The 12th match of IPL 2026 will be played on Monday, April 6, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This match will feature a thrilling contest between bat and ball as the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Punjab Kings. The Kolkata Knight Riders' performance has been rather lackluster in recent times; they have suffered defeats in both matches played so far this season.
They began their campaign with a loss against the Mumbai Indians, followed by another defeat at the hands of the Sunrisers Hyderabad. As they attempt to steer their campaign back onto a winning path, Kolkata will undoubtedly be hoping that the home crowd turns out to cheer them on.The Punjab Kings have delivered an exceptionally brilliant performance in IPL 2026, impressing everyone not only with their gameplay but also with their strategic acumen. After opening their account by successfully chasing down a target in the final over against the Gujarat Titans, the Punjab Kings secured a major victory against the Chennai Super Kings in Chennai. They will now be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins.
KKR vs PBKS: Head-to-Head T20 Record
Kolkata Knight Riders have a very strong head-to-head record against Punjab Kings. Out of 35 matches, Kolkata has won 21, Punjab has won 13, and one match ended without a result.
| Matches Played | 35 |
|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders Wins | 21 |
| Punjab Kings Wins | 13 |
| Ties | 00 |
| No Result | 01 |
| First Match | May 03, 2008 |
| Most Recent Match | April 26, 2025 |
KKR vs PBKS Playing 11 & Impact Players
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Possible Playing 11: 1. Ajinkya Rahane(C), 2. Finn Allen(WK), 3. Angkrish Raghuvanshi(WK), 4. Cameron Green, 5. Rinku Singh, 6. Ramandeep Singh, 7. Anukul Roy, 8. Sunil Narine, 9. Kartik Tyagi, 10. Varun Chakaravarthy, 11. Blessing Muzarabani/Vaibhav Arora
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Possible Playing 11: 1. Prabhsimran Singh(WK), 2. Priyansh Arya, 3. Cooper Connolly, 4. Shreyas Iyer(C), 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Shashank Singh, 7. Marcus Stoinis, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Vyshak Vijaykumar, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Arshdeep Singh/Xavier Bartlett
KKR vs PBKS Player Stats
- Priyansh Arya (PBKS): This young batsman from Punjab created a sensation in the last match against CSK by smashing 39 runs off just 11 balls.
- Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS): With 5 wickets in 2 matches, he is currently leading the race for the Purple Cap.
- Blessing Muzarabani (KKR): This Zimbabwean pacer claimed 4 wickets in the last match against SRH. He is the sole shining light in KKR's otherwise weak bowling attack.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): He proved his form in the last match by playing a gritty innings of 52 runs.
- Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): Against his former team, KKR, Shreyas Iyer (who scored 50 runs in the last match) will be looking to play a big innings.
KKR vs PBKS Pitch Report
Kolkata's Eden Gardens is one of the country's most renowned stadiums, and whenever a match takes place here between KKR and PBKS, a veritable deluge of runs is expected from both sides. In recent times, the boundary distances have been shortened; nevertheless, this ground remains one of those challenging venues where clearing the boundary is no easy feat. However, for spinners—particularly those who do not hesitate to give the ball a little extra 'flight'—this pitch is set to prove immensely rewarding.
KKR vs PBKS Probable Best Performers
Shreyas Iyer
PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer has been one of the standout batsmen of the week. He scored a crucial half-century against the Chennai Super Kings, thanks to which his team successfully chased down the target in spectacular fashion in Chennai. If he continues to strike the ball with this same intensity, he could prove to be the decisive factor standing between the host team and victory.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy has struggled considerably to find his form in the ongoing season; the mystery spinner has conceded a significant number of runs in both matches played so far. However, he is well-acquainted with the conditions at Eden Gardens and has enjoyed considerable success at this venue. Given the favorable nature of the wicket, Chakravarthy possesses the full potential to turn the tide of the match in his favor on Monday.
Also Read: Who is Ashok Sharma, who bowled the fastest delivery of IPL 2026?
