Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Match 68 Preview | IPL 2025

Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: 15:00 GMT / 07:30 PM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
League: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025
Match: Match 68 – Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

🏏 Match Context

The 68th match of the IPL 2025 season pits Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders in what will likely be the final game of the tournament for both teams. Neither side has secured a spot in the playoffs this year, but this encounter promises to be a competitive clash as both teams aim to wrap up their campaigns on a high.

📈 Team Form and Standings

• Sunrisers Hyderabad:

  • Points Table Position: 8th
  • Record: 5 wins in 13 matches
  • Recent Form: Won their last match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 42 runs, showing signs of resurgence.

• Kolkata Knight Riders:

  • Points Table Position: 7th
  • Record: 5 wins in 13 matches
  • Recent Form: Their last match against RCB was washed out, ending their hopes of a late playoff push.

Despite their positions, both teams have shown flashes of form and will be eager to finish the season with a win.

⚔️ Head-to-Head Record (KKR vs SRH)

• Matches Played: 29
• KKR Wins: 20
• SRH Wins: 9

The KKR have dominated the head-to-head record in recent years, but SRH will be motivated to end the series on a positive note.

🌡️ Pitch and Weather Report

• Pitch: The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is known for being batsman-friendly, with short boundaries and a flat surface. Teams often post scores in the 190-200 range, and chasing in the second innings is usually more viable.

• Weather:

  • Conditions: Clear and dry
  • Temperature: 30°C to 36°C
  • Humidity: Moderate
  • Dew Factor: Could influence the final overs, especially in the second innings.
  • Rain Forecast: Nil

The perfect conditions for a high-scoring game, with a potential emphasis on aggressive batting.

🧑‍✈️ Probable Playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Travis Head
3. Ishan Kishan (WK)
4. Aniket Verma
5. Nitish Kumar Reddy
6. Heinrich Klaasen (WK)
7. Abhinav Manohar
8. Pat Cummins (C)
9. Harshal Patel
10. Jaydev Unadkat
11. Eshan Malinga

Impact Players (if required): Zeeshan Ansari, Sachin Baby, Rahul Chahar, Simarjeet Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
2. Sunil Narine
3. Ajinkya Rahane (C)
4. Angkrish Raghuvanshi
5. Venkatesh Iyer
6. Andre Russell
7. Rinku Singh
8. Ramandeep Singh
9. Vaibhav Arora
10. Varun Chakraborty
11. Harshit Rana

Impact Players (if required): Luvnith Sisodia, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy

🧠 Match Analysis

Kolkata Knight Riders come into the match with a strong batting unit, led by the experienced Ajinkya Rahane and the explosive Andre Russell, who can change the course of the game in an over. The spin department, with Varun Chakraborty and Harshit Rana, could play a key role on a pitch that may offer assistance in the middle and death overs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, will rely on Travis Head's explosive start and Nitish Kumar Reddy's ability to accelerate in the middle. Pat Cummins and Harshal Patel will be crucial with the ball, especially in the death overs.

With Ishan Kishan available to keep wickets, SRH can afford to rotate their wicketkeeper-batsmen, depending on the required strategy. However, with the track in Delhi favoring batters, the side winning the toss and opting to bat first could be in a strong position.

📺 Broadcast and Live Coverage

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar
• Television Broadcast: Star Sports Network

🤖 AI Match Prediction

• Kolkata Knight Riders Win Probability: 58%
• Sunrisers Hyderabad Win Probability: 42%

While KKR have the upper hand historically and in current form, SRH's recent performance suggests they are capable of pulling off an upset.

🏆 Final Verdict

This match, though not affecting the playoff qualification, could be a high-scoring thriller with both teams looking to end their IPL 2025 journey on a positive note. The key will be how the spinners fare and if the death overs become a turning point. Expect fireworks from Russell and Head, and a tight finish if the game reaches the final over.

Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders to win by 6-8 wickets in a chase.