Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) expressed their dissatisfaction about the change in rule in the last part of the IPL 2025 group phase. KKR, the defending champion, already knocked out of the league, will not get the benefit from the new regulation.

As per the latest media reports, KKR, in a written letter, applied to the IPL governing council for more consistency to maintain the status of the tournament. The Indian Premier League's governing body modified the playing conditions to give the final nine league games of the current IPL 2025 season an extra 120 minutes in order to prevent rain-related delays, which triggered the defending champion, as previously their match was also affected by rain, and then there was no such rule in play.

After the resumption of the IPL 2025 on May 17, 2025, KKR was up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), but without bowling a single delivery, the match was abandoned. If KKR managed to win the match, then they had chances to remain in the race to the play-offs.

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KKR said this to the IPL governing body 

But as the match did not play, Knight Riders were eliminated. However, IPL chief operations officer Hemang Amin described the situation by saying, "Several matches are at risk of being affected by rain due to the early onset of monsoon."

"While these mid-season changes to the rules may be necessary under the circumstances, one would have expected more consistency in the way such changes are being applied. When the IPL re-started (on May 17), it was clear that the first game on May 17 KKR vs RCB was at high risk of being interrupted due to rain in B'lore. The forecast was there for all to see. Not only was the game washed out, but the additional 120 minutes now being applied may have provided a chance of at least a 5 over a side game (sic)." KKR CEO Venky Mysore responded over e-mail reply. 

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been officially knocked out of the ongoing IPL 2025 after the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out due to rain. As soon as the RCB vs. KKR match was abandoned, the defending champion left no hope for playoff qualification.

KKR is now under preparation for their final encounter of the season, which is scheduled to be on May 25 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Like KKR, SRH is also now out of the quest for a spot in the top four. The upcoming contest, SRH vs. KKR, will be a clash to save pride.

Multi-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders is likely to push all of their assets to end the campaign on a high note. Before the game, one of the experienced candidates of the Purple Brigade, Manish Pandey, revealed why their team struggled so much from the beginning of this IPL edition.

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Pandey pointed out the differences 

The representative of the side said, "The atmosphere (in the dressing room) has been great throughout. To answer your question about what's different from last year, we won games back-to-back in 2024. This year, we won one and then lost one—that's been the pattern. But I hope we can end on a high (vs. SRH in New Delhi) and then continue to have the same core for the seasons to come, while being able to win more games on the trot." 

Not only in terms of on-field results, KKR team management has been under constant observation to confirm a solid playing XI despite being able to retain most players from last year's successful campaign. Kolkata Knight Riders is currently standing at the 6th spot of the points table with 12 points after playing 13 games, with an opportunity to add two more points to justify their name. 

With the IPL 2025 slated to resume on Saturday, 17 May, after a temporary halt due to the military deadlock between India and Pakistan, seven franchises are still in contention for the playoff spots. This pause-enforced extension has led to a modified schedule for the remaining games, and the same has been circulated to all the teams. Unlike originally, only six grounds have been selected to host the remainder of the season, and the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is not among them. This also takes away the opportunity to host the final, as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions.

The Knights have had a not-so-great IPL campaign in 2025. The change in their coaching staff, as compared to their victorious run last year, made them look depleted of ideas. The squad has largely been the same, with a noticeable change in the leadership. The Ajinkya Rahane-led team has been below par this season and finds themselves on the verge of exit. They have failed to find the right playing eleven on the majority of occasions. Their batting has been submissive, and it has usually been their spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, in the bowling department, that has bailed them out from tough situations.  Their star and retained players (Venky Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh) have been average this term, and thus, it justifies their current position.

See Also: WATCH: Dwayne Bravo shares video of West Indian player touchdown in India for IPL 2025

KKR’s Qualification scenarios for IPL 2025 Playoffs.

Matches Played: 12, Points: 11, NRR: 0.193

Upcoming Matches: Away – RCB (17^th May); Delhi – SRH (25^th May)

Best Possible Finish: 15 points

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are on the brink of elimination as the maximum they can finish with is 15 points. There are already two teams who have more than 15 points, while Punjab Kings (PBKS) are on 15 with three games to go. Assuming that those three teams go through, KKR will have to hope that Mumbai Indians (MI) lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14 points. Since one of their matches is against Delhi Capitals (DC), who are currently on 13 points, that will take DC to 15. 

In this scenario, the fourth spot will come down to a Net Run Rate (NRR) battle between KKR and DC. On the other hand, if PBKS lose their three remaining matches, then MI will go past 15 points, while DC, PBKS, and KKR could all be on 15 points, fighting for the fourth spot. KKR's hopes rest on a lot of factors - fortune above anything. 

Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champion of IPL 2025, is currently hanging on a thin thread, which can land the team at the exit gate of the tournament, set to resume on June 17. The team struggled from the beginning of the season and now attracted more inconvenient situations in their ongoing journey as their one major foreign player pulled himself out from the tournament and another overseas player is suffering from an injury crisis. 

In the latest media report,and all-rounder Moeen Ali opted out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2025, describing his personal reasons. Without theced all-rounder, KKR's recruitments for the all-rounder department have gone thin. Along with Ali, West Indies cricketer Rovman Powell is reportedly suffering with injury, consulted with medical staff, and is now waiting for an update, which makes him uncertain for the rest of the IPL 2025 campaign. According to the latest media report, the Kolkata-based franchise is now probably looking for at least one substitute with a short-time contract.

Like the team, 37-year-old Moeen Ali's performance so far has been underwhelming this season. The all-rounder has played 6 IPL 2025 matches where he batted in only 2 innings for 5 runs. Bowling performance shaped slightly better than the batting stats; with the ball, Ali took 6 wickets in 6 matches with an economy rate of 8.50. 

Two of KKR's overseas players are set to miss the remainder of #IPL2025 https://t.co/5llwgp2n9O pic.twitter.com/z6elCcjrDP

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 15, 2025

Read More: Herschelle Gibbs points out why Rohit Sharma technically better than Virat Kohli

On the other hand, despite having an impressive figure in limited-over formats, KKR mostly kept the batting all-rounder in the dugout and opted to play him only in 2 contests, where Powell scored only 5 runs. 

KKR's upcoming fixtures:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. KKR, May 17, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. KKR, May 25, Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

Kolkata Knight Riders is currently at the 6th spot of the points table with 11 points in 12 games. 

Dwayne Bravo, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2025 mentor, posted a thrilling video on May 14, 2025, showing the arrival of West Indian players in India for the current tournament. The video, uploaded on Bravo's social media, shows Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Romario Shepherd, who arrived in India to play for their respective IPL teams. The IPL, which was suspended for a week following geopolitical tension before resuming on May 17, had the Caribbean stars joining it, adding another level of excitement to the league as it enters its decisive phase.

The camaraderie between the West Indian trio is brought out in the video, with Narine (KKR), Russell (KKR), and Shepherd (RCB) traveling together, reflecting their excitement about the IPL. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, especially, welcomed Shepherd's arrival, as his addition bolsters their team, which is currently 2nd with 16 points from 11 games. Shepherd's participation, however, could be curtailed by England's ODI series against the West Indies, which conflicts with the latter part of the IPL, including the playoffs.

A Boost to IPL Teams

Shepherd's addition is a huge fillip for RCB, who signed him for INR 1.5 crore prior to the 2025 season. His all-round ability, with a T20I batting strike rate of close to 140 and a bowling average of less than 28, brings depth to RCB's lineup as they chase their maiden IPL title. Narine and Russell's inclusion strengthens KKR, even though they are 6th-placed with 11 points from 12 games.

Watch the video here

🚨🎥Mentor DJ Bravo, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are back in India for remaining part of IPL 2025. 💜 pic.twitter.com/e2VyPXzpS3

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) May 14, 2025

Also Read: BCCI drops bomb shell update on replacement players of remainder of IPL 2025

The West Indian players' arrival has generated hope among fans, with the IPL to gain from their panache. But their availability is a cause of concern because of international obligations, putting franchises' depth to the test as the tournament moves closer to the June 3 final.

The group stage of the ongoing IPL 2025 is nearing the end with the remaining 13 matches. The existence of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament intensified the playoff race between 7 other teams. From the stats it is already clear which teams are already knocked out from the brawl, but there are still lots of permutations and combinations left to decide the names of the possible top 4 teams. The strain of stats intensified the battle between the remaining seven teams of the 10-franchise league. 

Current points table scenario and possibilities:

1. Gujarat Titans (GT)

Current table leader of the team with 16 points in 11 games, lost only 3 and won 8 matches. +0.793 is their Net Run Rate (NRR). From this position, they are almost into the playoff round, but with a certain amount of twist. If they lose all of their remaining matches and the results of the other matches go against them, then GT can find themself outside the line of the top 4. 

2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

The team is in the second spot of the points table, only behind Gujarat Titans in terms of NRR. RCB, with 16 points in 11 games, has an NRR of +0.482. From this position, they are almost into the playoff round, but with a certain amount of twist. If they lose all of their remaining matches and the results of the other matches go against them, then GT can find themself outside the line of the top 4. 

Read More: PSL 2025: PES vs LAH Match 28 - A Head to Head breakdown

3. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

They are the third team in the ladder with 15 points after playing 11 matches. A rain-washed match parted them from a possible 1 more point. Like GT and RCB, PBKS has a 90% chance to secure a playoff spot but can also be disqualified if they lose all of their remaining matches and other match results prove not favorable. 

4. Mumbai Indians (MI)

In terms of the present scenario, Mumbai Indians is the 4th best possible team to book a playoff spot. But in cricket, things can happen beyond imagination. The team with 14 points in 12 games can be knocked out of the playground if they lose all of their remaining fixtures, and other match results can also harm the former champion franchise. Though their chances are high for qualification rather than disqualification. NRR can play a decisive role. MI Indians achieved a handsome net run rate of +1.156.

5. Delhi Capitals (DC)

It will be interesting to see which team goes to the next round as the holder of 4th position. Present stats suggest DC can have a tug-of-war with MI. Capitals now has 13 points after playing 11 games, one match less than Mumbai Indians. NRR can prove vital if Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians maintain a neck-to-neck battle. DC's NRR is currently standing at +0.362. 

6. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

With a very keen hope of Ray, the defending champion is still in the race with 11 points in 12 matches. Comparing the above 5 teams' points and the number of matches they have played, KKR is not among the favorites to go through. But the luck from the 'City of Joy' can shine if they win the remaining games, RCB and GT lose theirs, PBKS loses two, and DC and MI lose one each— if this happens, then Knight Riders can qualify for the next round. 

7. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Currently at 7th spot but slightly in a better position, as LSG has played a game less in comparison to KKR. While KKR at 6th played 12 matches, LSG has played 11 and has 10 points. With a very thin chance, LSG can still manage to get a place in the top half of the table if they win the remainder of their games, RCB and GT lose all of their upcoming games, MI loses one, and either PBKS also loses all their games or DC wins no more than one. 

In keeping with their consistent efforts to empower and motivate communities, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have introduced their influential Shahoshi Rani program to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This special campaign celebrates and salutes women who have shown remarkable courage, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity. The program seeks to highlight these true heroes and make their stories known to the world through the strong medium of cricket.

On May 7, at KKR's big-ticket match against CSK at Eden Gardens, the Shahoshi Ranis will be in the limelight. These 40 inspiring women will not only be in the stands but also attend a special KKR practice session. There, they will get to see the team practice, mingle with players and coaches, and meet co-franchise owner Juhi Chawla, who is proactively backing the initiative.

In a gesture reflective of thoughtfulness, all KKR players and support staff will wear practice jerseys with the Shahoshi Rani logo printed large on the back. Alongside the jersey will be the name of a Shahoshi Rani, signifying unity, respect, and acknowledgment of their braveness. All such moments, including their interactions with the team, will be captured and broadcast across KKR's digital platforms to further amplify their inspiring stories. 

🚨 A LOVELY GESTURE BY KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS 🚨

KKR players did a practice sessions with jersey names of "Shahoshi Ranis" with their presence - who has shown extraordinary courage and resilience in toughest challenges in life 💜 pic.twitter.com/TjXM9pgMSq

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 7, 2025

Also read: PBKS vs DC : Match 58 Weather and Pitch report IPL 2025

Strength Outside the Stadium

Discussing the campaign, co-owner Juhi Chawla stated, "Shahoshi Rani is not only a campaign but a celebration of genuine courage. These women are inspirations, and we are humbled to have our platform open to them." Her sentiments speak to KKR's wider ambition to harness the power of cricket as a means of creating positive social change and amplifying the voices that rarely get heard.

The Shahoshi Rani campaign is a tribute to KKR's faith in the power of sport to make a difference. Through the public celebration of such fearless women on the international platform, KKR sets an example for inclusiveness, community power, and everyday heroes.

Andre Russell did what he is known for, dealing with fours and sixes with his muscle power. Rajasthan Royals faced Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens yesterday (May 4) afternoon under a calm sky, accompanied by a mild river breeze. Things started to change when Russell decided to go with his all-guns-out approach. The all-rounder scored a match-turning 25-ball 57 runs knocked against the visiting team. As per media reports, Andre received a brand-new offer letter from Sourav Ganguly. 

According to media reports, the Kolkata Knight Riders batter received a new offer letter from Ganguly on behalf of Pretoria Capitals, an SA20 setup owned by the JSW group. The former cricketer is associated with the Delhi franchise, which is also owned by the same. From the reports it is now clear that Ganguly was heavily influenced by Andre Russell's stormy knock against Rajasthan Royals. 

The 37-year-old Jamaican cricketer was not up to the mark from the beginning of the ongoing IPL 2025. Like his team, the all-rounder was also struggling to find his rhythm on the field. With the help of Russell's 57, Kolkata Knight Riders was able to make 206 in the first innings, and they won the equal rival match by only 1 run. Russell launched 6 over boundaries and powered 4 boundaries to remind us what he is still capable of. 

Read More: IPL 2025: MI vs GT Match 56 - A Head to Head breakdown

Over-all, Andre Russell is currently experiencing new low in his IPL career 

The win against Rajasthan Royals is not enough for the defending side to confirm a play-off spot, as they have lost 5 out of 11 games, leaving three more games to play. The Kolkata-based team is now in a very tricky position, lying at number 6, needing to win all of their remaining matches and keep faith in their luck. 

🚨 ANDRE RUSSELL IN SA20 🚨

- Sourav Ganguly has offered Andre Russell to play for Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2026, Ganguly meet Russell after the match yesterday. [Sumit Ghosh] pic.twitter.com/r8pMAyNkDf

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 5, 2025

So far in the IPL 2025, Andre Russell has batted in 8 innings with an 18.42 average, including yesterday's 57*. In terms of stats, this is the lowest season he is going through in the last 5 IPL seasons. 

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) win over Delhi Capitals could be more delightful if their skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, did not get himself injured. Sunil Narine did the captaincy job after Rahane's departure from the field.

The defending champion franchise is already in an uncomfortable situation, near the IPL 2025 exit door, and now has to think about their captain's injury. Kolkata Knight Riders next will face Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens on May 4. Ajinkya Rahane's availability for the match is not yet sure.

KKR spinner Anukul Roy has informed us that the experienced batter has gotten a few stitches in his hand. KKR fans are speculating, if Rahane is not able to play, then who can be the right fit on the playing XI?

Read More: IPL 2025 Qualification Scenarios: Can your team still make it to 16 Points?

Rahane's injury can be a major crisis for the team if his injury is found to be more than minor. He not only provides his experience but also a pivotal part in the middle to balance the batting lineup. Rahane's absence can force KKR team management to change the approach and tactics on the field. 

3 possible replacements for an injured Ajinkya Rahane:

• Moeen Ali: If the team management wants someone who can hold a side of the wicket, then Moeen Ali can be the right choice, the all-rounder who has scored over a thousand runs in IPL and bagged 38 wickets. In the ongoing IPL 2025, he has yet to showcase his batting talent but took 3 wickets in 4 matches. 
• Manish Pandey: In terms of experience, Manish Pandey is another candidate in the squad who can replace Rahane. The flamboyant right-hand top-order batter can add some important runs for a handsome total on the scoreboard. So far, in the ongoing IPL 2025, he has played only one match, where he scored only 19 runs. Last season he played only one match and got a useful 42-run knock for KKR. 
• Ramandeep Singh: An unexpected poor IPL 2025 outing so far for Ramandeep Singh after he got retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. He played an important role behind KKR's trophy win, but this year, he's completely out of form. But still, KKR management can rely on his talent, especially in terms of limited overs cricket. He can be useful in middle and lower-middle-order batting positions. 

Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face each other in match 48, IPL 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, the home ground of DC. The match is immensely important for both of the teams. Delhi Capitals is looking for a confirmed ticket, which can take them to the round of four, and KKR, the out-of-form defending champion, wants to push hard to protect their last hope of a ray. But only one team will leave the stadium as the winner. Whenever these two teams had collided with each other, excitement had risen to the maximum; the same is expected from the upcoming DC vs. KKR game also, which is scheduled to be played on April 29. 

Head-to-Head Record:

DC and KKD have clashed 34 times in the IPL.

DC Wins: 15

KKR Wins: 18

No Result: 1

Win Percentage: KKR dominates with a win percentage of 52.94%.

Arun Jaitley Stadium is famous for its batting-friendly surface. In summer conditions and possible due factors in the second innings, the toss can be a decisive factor. The DC vs. KKR match can showcase some brilliant bowling from spinners, as both of the sides have impactful individuals like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel from Delhi Capitals and Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine from the Kolkata-based franchise. According to the weather forecast, the sky will remain clear, with no signs of rain or heavy clouds in Delhi. 

Read More: IPL 2025: RR vs GT Match 47 - A Head to Head breakdown

Most memorable DC vs. KKR encounters from the vault

Over the years these two teams had confronted each other in multiple high-octane matches. According to all-over stats, Knight Riders has a better hand over Delhi. But Capitals had also shown their muscles against the Kolkata team. 

IPL 2024, Match 16 (April 3, 2024)—Visakhapatnam

KKR, in this match, scored a total of 272 runs batting first. Sunil Narine was awarded as the man of the match for his all-around performance. The West Indian cricketer scored 85 and took a wicket as well. KKR won the match by 106 runs. Rishabh Pant's and Tristan Stubbs' half-centuries were not enough to save the Delhi Capitals.

IPL 2023, match 28 (April 20, 2023)—Delhi

That was a low-scoring but neck-to-neck match in Arun Jaitley Stadium. Batting first, KKR took their score only to 127, and Delhi Capitals needed 19.2 overs to chase that stiff total in exchange for 6 wickets. Ishant Sharma, with 2 wickets against 19 runs in 4 overs, was awarded as the best player of the match. David Warner was the best batter of the evening, scoring 57 for Delhi.

IPL 2019, match 10 (March 30, 2019)—Delhi 

Own the most memorable encounters between these two teams. The match concluded with the help of a super over. Both teams were at 185, and in the super over, KKR got 7/1, Delhi replied with 10/1, and DC won the super over by 3 runs. Prithvi Shaw, then a Delhi Capitals batter, missed his IPL century only by 1 run.