The Kolkata Knight Riders came into the IPL 2025 season as defending champions, chasing their fourth title. Led by Ajinkya Rahane, it’s been an up-and-down campaign so far.
They got off to a rough start, losing their opening match at home to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets. But they bounced back nicely with a win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their next game. Now, as of May 4, both RR and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are out of the playoff race, which leaves eight teams still in the hunt including KKR.
Where KKR Stands Right Now
- Wins: 5
- No Result: 1
- Total Points: 11
- Net Run Rate: +0.249
- Current Position: 6th
- Matches Left: 3
What KKR Needs to Reach the Playoffs
Since the IPL moved to a 10-team format in 2022, this is how things usually shake out when it comes to qualifying:
- 16 points (8 wins): Almost always enough to qualify
- 14 points (7 wins): Usually enough, but NRR and other results matter
- 12 points (6 wins): Very rare, only happened once (SRH in 2019)
So, for KKR:
- If they win all 3 remaining matches → They’ll finish on 17 points and are almost guaranteed a playoff spot—possibly even a top-two finish.
- If they win 2 out of 3 → They’ll end with 15 points, which should be enough, but they’ll have to keep an eye on how other teams like DC, PBKS, and LSG perform.
KKR’s Upcoming Matches
- May 7 vs CSK – at Eden Gardens
- May 10 vs SRH – in Hyderabad
- May 17 vs RCB – in Bengaluru
Every one of these games is massive now, especially the last two.
What Other Teams Are Doing (and Why It Matters to KKR)
KKR’s playoff chances don’t just depend on their own results, they also need to keep an eye on what these teams are doing:
Delhi Capitals (DC) – 12 points, 4 matches left
If DC lose 2 or more, KKR can finish above them with 15 points.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) – 13 points, 4 matches left
If PBKS drop 2 games, they’ll likely finish on 15 or less, giving KKR a chance to sneak ahead (especially with a better NRR).
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – 10 points, 4 matches left
LSG can still reach 18, but if they lose 2 matches, they’ll be stuck on 14 or 16 opening a door for KKR.
Bottom Line for KKR
To stay in the playoff race, KKR really needs to win at least two of their final three matches. Here’s how each game looks:
- vs CSK – CSK are already knocked out, but could still play spoiler.
- vs SRH – A must-win game against a fellow mid-table team.
- vs RCB – Possibly a playoff decider. RCB are currently top of the table, so this one could be huge.
KKR’s fate is still in their hands but just barely. Win all three, and they’re in. Win two, and they’re likely through. Anything less, and they’ll be watching the scoreboard and hoping for a miracle.
