IPL 2025 Match 31 promises fireworks as Punjab Kings (PBKS) host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 15, 2025, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. PBKS, sixth with a 3-2 record (NRR +0.550), are reeling from an 8-wicket thrashing by SRH, despite Shreyas Iyer’s blazing form. KKR, fifth at 4-2 (NRR +0.620), ride high after demolishing CSK by 8 wickets, with Sunil Narine firing on all cylinders (Web ID 4). KKR lead the head-to-head 21-12, but PBKS’s home edge and Iyer facing his former team add spice to this evening clash (7:30 PM IST). Can PBKS rebound, or will KKR keep rolling? Here’s our prediction.
Table of Contents
Punjab Kings: Batting Fire, Bowling Woes
PBKS started strong—wins over GT, LSG, and CSK—but a 246-run chase by SRH exposed their bowling frailties (Web ID 10). Priyansh Arya’s 39-ball ton and Shreyas Iyer’s 82 off 36 (avg 83.33, SR 208.33) power their batting, with Shashank Singh’s clutch SR 170 adding depth (Web ID 9, 18). Prabhsimran Singh’s 259 runs (SR 153.25) spark the top order, though Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are yet to peak (Web ID 4). Arshdeep Singh’s 14 wickets (econ 10.08) and Yuzvendra Chahal’s spin (econ 7.8) lead the attack, but Lockie Ferguson’s doubtful fitness—tweaked hamstring vs SRH—could strain them, with Xavier Bartlett or Yash Thakur likely stepping in (Web ID 15, X @Cric_Karthikk). X (@fp4f_family) notes PBKS’s “explosive potential,” but SRH’s 247/2 chase haunts them.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Balanced and Buoyant
KKR’s season has alternated wins and losses (L-W-L-W-L-W), but their latest 8-wicket rout of CSK—chasing 104 in 10.1 overs—shows their might (Web ID 17). Sunil Narine’s all-round heroics (44 off 18, 1/25 vs CSK; 488 runs, SR 160 last year) and Quinton de Kock’s starts (SR 145) drive the batting, with Ajinkya Rahane’s 204 runs (SR 154.54) and Venkatesh Iyer’s 259 (SR 173.82) in form (Web ID 18). Andre Russell’s yet to bat big (below No. 7), but his 69 runs off 38 vs Jadeja hint at danger (Web ID 8). Harshit Rana (2/16 vs CSK) and Varun Chakaravarthy’s 21 wickets (econ 8.2) anchor the bowling, with Vaibhav Arora’s swing clicking (Web ID 9). X (@CricinfoHindi) backs PBKS, but KKR’s momentum feels strong.
Pitch and Conditions: Batter’s Paradise
Mullanpur’s pitch is a batting haven—avg 1st innings 200, with short square boundaries (65m) favoring hitters (Web ID 15). The ball comes on nicely, but dew in night games aids chasing, with 3/5 matches won by teams bowling first (Web ID 10). At 28°C with no rain, expect a high-scoring thriller—200-210 is par (Web ID 12, X @crictracker).
Head-to-Head: KKR’s Edge
KKR dominate with 21 wins to PBKS’s 12 in 33 IPL clashes, including a 6-wicket win in 2024. PBKS’s epic 262/2 chase at Eden Gardens last year—highest in T20 history—remains their highlight (Web ID 5, 10). Key battles: Iyer (SR 208 vs pace) vs Rana (2 wickets), and Narine (SR 160) vs Chahal (2 dismissals) (Web ID 18). KKR’s 73.33% win rate last year dwarfs PBKS’s 35.71% (Web ID 9).
Key Players
- PBKS:
- Shreyas Iyer: 250 runs, SR 208—captain’s revenge? (Web ID 18).
- Priyansh Arya: 39-ball 100—top-order dynamite (Web ID 4).
- Arshdeep Singh: 14 wickets—new-ball key (Web ID 18).
- KKR:
- Sunil Narine: 488 runs, 1/25 vs CSK—all-round star (Web ID 9, 17).
- Ajinkya Rahane: 204 runs—steady hand (Web ID 18).
- Varun Chakaravarthy: 21 wickets—spin threat (Web ID 9).
Prediction: Who Wins?
PBKS’s batting—Arya, Iyer, Shashank—is explosive, and Mullanpur’s flat track suits them (Web ID 15). Chahal could exploit KKR’s spin woes (Narine 44 off 17 vs Ashwin), but their bowling looks shaky without Ferguson—SRH’s 247/2 exposed them (Web ID 4). KKR’s balanced attack—Narine, Rana, Chakaravarthy—shone vs CSK, and their batting depth (Rahane, Rinku, Russell) thrives in chases (Web ID 17). X splits—@CricinfoHindi and @WasimJaffer14 favor PBKS for home edge, while @stumpnbails sees KKR’s form prevailing. KKR’s 21-12 H2H lead and recent NRR boost (+0.620) give them a slight edge, especially if dew aids chasing (Web ID 10).
Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders to win Match 31. They could chase 210 with Narine and Rahane or defend 200 with Chakaravarthy’s spin. PBKS might upset if Iyer’s fire meets Chahal’s magic—what’s your pick? Drop it below!
