Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and last season's finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in troubled waters, having lost two of their last three games, and both teams will be desperate to revive their campaigns when they lock horns in the IPL here on Thursday. KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane had initially downplayed concerns surrounding his team following a heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener, insisting there was "no need to panic".
However, with two losses in three matches -- considering KKR lost just three games across both home and away legs in their triumphant campaign in IPL 2024 -- the mood in the camp is slightly muted.
Pitched battle
The focus has now shifted to the Eden Gardens pitch, which has come under scrutiny after KKR's seven-wicket defeat to RCB.
Former KKR opener Phil Salt and Virat Kohli took the home attack to the cleaners, stitching a 95-run stand off just 51 balls in a one-sided chase of 175.
The Cricket Association of Bengal has been under pressure to produce a track that aids KKR's spin-heavy attack, comprising Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy.
Chakravarthy, fresh from his exploits in the Champions Trophy triumph last month, struggled on a flat deck against RCB, leaking 10.75 runs per over.
Indian great and Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan has also called for home advantage after Punjab Kings outplayed them at the Ekana stadium, criticising the pitch by saying, "It seemed PBKS' curator was out here."
Reports suggest the Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee had declined KKR's request for a spin-friendly track in their opening match, a decision that seemingly backfired.
Chakravarthy, one of their key spinners, leaked 45 runs in that match. While Mukherjee defended his stance, CAB president Snehasish Ganguly has since been closely inspecting the pitch alongside the curator, hinting at a possible shift in approach for KKR's upcoming home matches.
KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head record
Historically, KKR have dominated this rivalry, winning 19 out of the 28 encounters, while SRH have managed just nine victories. But with both teams desperate for a turnaround, Thursday’s match promises to be a high-stakes battle at Eden Gardens.
However, with two losses in three matches -- considering KKR lost just three games across both home and away legs in their triumphant campaign in IPL 2024 -- the mood in the camp is slightly muted.
Pitched battle
The focus has now shifted to the Eden Gardens pitch, which has come under scrutiny after KKR's seven-wicket defeat to RCB.
Former KKR opener Phil Salt and Virat Kohli took the home attack to the cleaners, stitching a 95-run stand off just 51 balls in a one-sided chase of 175.
The Cricket Association of Bengal has been under pressure to produce a track that aids KKR's spin-heavy attack, comprising Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy.
Chakravarthy, fresh from his exploits in the Champions Trophy triumph last month, struggled on a flat deck against RCB, leaking 10.75 runs per over.
Indian great and Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan has also called for home advantage after Punjab Kings outplayed them at the Ekana stadium, criticising the pitch by saying, "It seemed PBKS' curator was out here."
Reports suggest the Eden Gardens pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee had declined KKR's request for a spin-friendly track in their opening match, a decision that seemingly backfired.
Chakravarthy, one of their key spinners, leaked 45 runs in that match. While Mukherjee defended his stance, CAB president Snehasish Ganguly has since been closely inspecting the pitch alongside the curator, hinting at a possible shift in approach for KKR's upcoming home matches.
KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head record
- Total Matches Played: 28
- KKR Wins: 19
- SRH Wins: 9
- No Result: 0
Historically, KKR have dominated this rivalry, winning 19 out of the 28 encounters, while SRH have managed just nine victories. But with both teams desperate for a turnaround, Thursday’s match promises to be a high-stakes battle at Eden Gardens.
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