New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their final group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Sunday.
Neither side remains in contention for the playoffs, turning Match 68 into a battle for pride. However, both franchises will look to sign off on a positive note after contrasting trajectories in this year's tournament.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), despite a shaky start, have hit a purple patch with three wins from their last four outings.
In their previous game, SRH registered a comprehensive 42-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by a blistering 94 off 48 balls from Ishan Kishan. The resurgence has been fuelled by the explosive form of opener Abhishek Sharma, who has amassed 407 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 193.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, have failed to build momentum this season and sit seventh on the points table with five wins from 13 matches. Their most recent fixture against RCB was washed out, effectively ending their playoff hopes.
Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has been the mainstay for KKR with 375 runs, while Andre Russell has shown glimpses of form with back-to-back impactful knocks. However, inconsistency in both batting and death bowling has hurt the Knight Riders throughout the season.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to favour batsmen, especially under lights. The last two IPL 2025 fixtures at the venue saw totals of 199 and 187 chased down with ease, indicating a preference for bowling first upon winning the toss. Sunday's weather forecast is warm and humid, with no threat of rain.
Statistically, KKR have dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning four of the last six encounters. However, SRH appear better placed at the moment, with in-form players and winning momentum behind them. Analysts tip SRH to end their campaign on a high.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
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