2025 Playoff Race?

With the IPL 2024 title under their belt, the Kolkata Knight Riders entered the IPL 2025 with a team involving some of the major key changes like replacing their captain Shreyas Iyer with Ajinkya Rahane and then leaving out some major players such as Phil Salt, Mitchell Starc and many more which ultimately impacted the core of the team and hence they decided to form their team around the other players that they managed to retain in the IPL 2025 Auction and now, when it comes to the points table, Kolkata Knight Riders are placed at the 6th position with 11 points after playing 12 matches.

Out of these, they have won 5 matches and lost 6 while one of their games ended with no result. Their Net Run Rate stands at 0.193, which doesn’t offer much support in the tight playoff race. KKR started the season with high expectations, but inconsistent performances have cost them dearly and while they managed back-to-back wins at one point to build momentum, defeats in crucial games have derailed their campaign as the washout also robbed them of a potential win, adding to their woes. With just two league matches remaining, KKR must win both and also rely on favorable results from other fixtures.

Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025

As the IPL 2025 began, the Kolkata Knight Riders started off their season with mixed performances, facing challenges from the very beginning but also showcasing moments of brilliance and the season saw several key changes in their squad, including a captaincy change with Ajinkya Rahane replacing Shreyas Iyer, as well as the omission of some prominent players like Mitchell Starc and Phil Salt as these shifts had an impact on the team’s balance and led to a somewhat inconsistent start to the campaign.

The Knight Riders’ journey in the 2025 season began on a tough note. They lost their first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens and despite putting up a competitive total of 174/8, RCB chased it down comfortably with 22 balls to spare, winning by 7 wickets as this loss set the tone for the early part of their season, as they struggled to find consistency and the very next match, played in Guwahati against Rajasthan Royals, saw KKR bounce back with a convincing 8-wicket win, chasing down 152 with ease in just 17.3 overs.

This victory was a much-needed boost for the team, but their momentum was short-lived as they suffered another heavy defeat against Mumbai Indians in their third match as KKR were bowled out for just 116, and Mumbai Indians cruised to an 8-wicket win, wrapping up the chase in just 12.5 overs and despite these setbacks, KKR showed resilience in their fourth match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting first, Kolkata posted a daunting total of 200/6, and their bowlers ensured a dominant 80-run win and the victory was especially sweet for the team, considering the challenging season they had encountered so far.

However, inconsistency continued to haunt them as they went into their next match against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens. Lucknow posted a massive 238/3, and despite a spirited effort from KKR, they fell short by 4 runs, with the team finishing at 234/7. Another heart-breaking loss followed when they played against Gujarat Titans, where KKR were restricted to just 159/8 while chasing 199 as they lost the match by 39 runs, which was another blow to their hopes of maintaining momentum.

KKR was unable to make up for these losses in their following match against Punjab Kings. Despite restricting Punjab to a modest 111, Kolkata couldn’t chase down the target and lost by 16 runs, adding another disappointing result to their record. In their match against Punjab Kings on April 26, the game was abandoned due to unforeseen circumstances, marking the first no-result match for KKR in IPL 2025. Despite this, Kolkata seemed to recover well, winning their next match against Delhi Capitals on April 29. Batting first, KKR posted a competitive total of 204/9 and successfully defended it, winning by 14 runs.

On May 4, KKR managed to edge out Rajasthan Royals by 1 run in a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens. The match was a nail-biting finish, with KKR holding their nerve to secure the victory, despite Rajasthan’s strong fightback. However, in their latest match on May 7, Kolkata faced another narrow loss against Chennai Super Kings. Despite posting 179/6, KKR fell short in the final moments of the game, losing by 2 wickets with just 2 balls remaining.

At this stage of the season, KKR have shown both promise and frustration, with wins and losses coming in equal measure. They are currently fighting to secure a place in the top half of the points table, with several key matches left in the season. They have won 5 out of their 12 matches, while losing 6, and have one match that was abandoned and KKR’s journey in IPL 2025 has been a mix of highs and lows.

Top Performers for the Kolkata Knight Riders

Just like their team, the stars who have performed for them have been a mix of consistency and brilliance in IPL 2025 as leading the charge with the bat, Ajinkya Rahane has been impressive, scoring 375 runs in 12 matches with an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 146.48 and his highest score of 61 has been a key contribution to KKR’s success this season. Another valuable contributor has been Raghuvanshi, who has scored 286 runs in 11 matches at an average of 35.75 and a strike rate of 145.17.

Varun Chakravarthy, with 12 matches under his belt, has been exceptional, taking 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.00 and a best figure of 3/22. Sunil Narine, though his batting has been low-key, has made an impact with the ball, taking 1 wicket in 11 matches with a strong economy rate of 6.56. The pace attack has also been solid, with Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana providing the necessary breakthroughs and Arora has claimed 3 wickets for 29 runs in 11 matches.

What’s Next for Kolkata Knight Riders

For the Kolkata Knight Riders, the rest of the league matches will be very important as they look to finish strong in IPL 2025. They have two games left and one against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17, and another against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 25 and these matches will give KKR a good chance to earn more points and move up the points table as the team has shown good potential this season and they have a mix of experienced players and exciting young talent.

Players like Andre Russell have made an impact with both bat and ball, while others have played solid knocks. The team looks balanced in many areas and can beat any opponent on their day. However, there are also some concerns. One of their overseas players, Spencer Johnson, may not return for the remaining matches. His absence could affect the bowling attack, especially in tight situations where experience matters and still, the squad has enough depth, and bowlers like Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana have stepped up when needed.