Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens is all set to host its first match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. In the sixth match of the tournament, scheduled for Thursday, April 2, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
KKR will be playing their first home match of the season, and the team will be looking to bounce back from their previous defeat and secure their first points of the campaign. Led by Ajinkya Rahane, the team heads into this match following a disappointing loss at the hands of the Mumbai Indians. Consequently, the team will be hoping for an improved performance against the Hyderabad side—particularly in the bowling department.
SRH, too, began their campaign with a defeat; in the very first match of the tournament, they suffered a loss at the hands of the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore. While much depends on the team's batting unit, a weak bowling line-up remains a cause for concern for this side led by Ishan Kishan. It will be interesting to see which combination they field in their second match.
KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Record
| Matches Played | 30 |
|---|---|
| Won by Kolkata Knight Riders | 19 |
| Won by Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 |
| Tied | 01 |
| No Result | 00 |
KKR vs SRH Player Stats
Highest Score: In the 2025 season, SRH posted a massive total of 278/3 against KKR—the highest score recorded in this rivalry to date.
Sunil Narine: Narine has been the most economical bowler against SRH, consistently maintaining an economy rate below 6.5.
Finn Allen (KKR): The player with the most sixes (52) in T20 cricket in 2026, he is being touted as KKR's 'X-factor' for today's match.
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): Klaasen boasts an excellent record against KKR's spinners; he has scored runs against Varun Chakravarthy at a strike rate of 211.
KKR vs SRH: Playing 11
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing Muzarabani
Impact Player: Kartik Tyagi
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (C & WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga
Impact Player: David Payne
KKR vs SRH: Pitch Report
The pitch at the Eden Gardens has changed its nature over the years. Once known as a track that assisted bowlers more than the batters, the surface here has gradually been doctored to suit the modern era of 20-over cricket, where boundaries flow more often. A similar, batting-friendly track is expected to be dished out on Thursday as well, offering a fest of fours and sixes for the fans.
KKR vs SRH: Probable Best Performers
Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek Sharma is known for hitting the cricket ball with immense power, though his form has been somewhat lackluster in recent times. However, this currently top-ranked T20 batsman from India needs just one solid innings to regain his rhythm and start clearing the boundaries with ease. The Punjab-born player is expected to forge a crucial opening partnership alongside Travis Head, and it will be interesting to observe whether Abhishek makes any adjustments to his playing style.
Varun Chakravarthy: Varun Chakravarthy has achieved immense success in the Indian Premier League thanks to his 'mystery spin,' which has troubled numerous opposition batsmen. Given the large boundaries and conditions conducive to bowling, it is expected that Chakravarthy will be one of the standout performers with the ball at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
CRICKET POINTS TABLE - Indian Premier League (IPL 2026)
| No | Team | M | W | L | T | NR | NRR | Pts | Recent Forms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +4.171 | 2 | W |
| 2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2.907 | 2 | W |
| 3 | Delhi Capitals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1.397 | 2 | W |
| 4 | Mumbai Indians | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.687 | 2 | W |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.509 | 2 | W |
| 6 | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.509 | 0 | L |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.687 | 0 | L |
| 8 | Lucknow Super Giants | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.397 | 0 | L |
| 9 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2.907 | 0 | L |
| 10 | Chennai Super Kings | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4.171 | 0 | L |
| M: Matches, W: Won, L: Lost, T: Tie, NR: No Result, NRR: Net Run Rate, Pts: Points, Q: Qualified, E: Eliminate Recent Forms: W = Won, L = Lost, T = Tie, D = Draw, NR = No Result Last updated on 02-Apr-2026, 09:33 AM | |||||||||
