IPL 2025: Why are Moeen Ali and Lockie Ferguson not playing in PBKS vs KKR Match 31?

On Tuesday, April 15, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will engage in a high-stakes match without Moeen Ali and Lockie Ferguson.

As they enter this match, KKR has just defeated Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets at Chepauk on April 11. Their record after six games is three victories and an equal number of losses. The Punjab Kings, meanwhile, have won three of their five IPL 2025 games and lost two. On April 12, they were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad by a heartbreaking eight wickets after failing to defend a target of 246 runs.

PBKS vs KKR, Match 31 – Toss Update

Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first. He pointed out that the wicket has been good for batting, and even when there is dew, the outfield doesn’t skid through. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said that he would have bowled first had he won the toss. He backed his batters to chase down any target that PBKS puts on.

Moeen Ali makes way for Anrich Nortje, Xavier Bartlett makes IPL debut

Anrich Nortje is set to make his debut for KKR. After waiting in the wings for the first six matches, the South African speedster has been brought into the playing XI. He replaces Moeen Ali. Meanwhile, the Punjab Kings will miss the services of Marcus Stoinis in this clash. Josh Inglis replaces his compatriot in the side. On the other hand, Lockie Ferguson is set to miss at least a major part of IPL 2025 after suffering an injury in the last game as per reports. He has been replaced by Australian seamer Xavier Bartlett, who is making his IPL debut.

PBKS vs KKR, Match 31 – What did the captains say?

Shreyas Iyer, PBKS captain

We are going to bat first. Feel the wicket has been really well for the last couple of matches, the dew comes in but the outfield doesn’t skid through. Don’t remember the team changes, I will tell later. We need to take as many catches in the fielding and create some sort of brilliance.

Ajinkya Rahane, KKR captain

We were looking to bowl first on this wicket. For me, toss is something you cannot control. We have a batting that can chase the target. Just one change. Nortje comes in for Moeen Ali. He has been working hard on his game and I am really looking forward to see him bowl tonight.

PBKS vs KKR, Match 31 – Playing 11s

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Josh Inglis, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact Subs: Yash Thakur, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak

Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Impact Subs: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia