New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be looking to spark a turnaround when they lock horns with an in-form Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens
in Kolkata in their third game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Monday, April 06. KKR have been winless in their first two matches of the season, losing two in a row.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side lost to the Mumbai Indians by six wickets in their opening game of the season before suffering a crushing 65-run defeat in their last game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens. KKR will hope to snap their losing streak at home, but it will take a mighty effort against the Punjab Kings, who have once again started the season strongly.
Iyer-led Punjab Kings, who finished runners-up last season, have won their first two matches in the competition so far this year. Punjab Kings defeated the Gujarat Titans in their opener before beating the Chennai Super Kings comprehensively in their last game in Chennai. PBKS are one of the most balanced sides in the tournament and have been showcasing their dominance once again this season.
While Punjab Kings have already nailed a perfect combination, KKR are still struggling to find an ideal playing XI in the absence of their frontline pacers – Harshit Rana, Matheesha Pathirana and Akash Deep, who are all out injured. KKR replaced Mustafizur Rahman with Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, but the pacer has failed to inspire his side to their maiden win in IPL 2026 so far.
KKR’s batting struggles have also been well documented. Despite captain Ajinkya Rahane managing to shut his strike rate critics, KKR’s batting has lacked the edge. With the likes of Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra and Rovman Powell warming the bench, it remains to be seen if KKR will make a change in their batting line-up against KKR in a bid to bounce back.
KKR vs PBKS head-to-head:
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the head-to-head record against Punjab Kings 21-13. The two teams have locked horns in 35 matches in the IPL. KKR have won 21 matches while PBKS have managed 13 wins against the three-time champions. One match between the two sides ended in a no result.
KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026 pitch report:
The pitch at the Eden Gardens is expected to be a batting-friendly one with spinners coming into play as the game progresses. In the last game at the venue, SRH bashed KKR bowlers to post a strong total of 226 runs on the board before bowling out the hosts for 161 in their run chase. Pacers dominated the proceedings from both sides.
KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026 weather report:
The weather in Kolkata is unpredictable at present. There is a slight chance of rain playing spoilsport at the start of play during the KKR vs PBKS clash on Monday. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted in Kolkata in the evening on Monday. However, the rain won’t last long, and a full contest is on the cards.
KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026 live streaming details:
The live telecast of the IPL 2026 match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings will be available on the Star Sports Network in India. The live streaming of the KKR vs PBKS match will be available on the JioHotstar app and the website.
