The IPL 2025 season is heating up, and we’ve got a cracking matchup on our hands as Punjab Kings (PBKS) take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 31 on April 15 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. The action kicks off at 7:30 PM IST, and fantasy cricket fans are already buzzing with predictions, captaincy picks, and Dream11 strategies.
Let’s break it all down for you—from who’s hot and who’s not, to who might just win it all.
Match Preview: PBKS vs KKR – Clash of Mid-Table Giants
Both teams are hanging around the middle of the points table, making this a must-win game for momentum.
- Punjab Kings: 6th on the table, 3 wins out of 5 games
- Kolkata Knight Riders: 5th place, 3 wins in 6 matches
PBKS will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite the defeat, Shreyas Iyer was a bright spot, smashing a classy 82. Meanwhile, KKR is riding high after an 8-wicket win over CSK, powered by Sunil Narine, who scored 44 and picked up 3 wickets. Vintage Narine vibes, right?
Head-to-Head: KKR Has the Upper Hand
When it comes to history, KKR leads the PBKS vs KKR rivalry with a solid 21 wins out of 33 matches. PBKS has managed 12 wins, but they’ll be eager to turn that around at home.
Pitch & Weather Report: What to Expect in Mullanpur
- Weather: Clear skies and around 28°C—ideal for a night game
- Pitch: Batting-friendly with a bit of help for pacers
- Average 1st Innings Score: 181
- Chasing teams have struggled here, winning just 35% of the time
So yeah, winning the toss and batting first might be the way to go.
Read More :- IPL 2025: LSG vs CSK Match 30 Preview – Fantasy Tips, Probable XIs, Pitch Report, Captain Picks & More
Probable Playing XIs
Punjab Kings (Predicted):
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Kolkata Knight Riders (Predicted):
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips: PBKS vs KKR
Hot Picks
- Sunil Narine (KKR) – 44 runs + 3 wickets in the last match. Enough said.
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) – Solid form and captaincy material.
- Priyansh Arya (PBKS) – Fresh face, promising start, and a budget-friendly steal.
Top Captaincy Picks
- Captain: Sunil Narine or Priyansh Arya
- Vice-Captain: Shreyas Iyer or Quinton de Kock
Dream11 Prediction Teams
Dream11 Team 1:
- Keepers: Quinton de Kock, Prabhsimran Singh
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer (vc), Ajinkya Rahane, Priyansh Arya
- All-Rounders: Sunil Narine (c), Glenn Maxwell, Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana
Dream11 Team 2:
- Keepers: Quinton de Kock (vc), Prabhsimran Singh
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyansh Arya (c)
- All-Rounders: Sunil Narine, Glenn Maxwell, Moeen Ali
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana
Players to Avoid in Dream11 Today
- Josh Inglis – Didn’t play the last match
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Also missed the last game
Unless you’re feeling super risky, probably best to leave them out.
Expert Tips & Match Winner Prediction
- SL (Small League) Captaincy Pick: Sunil Narine
- GL (Grand League) Wildcard: Priyansh Arya
- Punt Picks: Marcus Stoinis & Arshdeep Singh
- Team Combo Suggestion: 2 Wkts – 3 Bats – 4 All-rounders – 2 Bowlers
Who Will Win PBKS vs KKR?
Punjab Kings might just edge this one out. Their squad is looking well-balanced, and if their top order clicks, it could be game over for KKR.
Stay tuned for live updates, post-match analysis, and more fantasy tips
