Match 39 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 brings an exciting face-off between the table-toppers Gujarat Titans and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata this Monday.

With five wins in seven matches, Gujarat Titans — the 2022 IPL champions — sit comfortably at the top of the table with 10 points. Their dominance is underlined by the best Net Run Rate (NRR) in the league so far — +0.984 — showcasing their comprehensive performances across departments.

On the flip side, Kolkata Knight Riders have had a bumpy campaign. After kicking off IPL 2025 with a loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home, KKR has alternated between wins and losses in their next matches. With three victories and four defeats, they currently hold six points and are placed seventh on the points table — a spot they’ll be eager to improve.

Titans in Form

Gujarat’s core looks strong and stable. Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler have been the mainstay of their batting line-up. On the bowling front, Prasidh Krishna, the current Purple Cap holder, has been in excellent rhythm, while Rashid Khan is expected to soon return to peak form in the middle overs. With a balanced squad, Gujarat appears to be on track for not just a playoff spot, but possibly a top-two finish.

KKR’s Middle Order Under the Scanner

KKR’s key concern this season has been their inconsistent middle order. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi have shown flashes of brilliance, but the team needs more reliable contributions from senior players like Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell. To compete with a high-flying Gujarat side, KKR’s middle order will need to step up.

Predicted Playing XIs

Gujarat Titans (GT):
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, R Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
Impact Sub: Ishant Sharma

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Sub: Anrich Nortje

Complete Squads

Gujarat Titans:
Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Arshad Khan, R Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Dasun Shanaka, Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Gerald Coetzee, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu, Karim Janat, Kumar Kushagra

Kolkata Knight Riders:
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anrich Nortje, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Anukul Roy, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodia, Manish Pandey