Kolkata Knight Riders got off to a horror start to their IPL 2026 campaign, losing their first two matches. They will have their task accomplished when they take on the Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens on Monday. In 2012, KKR also started with defeats before going on to win the title. But that 2012 side, which featured Jacques Kallis, Shakib Al Hasan and Gautam Gambhir, had a very different level of pedigree and experience.
This KKR side, on the other hand, is full of apprehensions. As if the injury problems weren’t enough, they are also struggling with their combination, with Cameron Green’s inability to step up hurting the balance of the XI. To make matters worse, the threat of rain also looms over the contest, with the weather likely to affect the game just like it did last year in Kolkata when the two teams met.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, got off to a stark contrast. Last season’s runners-up won both of their matches and will be looking for a third win in a row to go top of the table. Shreyas Iyer’s familiarity with KKR could also work in Punjab’s favour.
WILL KOLKATA BRING IN EXTRA DOUGH?
Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling with their combination. Courtesy: AP
After the defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ajinkya Rahane admitted as much Kolkata Knight Riders may have to consider playing an extra batting — and it’s easy to see why. KKR were bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs. Even Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that they need to add more batter, especially with Cameron Green currently unable to bowl.
Green can be a big money signing but if he is not contributing with the ball, KKR need someone who can strengthen the lower order and improve the balance of the XI.
So who could they turn to? An exciting, if slightly risky, option is importing Tejasvi Singh into the Delhi Premier League. In DPL 2025, he scored 339 runs in just 10 innings at a strike rate of over 190 and finished as the second highest sixth hitter of the tournament with 29 maximums. His standout moment came in a rain-soaked chase when he smashed 69 off just 21 balls, including a record 12-ball fifty – the fastest in DPL history.
Rahul Tripathi and Manish Pandey also bring valuable experience and could be considered, especially given their familiarity with the franchise. Once Green starts bowling, KKR will have a lot more breathing room. But until then, if he continues as a special batsman, the Knight Riders need to strike the right balance between strengthening their batting and not weakening their bowling attack.
WHEN DOES GREEN BOWLING START?
Cameron Green has been in the net for Kolkata Knight Riders but is yet to score in the two matches they have played so far. KKR bowling coach Tim Southee gave an update and said that the franchise is closely monitoring his rehabilitation from the back injury.
“Yeah, Green has been bowling well, he’s been following his rehab and getting back to playing in games. He’ll continue to do that,” Southee told the pre-match press conference.
KKR might not have felt Green’s absence with the ball so acutely if they had the likes of Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana or Harshit Rana at their disposal. Kolkata’s attack, especially in the pace department, has been badly depleted and this could again be a big problem against a Punjab batting unit loaded with firepower.
CAN PUNJAB CONTINUE THEIR IMPRESSIVE RUN?
While Kolkata continue to struggle, the Punjab Kings needn’t worry. They started their campaign with a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans before following it up with a five-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings. Most of their batting is in great form and they will be eyeing another strong total at Eden Gardens where the conditions are expected to be batting friendly.
The focus will be on Cooper Connolly who has made an impressive start to his IPL career. In the bowling department, Xavier Bartlett and Arshdeep Singh will be key in the pace attack, while Yuzvendra Chahal will hold the key with the spin. Vijaykumar Vyshak has also been among the wickets and in Marco Jansen, Punjab have one of the world’s leading all-rounders. PBKS are unbeaten in IPL 2026. Courtesy: AP
KOLKATA: RANGE AND CONDITIONS
The pitch at Eden Gardens has traditionally been excellent for batsmen, but the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders showed that the bowlers can also have a say if they consistently hit the right channels. If any side manages to post 200-plus runs first, it could be difficult for the opposition to chase them down.
According to the IMD weather bulletin, rain remains the main threat to the match and could even force a shortened contest. Both teams had their scheduled training sessions interrupted on the eve of the match after a heavy afternoon shower left the Eden Gardens pitch under cover and waterlogged patches were still visible. Temperatures are likely to stay around 25°C, with cloudy skies expected.
KKR vs PBKS: HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Knight Riders have dominated the Kings over the years, winning 21 of 35 games, losing 13, with one game being swept. At the Eden Gardens, KKR won nine out of 14 matches against PBKS. In their previous completed match, PBKS beat KKR by 16 runs after bowling out their opponents for 95 and defending 111.
KKR vs PBKS: Predicted XI
KKR Predicted XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy/Tejasvi Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani.
Impact Sub: Find Allen
PBKS Expected XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Sub: Priyansh Arya
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
06 Apr 2026 13:11 IST
