Desperate KKR target winning formula as LSG come calling

For the fourth evening in a row, and 24 hours ahead of the game, Eden Gardens was covered in white tarp, with rain and winds lashing across the stadium. It has now affected three practice sessions and washed out one fixture. It has also given Kolkata Knight Riders their only point so far.

Lucknow Super Giants conceded the advantage against Delhi Capitals but got on the board against Sunrisers Hyderabad, even if the win wasn't commanding. They would take pride in how their pacers aced the Powerplay, and would have keenly followed how KKR's top order looked under pressure in their brief period of play against PBKS.

Rishabh Pant got going with a fifty, but his slow starts continue to be a trend: since the start of 2024, he has the lowest strike-rate (111.96) among everyone in the first ten balls of an IPL innings. But he did the job in the end, as did their other big Indian name, Mohammed Shami.

KKR's issues are spread out not just across roles, but tactics too. They curiously opted to bat with rain in the air against PBKS. Statistically the strongest spin attack of 2024 and 2025, they had to leave out both Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy from that XI, to illness and injury respectively. With no wins in three games and a net run-rate of -1.964, they need to act fast.

When: KKR vs LSG on April 9, 2026, 7 PM IST

Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

What to expect: More rain? Hopefully not. The weather prediction for the game, specifically during match time, is largely clear. Xavier Bartlett managed to get some early zip from the surface, while SRH effectively employed cutters in the middle overs. The frequent showers may have left the outfield a bit sluggish though.

Head-to-Head: Overall, LSG lead 4-2 over KKR in six games, with a 2-1 advantage at the Eden Gardens

Team Watch

Kolkata Knight Riders

Narine sat out due to abdominal pain against PBKS, falling ill on the morning of the game. He trained on both days ahead of the game, and should be good to go. Chakaravarthy has been recovering from an injury to his left little finger, sustained while attempting a catch. It shouldn't affect his bowling, but a call on him will be taken at the toss. If he doesn't play, KKR might stick with Navdeep Saini, unless they spring a surprise with someone like a Daksh Kamra.

Cameron Green has bowled regularly in the practice sessions, and might finally do the same in a game, having nearly completed Cricket Australia's precautionary window. Matheesha Pathirana continues to be absent.

The Rahane-Shami matchup will be an intriguing clash. In eight IPL innings, Rahane has struck at 164.91, and is yet to be dismissed by his former India teammate. But Shami, too, comes with more to offer this time, having snapped up Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head with a new variation three days ago.

If he's able to negate that phase, Rahane will look to rectify his record against spin: since IPL 2023, he has struck at only 119.93 against them. Before the PBKS clash, he was seen practising the lap sweep repeatedly off Abhishek Nayar's throwdowns, possibly finding ways to expand his game.

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

Team Watch

Lucknow Super Giants

There seem to be no known availability issues, with LSG spin bowling coach Carl Crowe, their representative at the pre-match press conference, refusing to comment when asked. He did say that finding space for Mayank Yadav has been a challenge, given the quality of attack on offer, which hints at the pace attack retaining its current form against KKR as well.

Based on how the surface plays out, they could consider bringing in Shahbaz Ahmed instead of M Siddharth as Impact Player, since he's well-versed with the Eden Gardens.

Tactics & matchups:

Nicholas Pooran is yet to fire in two games, but his record against Narine will give him and LSG confidence going into the game (average 48.25, strike rate 134.02). Against Chakaravarthy, he has struck at 165.21. But his overall numbers post IPL 2025 have taken a hit, striking at 130.11 with a boundary percentage of 15.64, down from 23.6 between January 2024 and IPL 2025.

With another lefty, Pant, batting at three, it's pushed Pooran down to five, but against a weakened KKR bowling attack, he will be hoping to find his mojo, even from down the order.

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

Did you know:

Since IPL 2024, Rishabh Pant has struck at only 117.12 against spin, with a boundary percentage of 14.35

KKR currently have the worst stats for spin in IPL 2026, with an economy of 11.07, a strike rate of 48.5, and a boundary percentage of 25.77

KKR also have the worst economy for seamers across teams (10.83), even though their strike rate (17.5) is the third-best.

What they said:

"We knew a while back that the team has two-three injuries. We were in the camps for a long time, and we had prepared according to the expected combination. When we came here, it became easier for us, because we knew who would bowl where. In the same roles, we played matches, tournaments and practiced as well, so it's now easy for us. Injuries have been a setback, but we need to manage," Kartik Tyagi, on taking added responsibility with injuries in the KKR camp.

"With Digvesh, I'm incredibly impressed by his skill-set, really excited to work with him and when I first talked about coming over to Super Giants and the opportunity to work with Digvesh was really exciting.

"I see a raw, young, highly skilled Indian bowler that's got huge potential. His skills are very exciting and hopefully I can work with him for a long period of time and do whatever I can to help him achieve his potential. But in terms of what I think he's capable of, I think he's capable of playing for India in the future, absolutely, yes," LSG spin-bowling coach Carl Crowe on Digvesh Rathi.