Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be eyeing their third win on the trot in the IPL 2026 as they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday. Shreyas Iyer and co. started their campaign on a winning note by defeating GT by 3 wickets in their season opener following which they handed CSK a 5-wicket loss.
KKR, on the other hand, lost to MI and SRH are at 9th position on the points table. PBKS will be eager to climb back to the top of the points table with a win against KKR on Monday while the latter will be aiming to finally open their account in the ongoing season.
KKR vs PBKS Match Details
- Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Match 12, IPL 2026
- Date: April 6, 2026 (Monday)
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
KKR vs PBKS Preview
Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves in early-season trouble. After two matches, they are yet to open their account, having suffered a heavy 65-run defeat to SRH in their last home outing. The major concern for KKR remains their bowling depth; with Harshit Rana out for the season and Matheesha Pathirana still regaining fitness, the attack looks thin. Furthermore, their ₹25.2 crore signing, Cameron Green, is under pressure to deliver after a slow start with the bat.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings are the early pace-setters of IPL 2026. They arrive in Kolkata after a clinical chase against CSK at Chepauk. The homecoming of Shreyas Iyer adds a spicy subplot to the fixture, as the man who led KKR to the 2024 title now looks to haunt them in their own backyard. With the explosive Priyansh Arya at the top and Marcus Stoinis providing middle-order muscle, PBKS look like a well-oiled machine.
KKR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 35
- KKR Won: 21
- PBKS Won: 13
- No Result: 1
While KKR holds a dominant historical lead, PBKS has won three of the last five encounters between the two sides.
KKR vs PBKS Pitch & Weather Report
The Eden Gardens surface has shown signs of grip for the spinners in the middle overs, but remains a batting paradise once the dew sets in. A high-scoring encounter is expected, with a par score of around 190–200.
Weather: Kolkata is expected to be hot and humid (34°C) with a 17-20% chance of a passing thunderstorm. Dew is expected to play a major role from the 12th over onwards.
KKR vs PBKS Probable XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen (wk), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing Muzarabani, Anukul Roy.
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett.
Who will win KKR vs PBKS today?
Despite KKR’s home advantage and Sunil Narine’s incredible record of 36 wickets against Punjab, the Punjab Kings enter as favorites. Their bowling attack, featuring Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, looks far more balanced than KKR’s depleted unit. Additionally, the momentum of two consecutive wins makes PBKS the side to beat.
Match Prediction: Punjab Kings to win Match 12 of IPL 2026.
