Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face Gujarat Titans (GT) in match number 39 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Monday, April 21. The match will be held at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. Both teams are eyeing crucial points in the tournament—GT are pushing towards playoff qualification, while KKR aim to keep their top-four hopes alive.
KKR are coming off a disappointing loss against Punjab Kings (PBKS), where they failed to chase down a modest target of 112, losing by 16 runs. They’ll look to bounce back with a strong batting display, especially on the batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch.
Eden Gardens is known for high-scoring encounters and exciting T20 matches. The pitch typically offers assistance to batters, particularly under lights, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat. However, during the early overs, especially under overcast skies, pacers may extract swing and seam movement.
As the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down, giving spinners a chance to control the middle overs. This dual nature makes it important for teams to read conditions quickly. Due to the potential impact of dew later in the match, teams often prefer to bowl first after winning the toss.
The average first-innings score at Eden Gardens ranges between 160 and 170, although it frequently sees totals surpassing 200 due to its short boundaries and fast outfield.
KKR have a solid record at Eden Gardens, having played 91 matches at the venue. They have won 53 of those and lost 38, making it a favorable hunting ground for the Kolkata-based franchise.
Gujarat Titans have played just one game at Eden Gardens so far, in which they emerged victorious. They will look to extend their winning record at this venue.
Matches played: 18
Wins batting first: 9
Wins batting second: 9
Average first innings score: 191/7
Lowest total defended (excluding shortened matches): 176
Highest target successfully chased: 262
200+ scores: 13 in 17 matches
Average sixes per match: 19
Pace bowlers: 56% of overs, 114 wickets, Avg – 33.1, Econ – 10.5
Spin bowlers: 44% of overs, 88 wickets, Avg – 26.6, Econ – 8.4
1st innings score 200 or more: 9 matches – 7 wins batting first, 2 wins chasing
1st innings score below 200: 9 matches – 2 wins batting first, 7 wins chasing
The last IPL 2025 fixture at this venue featured KKR vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). LSG posted 238/8, powered by Nicholas Pooran (87*) and Mitchell Marsh (81). Despite valiant efforts from Ajinkya Rahane (61), Venkatesh Iyer (45), and Rinku Singh (38*), KKR narrowly lost by four runs, ending at 234/7.
Eden Gardens has hosted 96 IPL games to date. Chasing teams have been more successful, winning 56 matches (58.33%), while teams batting first have won 40 (41.67%).
Highest Team Total: 262/2 by Punjab Kings vs KKR (2024)
Lowest Team Total: 49 all out by RCB vs KKR (2017)
Lowest Total Defended: 131 by KKR vs RCB (2017)
Average 1st Innings Score: 166
Highest Individual Score: 112* – Rajat Patidar (RCB) vs LSG (2022)
Most Runs: Gautam Gambhir – 1,407 runs in 47 innings
Most Fours: Gautam Gambhir – 165
Most Fifties: Gautam Gambhir – 11
Most Sixes: Andre Russell – 84 sixes in 37 innings
Total sixes hit: 1,223
Total fours: 2,751
Total fifties: 138
Total centuries: 9
Notable Century Scorers: Virat Kohli, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine
Most Wickets: Sunil Narine – 71 wickets in 60 innings
Best Bowling Figures: 5/15 by Sunil Narine vs PBKS (2012)
Conclusion
Eden Gardens continues to be one of the most exciting venues in the IPL. With its batting-friendly nature and rich history, the KKR vs GT clash promises fireworks. Both teams have plenty to play for, and given recent stats and pitch behavior, fans can expect a high-scoring thriller.