PBKS vs KKR Match Prediction: Who will win today’s IPL match?

Punjab Kings face Kolkata Knight Riders in a crucial home match at Mullanpur. Can PBKS overcome their bowling woes against KKR?

In Match 31 of Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), the Punjab Kings host Kolkata Knight Riders at their new home ground, Mullanpur. Both teams have had contrasting results in their last game. If KKR beat Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, PBKS suffered a demoralising loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad despite scoring 245. To make things worse, PBKS will be without Jimmy Nisham, who has been ruled out due to an injury.

Furthermore, at Mullanpur, PBKS have won just two matches out of 7. They won against a struggling CSK in their last home game. Now, against a strong spin attack of KKR, they will face a big challenge.

Match Details

• Match: Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Match 31, IPL 2025
• Date: April 15, 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh
• Broadcast: Star Sports Network/ JioHotstar

Mullanpur Pitch Report

The pitch at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is known for being batsman-friendly, offering a flat surface with consistent bounce, and being ideal for high-scoring encounters. Pacers may find early swing and bounce, but as the match progresses, the pitch becomes easier for batting, favouring big shots due to short boundaries. In two matches of IPL 2025 at this venue, the average first-innings total has been over 200.

However, in both matches at this venue, teams that have batted first have won. Spinners and slow bowlers have had an advantage in the second innings as the pitch gets slower.

PBKS vs KKR Match Preview

Punjab Kings, currently sixth on the points table, have won three of their five matches. But they are coming off an eight-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where their bowling struggled to defend 245 runs. While PBKS’ batting has been strong, led by Shreyas Iyer, the team has struggled in the bowling department, especially in spin. Arshdeep Singh has been the only bowler who has done well. But PBKS will be concerned about Yuzvendra Chahal’s form. He has picked up just two wickets in five matches.

Kolkata Knight Riders, placed fifth, have also won three of six matches, with their latest being an eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings. Led by Ajinkya Rahane, KKR heavily rely on a potent spin attack (Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy). However, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, two Indian pacers, have been great so far. But they need contributions in the middle-order, especially from Andre Russell, who hasn’t had a great outing so far.

PBKS vs KKR Head-to-Head

Overall, KKR have an edge over PBKS with 21 wins to 12 on head-to-head records. Even in the last five encounters, KKR have won four games against PBKS, including both matches in IPL 2024. However, PBKS chased a record 262/2 against KKR at Eden Gardens last season, showing their batting potential.

• Total Matches Played: 33
• Kolkata Knight Riders Wins: 21
• Punjab Kings Wins: 12
• Win Percentage: KKR – 64%, PBKS – 36%

PBKS vs KKR Predicted Playing 11

Probable best performers

Punjab Kings:

• Shreyas Iyer (Batsman): Leading PBKS’s run charts with 250 runs in 5 matches, including three fifties, Iyer has a stellar record against KKR (456 runs in 14 matches, average 41.45, strike rate 150.49). His ability to anchor and accelerate makes him a key player.
• Arshdeep Singh (Bowler): With 7 wickets in 5 games at an economy of 9.50, Arshdeep’s knack for early breakthroughs and death-over bowling will be crucial on a batting-friendly pitch.

Kolkata Knight Riders

• Sunil Narine (All-Rounder): Narine’s mystery spin (1/27 vs. RCB) and explosive opening batting make him a game-changer. His economy and wicket-taking ability could exploit PBKS’s middle order.
• Andre Russell (All-Rounder): With 2,484 runs and 115 wickets in 127 IPL matches, Russell’s power-hitting and death bowling could tilt the game in KKR’s favor, especially in crunch moments.

PBKS vs KKR Predicted Winner

This match is poised to be a close contest, with both teams boasting explosive batting and vulnerabilities in bowling. PBKS’s batting, led by Shreyas Iyer, gives them an edge, especially at home, but their bowling lacks depth without Ferguson. KKR’s balanced attack, with Narine and Chakaravarthy’s spin and Russell’s all-round brilliance, makes them slightly stronger.

Given KKR’s head-to-head dominance (21-12) and recent form (8-wicket win vs. CSK), they are likely to capitalize on PBKS’s bowling weaknesses. The pitch favors high scores, and KKR’s chasing ability (e.g., 103 in 8.4 overs vs. CSK) could be decisive if they bowl first.

Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders are favuored to win by a narrow margin (51-49), likely chasing a target of 190-210 in a high-scoring game.