KKR vs PBKS Playing 11: What will Ajinkya Rahane & Shreyas Iyer's teams look like? Check predicted XI & head-to-head

In a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash on Saturday, Ajinkya Rahane’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens.

With both teams chasing playoff dreams, this Match No. 44 could prove decisive in shaping the top four.

KKR are currently languishing in seventh place on the points table, with only three wins from eight outings.


To stay in the race for the playoffs, the home team needs to win five of their remaining six matches—an uphill task that leaves little room for error. PBKS, on the other hand, are placed fifth with five wins from eight games, and just three more victories could comfortably secure them a playoff spot.

A win for Punjab on Saturday would lift them to fourth place, leapfrogging Mumbai Indians and equalling Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in terms of points.

The qualification battle is heating up, with GT and DC still holding a game in hand over RCB, who currently occupy third spot.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Playing 11

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali/Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Playing 11 Players

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar/Vyshak Vijaykumar

KKR vs PBKS IPL 2025 Head-to-Head Stats

• Matches played: 34
• KKR won: 21
• PBKS won: 13
• Last result: PBKS won by 16 runs (April 2025)