Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Prediction & Match Preview – IPL 2026 25th Match

Gujarat Titans host Kolkata Knight Riders in the 25th match of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, 17 April, with play starting at 7:30 pm local time.

Gujarat started with defeats to Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals before beating Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, restricting Lucknow to 164/8 and chasing it with ease. Shubman Gill has 165 runs in three matches at an average of 55, and has scored 185 in four games against Kolkata. Jos Buttler has found his rhythm with 60 off 37 and 52 off 27, and Sai Sudharsan is steady at the top. Prasidh Krishna has ten wickets in four matches, Rashid Khan has five at an economy of 6.87, and young pacer Ashok Sharma is regularly touching 150 km/h. Kagiso Rabada has been inconsistent, so Jason Holder could come in.

Kolkata’s lone point came from a washed-out match against Punjab, and they are bottom with a net run rate of -1.383. Angkrish Raghuvanshi leads their scoring with 182 runs, Ajinkya Rahane has 152, and Finn Allen has managed just 81, so Tim Seifert could be an option. Vaibhav Arora has six wickets, though he has been expensive, and the spin trio of Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy remains their strength. Gujarat’s form and balance make them our preview’s pick.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

Ahmedabad’s surface is generally even, with true bounce and a quick outfield that lets batters back their shots, so T20 totals of 170–200 or more are common. Seamers can find some movement with the new ball, though the pitch settles and it becomes easier to bat. Spinners come into play in the middle overs as it slows a little, and large boundaries reward timing over raw power. Dew can help chasing sides in evening games.

Weather

A hot, dry evening is expected in Ahmedabad, with temperatures of about 31–33°C, mostly clear skies with some haze and moderate humidity. Only a light breeze is expected, and rain is very unlikely, so full play is likely.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 175–195
• 2nd innings: 165–185

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