KKR vs PBKS Highlights, IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings called off due to bad weather

With this outcome, PBKS climb to 4th in the standings with 11 points from 9 games. They will next travel to Chennai to face the Super Kings on Wednesday, 30th April. As for KKR, although they remain 7th in the standings with 7 points from 9 games, the point gained from the no-result could prove valuable but they need to start winning. Their next assignment will see them travel to Delhi to face the Capitals on Tuesday, 29th April. The weekend action in the 2025 Indian Premier League ramps up with a doubleheader on Sunday, 27th April. The first game of the day will see the Mumbai Indians go up against the Lucknow Super Giants at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). Later in the evening, the Delhi Capitals will lock horns with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As always, our build-up for both games will kick off well in advance. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Earlier in the game, after opting to bat first on a dry wicket, the Punjab Kings got an ideal foundation with a 120-run opening stand. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh had a measured approach with Arya doing the bulk of the scoring in their opening stand before Singh took matters into his hands after Arya fell. However, once Singh fell, KKR clawed their way back, conceding just 43 runs in the final 6 overs to limit the damage. PBKS managed to post 201, but they were on course for a much bigger total at one stage. In reply, KKR managed to bat for just one over before gusty winds swept across the ground, followed by relentless rain that prevented play from resuming.

Alas, the news we were dreading has arrived. The match has been ABANDONED due to persistent rain. Both teams will share a point each from this clash, and understandably, both camps will leave feeling a touch disappointed at the missed opportunity to secure a result. A shortened contest, with all 10 wickets in hand, might have played into KKR’s favour, and although this point keeps them afloat in the standings, it still feels like a missed chance. As for PBKS, they would have fancied their chances of defending the total with the bowling resources they had at their disposal. A frustrating end, but that's how the game goes sometimes.

UPDATE - 10.45 pm IST (5.15 pm GMT) - The rain is finally starting to ease, and that’s a positive sign. However, considering how difficult it was for the ground staff to get the covers on earlier, it remains to be seen how much impact the surface and the outfield have taken. The cut-off time for a 5-over contest is 11.44 pm IST (6.14 pm GMT). Fingers crossed for better news soon. 

UPDATE - 10.31 pm IST (5.01 pm GMT) - It continues to rain, and with the wind easing up, it’s not necessarily a good sign. Earlier, there was hope that the gusty winds would blow the rain away, but now the growing concern is that the rain might settle in for a longer spell. We are closing in on an hour since play was halted, which means if and when we do get back on, it will be a shortened game. Stay tuned.

UPDATE - 10.06 pm IST (4.36 pm GMT) - Regrettably, folks, the weather conditions have deteriorated, with rainfall becoming heavier and accompanied by lightning as well. We still have around 30 minutes before we start losing overs. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the rain to stop. And once it stops, the world-class drainage system at the Eden Gardens won't take too long for the game to resume.

UPDATE - 9.56 pm IST (4.26 pm GMT) - Matthew Hayden on-air just mentioned that it was absolutely chaotic out there in the middle when the covers were being deployed. He also mentioned that one portion of the cover almost flew into the stands due to the wind. But somehow, the ground staff managed to pull it back. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), these are the Kalbaisakhi winds, which were predicted to hit the eastern coast of the states of West Bengal and Odisha due to extreme heat waves.

UPDATE - 9.45 pm IST (4.15 pm GMT) - Due to strong winds blowing in the same direction as the covers were being deployed, the ground staff faced challenges controlling them. Despite these difficulties, they successfully managed to protect the entire field in time. Also, as per the on-air commentators, we do have a buffer time of 1 hour before we start losing overs. So, let's hope that the play resumes as soon as possible.

Two left-arm quicks in tandem. Arshdeep Singh to operate from the far end. And all of a sudden, a sandstorm erupts, which causes a slight break in play. It is very windy out there and the two umpires now come up to chat. The ground staff are called to bring in the covers. The players now walk off the field as a slight drizzle has started. The entire ground is being covered with white sheets. Not a heavy shower at all, so it should subside very soon. Fingers crossed. Stay tuned for further updates.

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Bashes the hard length, over middle, Rahmanullah Gurbaz rises with the bounce and keeps it out.

Marco Jansen to Sunil Narine, Leg bye! On a hard length, slanting into the batter, Sunil Narine swings across the line again but gets beaten on the inside edge. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads towards deep backward point.

Marco Jansen to Sunil Narine, FOUR! Sunil Narine is up and running! Angling into the left hander from over the wicket, on a short of a length, Narine makes use of the angle and swipes it to the right of deep square leg for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Sunil Narine, Delivers it on a shortish length, around off, Sunil Narine sways away and lets it be.

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, On a back of a length, at the hips, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets on his toes and tucks it wide of square leg for a single to get off the mark.

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Going across, a lot tighter, on a length, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shoulders arms.

Marco Jansen to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Wide! Kolkata Knight Riders are underway with this extra! Pushed well beyond the tramline on off from over the wicket, left alone by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Welcome back to KKR's reply with the bat. Shreyas Iyer leads his troops out to the field as the players of PBKS take their fielding positions. They have swapped Harpreet Brar in as the Impact Sub, who comes in for Prabhsimran Singh. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine are the two openers for KKR. Marco Jansen to open the bowling attack for PBKS. Off we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Well then, 202 is the magic number for KKR to end their two-match losing streak. It won't be easy by any means, as their batting order has faltered in recent games. And their middle order, especially, will be tested against the quality bowling unit of PBKS. Roll back the calendars to 2024, on this very day, Punjab Kings chased a mammoth 262 target against KKR. Can the Knight Riders flip the script this time around? Back in a bit with the run chase. Stay tuned.

Priyansh Arya of Punjab Kings is up for a quick chat. He says it is a very good total on the board. He feels the wicket is on the slower side and the plan was to rotate the strike after the Powerplay and try to take the game deep. He mentions that he enjoys batting with Prabhsimran Singh, who guides him on which bowlers to target. Arya adds that the trust shown by Ricky Ponting gives him a lot of confidence to play his natural game.

With the score at 160/1 in the 15th over, Prabhsimran's dismissal triggered a momentum shift as KKR fought back with two quick wickets, including the prized scalp of Maxwell. Shreyas Iyer remained resolute, anchoring one end with a commendable captain's knock while wickets tumbled at the other, preventing PBKS from fully capitalizing on their explosive start. Despite the late stumble, where they could only hit four boundaries and a solitary six, they still managed to breach the imposing 200-run milestone, on a wicket which was deemed a tough one to bat on.

Priyansh Arya crafted a flawless fifty, maximizing rewards while minimizing risks, before both openers shifted gears to target the spinners. PBKS cruised at a commanding 10 runs per over until Andre Russell finally intervened to break their formidable 120-run opening partnership. Undeterred at the other end, though, Prabhsimran Singh too raced away to his fifty and just took the attack masterfully.

With the pitch expected to punish aggression against the ageing ball, the openers' rock-solid foundation proved invaluable as they capitalized on every loose delivery sent their way. However, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine's crafty spin bowling limited the batters to calculated strike rotation. The pacers, hence, became natural targets as the openers shrewdly navigated this dual-paced challenge and maintained a strong run rate. 

On the slow-paced deck, PBKS openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh showcased tactical brilliance with their uncharacteristically watchful start. After taking a couple of overs to gauge the conditions, they methodically accelerated with well-timed boundaries, though never sacrificing technique for theatrics, which perfectly suited the surface. Though KKR's pacers bowled reasonably well, they couldn't pick any wickets and as a result, PBKS went unblemished in the Powerplay, with 56 on the board.

A marginal comeback from KKR's perspective as they only gave 40 runs in the last five overs, which included good death bowling from Andre Russell and Vaibhav Arora. Only one of the last five overs went into double digits, and with six wickets in hand, it was indeed a good pullback from the hosts in the last few overs. However, despite all that, PBKS have managed to post a very challenging total and have yet again crossed the 200 figure.

Andre Russell to Josh Inglis, A dot to end the innings! Andre Russell attempts a yorker but ends up serving a low full toss, Josh Inglis backs away but is a bit cramped for room and cannot get his hands through the ball. Gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball goes through to the keeper and the batters try to sneak in a bye but Rahmanullah Gurbaz is quick to release the ball and prevent the single. The Kings end up with 201 on the board!

Andre Russell to Josh Inglis, FOUR! Squeezed away by Josh Inglis and that brings up the 200 for the Kings! Tailing in at the toes, very full, Inglis clears his front leg and flicks it away to the right of the man at backward square leg inside the circle for a boundary.

Andre Russell to Shreyas Iyer, Shreyas Iyer will feel that he missed out there! Low full toss, angling into the pads, Iyer swipes it to deep mid-wicket for the fourth single in a row.

Andre Russell to Josh Inglis, Superb stuff from Andre Russell! Keeps it nice and full, on middle, Josh Inglis skips down the track to take it on the full. Plays it to the left of the bowler for the third single of the over.

Andre Russell to Shreyas Iyer, Nails the yorker, at the stumps, Shreyas Iyer backs away and tries to get under the ball to glide it over short third. It gets lobbed in front of short third for just a single.

Andre Russell to Josh Inglis, Gets it very full, does Andre Russell, on off, Josh Inglis knocks it in front of extra cover for a single.

Andre Russell (2-0-19-1) will bowl the final over of the first innings. Also, Angkrish Raghuvanshi comes in as the Impact Sub for KKR, in place of Chetan Sakariya.

Vaibhav Arora to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR! Thumped! Vaibhav Arora goes short but this just sits up to be hit and offers width too. Shreyas Iyer hangs on the back foot and pumps it over extra cover for a one-bounce boundary. Another over that is spoiled somewhat from a KKR perspective with a boundary on the last ball. 35 runs off the last 30 balls.

Vaibhav Arora to Josh Inglis, Keeps it near the tramline on off, on a length, Josh Inglis tries to get inside the line of the ball to play the scoop over short fine leg this time. Adjusts to the line by easing it with an angled bat face to cover for one.

Vaibhav Arora to Josh Inglis, FOUR! Audacious! Vaibhav Arora bends his back and digs in a slower bumper, over off, Josh Inglis is quick to change his stance and plays the reverse scoop over short third for a boundary.

Josh Inglis is in at number 6.

Vaibhav Arora to Marco Jansen, OUT! TAKEN! Marco Jansen holes out! Vaibhav Arora makes the batter reach out, on a short of a length, Jansen walks across to get closer to the line of the ball. Shapes up to go down the ground but picks out Venkatesh Iyer at long on to perfection. Iyer takes it around his chest. Kolkata are mounting a good comeback towards the end of the innings.

Vaibhav Arora to Marco Jansen, Another swing and a miss! On a short of a length, outside off, Marco Jansen shuffles across and swings for the hills but connects with thin air.

Vaibhav Arora to Marco Jansen, On off, off-pace delivery, on a nagging length, Marco Jansen swings to go down the ground but misses.

Vaibhav Arora to bowl the 19th over. He is 3-0-25-1 so far.

Andre Russell to Shreyas Iyer, SIX! A perfect end to the over for the Kings! An over where Kolkata Knight Riders should have had Shreyas Iyer ends with a six. Andre Russell takes pace off and goes into the wicket. It sits up to be hit and Iyer flat bats it over long on for a six. The over ends up going for 10 runs. Not that bad an over for KKR. 26 runs off the last 24 balls.

Andre Russell to Marco Jansen, Another full delivery, on off, Marco Jansen cannot get under it and only push it to cover for one.

Andre Russell to Marco Jansen, So far, so good from Andre Russell!  Right in the blockhole, on middle, Marco Jansen can only dig this one out.

Andre Russell to Shreyas Iyer, DROPPED! Vaibhav Arora puts it down! Andre Russell goes searching for the yorker, but it comes out as a low full toss, on the pads. Shreyas Iyer picks it up off his pads and whips it flat towards deep backward square leg. Vaibhav Arora is late to react in the deep and has to put in the dive ahead. The ball just about carries to him, but he fails to cling on. A single taken.

Andre Russell to Marco Jansen, Another well-executed yorker, at the stumps, Marco Jansen gets his bat down to jam it out. The ball rolls near his feet and he gets called through for a quick single by Iyer.