Iyer, who captained KKR to their third IPL title last year and ended a decade-long wait for glory, was surprisingly not retained by the franchise ahead of this season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The baton was handed to Ajinkya Rahane, but the move has backfired with KKR languishing in seventh place. They\u2019ve managed just three wins from eight games and are teetering on the edge of elimination. Another defeat could close the door on their top-four aspirations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Iyer, Saturday\u2019s game is personal. After being let go by the Knight Riders, he found purpose with Punjab Kings under the mentorship of Ricky Ponting, his former coach at Delhi Capitals. Together, the duo has breathed new life into the PBKS setup. Iyer has already scored 263 runs with three half-centuries this season and has led Punjab to five wins from eight games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Although he enters this fixture on the back of three single-digit scores, there\u2019s little doubt that Eden Gardens could be the perfect setting for him to script a comeback, both with the bat and the narrative. The reverse fixture earlier this season in Chandigarh only adds more spice to this encounter. Punjab successfully defended the lowest total in IPL history \u2014 111 \u2014 against the Knight Riders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
KKR, at one point cruising at 62\/2, collapsed dramatically to be bowled out for just 95, with Yuzvendra Chahal spinning a web of destruction. The shock defeat left a scar, and KKR will be keen to avenge it on home turf.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, that turf hasn\u2019t been kind to them this season. Kolkata have lost three of their four home games in 2025, and Eden Gardens \u2014 once their fortress \u2014 now reflects their inconsistency. Their bowling has looked toothless at times, and their batting has relied too heavily on individual brilliance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For PBKS, this match presents a chance to climb to third on the points table, leapfrogging Mumbai Indians and RCB. Their squad looks more balanced, with solid opening options, Iyer anchoring the middle order, and the bowling unit performing with precision and variety.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When: Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 PM IST<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Where to watch: Live telecast on Star Sports network and live streaming on JioHotstar<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Squads:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Luvnith Sisodia, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Squads:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n