Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) will play against Rajasthan Royals(RR in the  fifty-third match of IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. KKR won the title last season, while RR just missed the playoffs in IPL 2024. 

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets in Match 8 of IPL 2025. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals scored 151 runs, with Dhruv Jurel top-scoring with 33. KKR’s spinners, including Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali, bowled tight spells to keep the score in check. In reply, Quinton de Kock played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 97 runs. KKR chased down the target comfortably in just 17.3 overs to register their first win of the season.

KKR: Impact players 

Angkrish Raghuvanshi: Angkrish has been one of the bright young talents for KKR and has already shown his potential with some solid performances. At just 20, he’s been in great form and has made the most of the chances he’s got this season.

Rovman Powell: If KKR needs a big hitter in certain situations, Rovman Powell could be the answer. With Andre Russell and Rinku Singh not in the best form, Powell could come in handy.

Manish Pandey: KKR might turn to the experienced Manish Pandey to anchor the innings and make sure they reach the final stages of the game when needed.

Chetan Sakariya: While Harshit Rana has done well at the death, he has struggled a bit in the powerplay. This might be the right time for KKR to bring in left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya to help in that area.

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RR: Impact players 

Shubham Dubey: A left-handed batter who can hit big hits in the final overs, especially if RR lose quick wickets early on.

Kumar Kartikeya: A left-arm spinner who was used as an impact player in the match against CSK. He could be brought in again if the conditions are good for spin bowling.

Tushar Deshpande: After a good season with CSK, he could come in during the second innings if the conditions suit fast bowlers. He took 17 wickets in 13 matches last season, but his economy rate is a concern, even though he’s known for making breakthroughs.

Kwena Maphaka: A fast bowler who regularly bowls above 145 kph. He could be a useful option in the second innings if RR bats first.