The excitement for IPL 2026 is at its peak, as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are all set to face off in the tournament's 70th match at Kolkata's historic Eden Gardens.
Kolkata Knight Riders' playoff hopes hinge on how Rajasthan Royals perform against Mumbai Indians in Match 69. If RR wins, KKR will be eliminated from the tournament. Even if RR loses, the only way for KKR to keep their hopes alive would be to defeat the Delhi team by a significant margin, thereby taking their total points tally to 15.
Delhi Capitals also have a slim chance of securing a spot in the playoffs. If they win against KKR, they will reach 14 points; however, they would also need to hope that the results of other matches go in their favor.
KKR vs DC: Head-to-Head Record
- Total matches played: 34
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won: 18
- Delhi Capitals (DC) won: 15
- No result: 1
KKR vs DC Predicted Playing 11s
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Ajinkya Rahane(c), Tejasvi Dahiya (wk), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Saurabh Dubey
Impact Player: Finn Allen
Delhi Capitals (DC)
KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel(c), Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma
KKR vs DC Player Stats
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Finn Allen: In the previous match against Delhi, he played a magnificent innings of 100 runs off just 47 balls—including 10 sixes—and is currently in tremendous form.
- Sunil Narine: In the previous match against Delhi, he delivered a highly economical bowling spell, conceding just 17 runs in 4 overs while also claiming 1 wicket. His economy rate on the Eden Gardens pitch has consistently been excellent.
- Kartik Tyagi: In the previous match, he delivered a stellar performance with his fast bowling, taking 2 crucial wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs. He proves to be a key weapon for KKR during the death overs.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Pathum Nissanka: In the previous match where Delhi's top-order batsmen were struggling Nissanka played a gritty innings of 50 runs off just 29 balls.
- Ashutosh Sharma: Renowned for his ability to score runs rapidly in the lower order, Ashutosh scored 39 runs off 28 balls in the last match. He will play the role of a match-finisher for Delhi.
- Axar Patel: All-rounder Axar Patel is Delhi's most dependable player. In the previous match, he not only scored 27 runs with the bat but also claimed a wicket with the ball.
KKR vs DC Pitch Report
At Kolkata's famous Eden Gardens, teams typically prefer to chase. The outfield at this venue is also very fast, which further clarifies why batsmen are so fond of the pitches here. However, this season, the pitch has offered some assistance to spinners. The ball tends to hold up slightly, and a skilled spinner can effectively capitalize on these conditions.
KKR vs DC Probable Best Performers
Finn Allen
New Zealand's enigmatic opener, Finn Allen, will be a batsman to watch in this high-octane clash at Eden Gardens. Allen has been one of the key reasons behind KKR's late resurgence in IPL 2026. If he continues to bat beyond the Powerplay overs, this right-handed batsman could wreak havoc with his bat.
Mitchell Starc
Australia's premier fast bowler, Mitchell Starc, has been the team's standout bowler since joining DC in IPL 2026. This left-arm pacer has previously played for KKR and is well-acquainted with the conditions at Eden Gardens. He has claimed six wickets in the last two matches and will now look to further increase this tally.
Also Read: Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing in today match against RR in IPL 2026?
