The IPL 2025 Match 53 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on May 4, 2025, features Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), captained by Ajinkya Rahane, against Rajasthan Royals (RR), captained by Riyan Parag, starting at 3:30 PM IST. Playoff combinations are at stake in this battle, which should be full of drama on a wicket conducive to batting; KKR's spin-heavy attack will take on RR's explosive batting. 

Head-to-Head Record

KKR and RR have faced off 31 times in the IPL since 2008, with KKR holding a narrow lead:

• KKR Wins: 15
• RR Wins: 14
• No Result: 2
• Win Percentage: KKR has a 51.72% win rate against RR.

Both KKR and RR have faced each other 14 times, with KKR winning 8 times and RR winning 6 times. Against a left-handed batsman, like RR's Yashasvi Jaiswal, KKR's spin trio will be poised to exploit the wicket's turn (Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Moeen Ali). However, RR's best batsman would arguably be the captain, Riyan Parag, who would take full advantage of the short boundaries. Moreover, RR's pace attack (Jofra Archer and Fazalhaq Farooqi) will have their work cut out for them if KKR's big hitters, particularly Russell and de Kock, can get going during the powerplay and death overs.

Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR vs RR Match 53 - Eden Gardens stadium stats and preview

Most Significant Matches Between KKR vs RR

The KKR-RR rivalry has produced several memorable encounters with standout performances and close finishes:

IPL 2025, Match 6 - March 26, Guwahati

• RR: 151/9 (20 overs) 
• KKR: 153/2 (17.3 overs) 
• Result: KKR won by 8 wickets

RR limped to 151/9. Dhruv Jurel with the top score of 33 out off 28. KKR bowlers Chris Woakes with 2/28 and Varun Chakravarthy with 2/17 were on top of their game. Quinton de Kock, with a brilliant knock of 97 runs off only 61 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes, put KKR handily on track for victory, starting with Angkrish Raghuvanshi with a flamboyant 22*. RR's Jofra Archer 0/33 in only 2.3 overs was poor. De Kock's innings was worthy of winning the match with the Player of the Match award. 

IPL 2024, Match 31 - April 16, Kolkata 

• RR: 223/6 (20 overs) 
• KKR: 223/6 (20 overs) 
• Result: RR won by Super Over

Jos Buttler’s 107 and Riyan Parag’s 76 powered RR to 223/6. KKR matched it with Sunil Narine’s 109 and Rinku Singh’s quick 20 but lost in the Super Over. Narine took 3 wickets; Buttler was named Player of the Match.

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS vs LSG Match 54 - HPCA stadium stats and preview

IPL 2018, Match 49—May 15, Kolkata

• RR Total: 142/10 (19 overs)
  
• KKR Total: 145/4 (18 overs)
  
• Result: KKR won by 6 wickets
  

RR were dismissed for 142, Sanju Samson's 50 off 38 being the pick, as KKR's Kuldeep Yadav (4/20) and Andre Russell (2/22) excelled. KKR chased 143 without any trouble, with Chris Lynn's 45 off 42 and Dinesh Karthik's 41* off 31 as top scorers. RR's Ben Stokes (3/15) waged a battle, but KKR's depth paid off. Kuldeep Yadav's bowling heroics were rewarded with the Player of the Match award.