IPL 2025 KKR Vs SRH Probable Playing XIs, Impact Players: Last year’s IPL finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will lock horns on Thursday (April 3) at the Eden Gardens in the quest for their second wins of the 2025 season. Both have endured similarly poor starts to the year, having lost two of the three games and finding success only against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). On paper, KKR and SRH are two of the strongest teams in the league. However, both have been hurt by the loss in form for some of their top players last season and the lack of impact from new additions. In IPL 2024, they came across each other thrice and KKR won all three, including the first qualifier and the final. Pat Cummins and Co. would be quite aware that the defending champions don’t have the same quality in the bowling attack (with the loss of Mitchell Starc) and have a messed-up batting order. Similarly, Ajinkya Rahane’s KKR would know SRH are also leaking runs and are over-reliant on only a couple of batters. How will the two teams shape up for this all-important clash, then? Let’s analyze. SRH’s likely playing XI: In the last match, Cummins made the curious decision to bat first against Delhi Capitals in Vizag. They started with just three overseas players, hoping to bring in leg-spinner Adam Zampa for the second innings, however, a batting collapse forced them to go for all-rounder Wiaan Mulder instead, which didn’t work out. The idea was right but the execution from the batting order failed it. Hence, if SRH make any changes, they are likely to be in that department. Karnataka’s Abhinav Manohar’s spot could be under threat after scores of 0, 2 and 4. The emergence of Aniket Verma as a big-hitting finisher and Abhishek Sharma’s usefulness with the ball might push the franchise to take a bigger risk with their 11 and getting in Kamindu Mendis. The Sri Lankan can contribute big shots in the middle order while also providing an off-spin option. If they bowl first, though, then you can expect them to go with Adam Zampa from the start and bring in either Manohar or someone like the Kerala veteran Sachin Baby from the start. Also keep an eye out on Mohammed Shami, who hasn’t been in his best touch, and could be replaced by Jaydev Unadkat. Also read: KKR vs SRH IPL 2025 Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders-Sunrisers Hyderabad Eye Return To Winning Ways SRH’s probable XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Pat Cummins (C), Zeeshan Ansari, Harshal Patel and Mohammed Shami Impact players: Jaydev Unadkat, Sachin Baby, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Chahar and Atharva Taide KKR’s likely playing XI: KKR are also in need of changes after a huge eight-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians but don’t have the same flexibility as SRH. They have Luvnith Sisodia, the young firecracker opener from Karnataka, waiting in the rings but there isn’t any space for him in the team. That’s because the defending champions will not want to drop Rahane (the captain), Venkatesh Iyer (the vice-captain and most expensive signing at the auction) and Angrkish Raghuvanshi (the highest run-scorer of the last match). A strategy KKR can use to fix this issue is accepting that Sunil Narine won’t be able to contribute as an opener as well as last season and use him back to the lower order/spin-hitting floater. The only other change could be in their bowling attack where Spencer Johnson, who has one wicket in three matches, might have to finally make way for Anrich Nortje. Also Read: IPL 2025, KKR Vs SRH Head-to-Head Stats: Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Records, Past Results And Match History KKR’s probable XI: Quinton de Kock (WK), Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer (C), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy Impact players: Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey and Luvnith Sisodia Stay updated with all the latest news on IPL 2025, including the schedule, points table, top run-scorers (IPL Orange Cap), and leading wicket-takers (IPL Purple Cap). Get real-time updates, match highlights, and expert insights—only on News18.