Persistent rain continues to disrupt proceedings at Eden Gardens, with the iconic venue remaining under covers for the fourth consecutive evening ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash. Unpredictable weather has already washed out one match and curtailed multiple practice sessions, leaving the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with just a solitary point so far this season. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), meanwhile, have had a mixed start.
After letting a winning position slip against the Delhi Capitals, they bounced back with a hard-fought win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the victory lacked dominance, LSG’s pace attack stood out, especially in the Powerplay. Their bowlers executed plans effectively, and the team management would have taken note of KKR’s fragile top order, which struggled under pressure in their rain-hit outing against Punjab Kings.
A key positive for Lucknow has been Rishabh Pant, who recently registered a composed half-century. However, his slow starts remain a concern. Since the start of 2024, Pant has recorded one of the lowest strike rates in the first 10 balls of an IPL innings. Despite that, his ability to anchor and finish innings has been crucial. Alongside him, Mohammed Shami has delivered with the ball, adding experience and control.
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For Kolkata Knight Riders, the concerns run deeper. Tactical decisions, including opting to bat first in overcast conditions, have backfired. Their usual reliable spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, were unavailable due to illness and injury, further weakening the side. With no wins in three games and a worrying net run-rate, KKR are under pressure to respond quickly.
The good news is that the weather forecast for match time looks clearer, although the outfield may remain slightly slow due to recent showers. Historically, LSG hold a 4-2 advantage over KKR, including a 2-1 record at Eden Gardens, giving them a slight edge heading into this crucial encounter.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Kolkata Knight Riders could receive a timely boost ahead of their next IPL 2026 clash, with Sunil Narine likely to return after missing the previous game against Punjab Kings due to abdominal discomfort. The all-rounder reportedly fell ill on match day but has since trained over the past two days and is expected to be fit for selection.
There is cautious optimism around Varun Chakaravarthy as well. The mystery spinner is recovering from a left little finger injury sustained while attempting a catch. While the injury is not expected to affect his bowling, the final decision on his availability will be taken at the toss. If he misses out, KKR could persist with Navdeep Saini, though an outside option like Daksh Kamra remains in contention.
On the other side, Cameron Green has been steadily building up his workload in training and could be cleared to bowl in a match soon, nearing the end of Cricket Australia’s precautionary restrictions. However, Matheesha Pathirana remains unavailable.
Probable XII: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy/Navdeep Saini, Blessing Muzarabani, Vaibhav Arora
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Lucknow Super Giants appear to have a relatively settled squad. Spin bowling coach Carl Crowe remained tight-lipped on team combinations but hinted at the challenge of accommodating young pacer Mayank Yadav, given the strong pace attack already in place. Depending on pitch conditions at Eden Gardens, LSG may consider bringing in Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Player, especially given his familiarity with the venue.
Probable XII: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Shahbaz Ahmed/M Siddharth, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi
