The road ahead for KKR to reach the IPL 2025 playoffs

The defending champions clinched a narrow victory at home in their 11th league stage fixture to stay alive in the race for playoff qualification. Kolkata Knight Riders hosted Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens to obtain a stepping stone against the already eliminated side. While out of the IPL 2025 playoffs race themselves, RR made it significantly hard for the home team to win the crucial points. However, the KKR vs RR IPL 2025 match concluded with the Knight Riders defending their total by the barest of margins. Now, in 11 matches, KKR has managed as many points. With three more matches to go in the group stage, the defending champions aim at 17 points. While a top-2 finish looks far-fetched from here, KKR have the means left to aim at a spot in the top 4.

Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 so far

Kolkata Knight Riders started their title defense with a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home. In a season where Eden Gardens has rarely played in favor of the home team, KKR have struggled to break into the top half of the IPL 2025 points table. While the team, led by Ajinkya Rahane, managed victories, the wins didn't come as consistently as Kolkata Knight Riders would have hoped for. However, Kolkata favored them in a unique way, giving an extra point in the tough-looking KKR vs PBKS fixture. Put into the mammoth chase of 202, rain played the spoilsport as the match was abandoned, with PBKS and KKR sharing the points.

The defending champions have played six fixtures at home so far, managing to win only two of them. In a batting order that has failed to show up as a collective unit, KKR have relied greatly on skipper Ajinkya Rahane and the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi for victories. Even after attempting to replace Quinton de Kock with Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the opening spot, the top order, barring Rahane, has rarely provided solace. In their last match, the KKR vs RR fixture at home, a blazing knock by Andre Russell at the death ensured that the team raked up a par 200-run total.

With Rahane ruing the lack of spin assistance at home at the start of the season, KKR went on to lose three matches at the venue from there. Their performance away from Kolkata is comparatively better. The team has outplayed the likes of Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals on their turf to keep the points coming. In five matches played away from home, KKR accumulated 6 points to slowly fortify their case for IPL 2025 playoffs contention.

How can KKR qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs from here?

The tussle this season for the top spot is remarkably tight. Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently sit at the top of the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points. However, the 'Q' tag still eludes the top-placed team. Meanwhile, their position at the peak seems temporary as Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans threaten to overtake them with their respective sublime forms. RCB and PBKS have three matches left in the league stage, which they will hope to utilise to aim for a top-2 finish ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have as many as four matches left, with 14 points already in the kitty. A practical look at the points table suggests that there remains only one spot left to take amid the sparkling runs of RCB, PBKS, and GT. Even for the last spot, Mumbai Indians pose a severe threat. The top four placed teams right now, RCB, PBKS, GT, and MI, are currently eyeing a top-2 finish.

Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, need to overtake Delhi Capitals in the race to cement their chances for IPL 2025 playoffs qualification. With 12 points in 10 matches, DC look in a better spot to land a place in the final four. Kolkata Knight Riders need to win every game from here to notch up 17 points, the maximum they can get from this stage. Meanwhile, their NRR needs to improve, as it is currently lower than DC’s. While RCB and PBKS are already at 16 points, KKR need to rely on GT and MI to fumble in their next fixtures and remain stagnant at 14 or, at best, 16.