IPL 2026 Updates: Clinical Punjab trounce LSG by 54 runs

Sun, 19 April 2026

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23:45

Arya, Connolly fashion Punjab's commanding win

LSG 200-5 (20 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7

Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly slammed 93 and 87 respectively as Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs in Mullanpur.

Arya and Connolly added 182 runs in just 13.2 overs for a massively entertaining second wicket stand for PBKS, as they tallied 254/7, this IPL season's highest total, going past RCB's 250 for three.

LSG managed to dismiss the duo and Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer in quick succession but the home team had already built a superb launching pad by then for Marcus Stoinis (29) to cash in.

In reply, LSG could manage just 200 for 5 in 20 overs with skipper Rishabh Pant (43), opener Mitchell Marsh (40) and Aiden Markram (42) providing some resistance.

Punjab remain at the top of the table with 11 points from six games while LSG are placed eighth with four points.

23:29

Clinical Punjab trounce LSG by 54 runs

LSG 200-5 (20 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Xavier Bartlett to bowl the penultimate over and Aiden Markram hits him for back-to-boundaries off the first two balls.

Bartlett then bangs one in short and is called a wide.

Markram squeezes a yorker out to long-on and gets a single.

Dropped! Shashank is having a terrible day on the field as he spills a regulation catch. Two runs taken.

A dot and a single to long-on to end the over.

13 runs came off it.

LSG need 63 off the final over.

Marco Jansen to bowl the final over and Choudhary swats one to deep mid-wicket and gets a single.

Markram then works one down to long-on for a single.

Dropped! Choudhary top-edges one and the ball stays in the air for a long time and the keeper gets underneath it but spills. A single is taken.

Out! Markram is out, caught by Marco Jansen.

Markram goes for 42 off 22 balls with three boundaries and sixes each.

Himmat Singh comes to the crease to face possibly the final delivery of the match.

A single off the final ball as Punjab thrash LSG by 54 runs to keep their unbeaten run intact.

23:13

LSG need 76 off 12 balls

LSG 179-4 (18 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Vijayakumar Vyshak with his final over and Aiden Markram drives the low full toss down the ground and gets a single.

Mukul Choudhary then pulls off the helicopter shot and dispatches one into the crowd for a maximum.

Follows it up with a single through deep square leg.

Third shot-ball of the over and is called a no-ball.

No run off the free-hit as Markram fails to connect. 9 runs came off the over.

LSG need 88 off 18 balls.

Arshdeep Singh with his final over and Choudhary plays out a dot before outside-edges one to third-man boundary.

A dot and a single through deep backward point follow.

Six! Markram smokes one over sweeper cover as Shashank Singh watches on.

A single through long-on to end the over. 12 runs came off it.

23:02

LSG need 97 off 24 balls

LSG 158-4 (16 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Marco Jansen is back into the attack and Aiden Markram gets a single off the first delivery by flicking one to deep square leg.

Out! Nicholas Pooran departs, caught by Shreyas Iyer. Pooran's poor run continues as he mistimes one to long-on while looking for a big shot.

He goes for nine off as many ball with one hit to the fence.

Mukul Choudhary comes to the crease and a dot later, gets off the mark with a single through mid-wicket.

Markram then steers one to backward point and gets off the strike.

Another single to end the over. Just four runs came off it.

LSG need 113 off 30 balls.

Xavier Bartlett is back into the attack and Markram and Choudhary pick up three single off the first three balls.

Markram then hits back-to-back sixes before finishing the over with a single.

16 runs came off the over.

22:53

Pant falls; LSG in deep trouble

LSG 138-3 (14 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Arshdeep Singh is back into the attack and Rishabh Pant drives one to long-on and gets a single.

Nicholas Pooran then clips one off his pads and picks up a couple.

A wide down the leg follows.

Pooran then sweeps one to deep mid-wicket and gets a single.

Out! Pant departs, caught by Prabhsimran Singh. Pant reviews but there is clear deflection and the on-field decision stands. A wide yorker and Pant kneels down to scoops but edges it to the keeper.

Pant goes for 43 off 23 balls with one boundary and four sixes.

Aiden Markram comes to the crease and gets off the mark by playing one down the ground for a single.

Four! Pooran finishes the over with a boundary through third man.

10 runs came off the over.

Yuzvendra Chahal is bowling out and Markram gets a single by inside-edging one to leg-side.

A dot later, Pooran taps the full delivery past the bowler and gets a single.

A single through long-on follows.

Dropped! Shashank Singh drops a tough chance off Pooran. Googly around off and Pooran sweeps but top-edges it to deep square leg but Shashank misjudges it completely. A single is taken.

A single through deep mid-wicket to end the over.

Just five runs came off it. Chahal finishes his quota with brilliant figures of 1/36.

22:40

Marsh departs; Punjab on top

LSG 123-2 (12 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Vijjakumar Vyshak continues and starts off with a wide down the leg.

Four! Rishabh Pant kneels down and smashes the slower delivery wide of long-on for a boundary.

A single and a dot follow.

Marsh then miscues a full toss to long-off and gets a single.

Two dots to end the over. Seven runs came off it.

Yuzvendra Chahal continues and he strikes! Marsh departs, caught by Xavier Bartlett. Flighted delivery and Marsh kneels down and drags it to leg-side but fails to get the elevation and the ball goes straight to Bartlett at long-on.

Marsh goes for 40 off 28 balls with three boundaries and two sixes.

Nicholas Pooran is the new man in and gets off the strike with a single (leg byes).

Six! Pant hammers one down the ground and Priyansh Arya catches it and throws back into play but has stepped onto the boundary cushion.

Follows it up with a single through deep mid-wicket.

Appeal for LBW and Pooran survives as the ball was pitching outside leg.

A dot to end the over. 14 runs came off it.

22:26

Marsh, Pant keep LSG in the hunt

LSG 102-1 (10 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Vijayakumar Vyshak is back into the attack and starts off with a slow bouncer which is called a wide.

Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant then rotate the strike with two singles.

Another single through long-on follows.

A wide later, Pant slices one through off-side and gets a single.

Two more singles off the final two deliveries off the 8-run over.

Yuzvendra Chahal continues and Pant reaches out to a wide delivery outside off but edges it to point. No run on offer.

Pant and Marsh take five singles off the next five balls. Just five runs came off it.

LSG are 102/1 at the half-way mark.

22:17

Marsh, Pant keep LSG in the hunt

LSG 89-1 (8 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Rishabh Pant is the new man in.

Marco Jansen continues and Mitchell Marsh attempts to pull a shortish delivery but mistimes it to backward square leg for a single.

Pant then gets off the mark with a single through long long.

Another single follows.

Six! Full delivery on stumps and Pant bludgeons it over wide of long-on for a maximum.

Six more! Pant dances down and goes one-handed and dispatches the straight down the ground.

A dot to end the over. 15 runs came off it.

Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack and Marsh pulls one to long-on and gets a single.

Pant is on strike and he taps one to the gap in the mid-wicket area and picks up a couple.

A couple more follows, this time by sweeping a flighted delivery in front of square.

A single through short fine leg brings Marsh on strike.

Six! Marsh slog-sweeps one over cow corner for a maximum.

A single to point to end the over. 13 runs came off it.

22:06

Badoni departs; LSG one down

LSG 61-1 (6 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Marco Jansen comes into the attack and Ayush Badoni guides one to backward point and gets a single.

A single (leg-byes) follow.

Four! Badoni moves across and ramps one over fine leg and gets a boundary. 50 up for LSG.

Four more! Overpitched delivery and Badoni hits it straight back to the long-off boundary.

A single through leg-side to end the 11-run over.

Vijayakumar Vyshak comes into the attack and starts off with a full delivery outside off which Badoni drives through off-side for a boundary.

A single through long-on gets Marsh back on strike.

A yorker and Marsh squeezes it into off-side for a single.

Two dots follows.

Out! Badoni departs, caught by Xavier Bartlett. Slower delivery and Badoni was early through the shot and loses his shape as he ends up hitting it straight to Bartlett at mid-wicket.

Badoni goes for 35 off 21 balls with five boundaries and a six.

LSG finish the Powerplay with 61/1.

21:55

Marsh, Badoni up the ante

LSG 44-0 (4 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Arshdeep Singh continues and Ayush Badoni sits deep and flat-bats a shortish delivery through mid-on for a boundary.

Arshdeep responds with a yorker and Badoni digs it out.

Badoni mistimes one to mid-wicket and gets three runs.

Marsh then top-edges a pull and Shreyas Iyer moves swiftly from mid-off but fails to hold onto the catch. Two runs taken.

Marsh then hits back-to-back boundaries to finish the over with a flourish.

17 runs came off it.

Xavier Bartlett with his second over and Badoni swings and misses before lofting one over long-on for a six.

Four! Width on offer and Badoni slashes hard and the ball flies to the deep backward point fence.

A single through wide off mid-off gets Marsh back on strike.

Marsh then digs out a yorker before drilling the next down the ground for a boundary.

15 runs came off the over.

21:45

LSG off to a sedate start

LSG 12-0 (2 ovs) vs PBKS 254-7 | Scorecard

Mitchell Marsh and Ayush Badoni to open the innings for Lucknow Super Giants.

Arshdeep Singh with the ball for Punjab Kings.

Marsh on strike and he gets off the mark straightaway with a single through leg side.

Badoni on strike and he plays the first delivery defensively before being hit on the pads with a full delivery.

Arshdeep appeals but the on-field decision is not out. Punjab decide against going upstairs as the keeper suggests it was probably going down the leg.

Another dot later, Badoni gets off the mark by flicking one into the leg-side.

Another dot to end the over. Just two runs came off it.

Xavier Bartlett to bowl from the other end and starts with a wide down the leg.

Badoni then steers one to third man and gets a single.

A dot later, Marsh dispatches one over backward square leg with a mighty pull for a maximum.

Marsh then chips one over in-field and gets a couple.

Two dots to end the 10-run over.

21:29

Arya, Connolly carnage powers Punjab to big total

PBKS 254-7 (20 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Mohammed Shami to bowl the penultimate over and he starts off with two wides outside off. Marcus Stoinis leaves both alone.

Shami goes with the same plan and bowls two dots.

Six! Slower bouncer and Stoinis swats it over long-on for a maximum.

Follows it up with a single through sweeper cover.

Another wide outside off follows.

Six! Pace off and Shashank Singh connects it well as the ball sails over the deep mid-wicket fence.

Four! Shashank finishes the over with a boundary through backward square leg.

20 runs came off the over.

Prince Yadav to bowl the final over and Marcus Stoinis flicks the low full toss to fine leg and gets a single. 250 up for Punjab.

Shashank then guides a short ball to deep backward square leg for a single.

Another single through sweeper cover follows.

Out! Shashank goes, caught by Aiden Markram. Slower delivery and Shashank slaps it straight to the fielder at mid-on.

Shashank goes for 17 off 6 with a boundary and two sixes.

Marco Jansen comes to the crease and gets off strike with a quick single.

Stoinis to face the final delivery and he mistimes one to square leg and looks to take a double but is run out.

Stoinis goes for 29 off 16 balls with two boundaries and sixes each.

Just five runs came off the final over.

Punjab Kings finish with 254-4, thanks to blistering fifties by Cooper Connolly and Prinyansh Arya.

21:07

Punjab poised for big total

PBKS 229-5 (18 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Manimaran Siddharth continues and Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis pick up a single each off the first two deliveries.

Four! 200 up for Punjab Kings as Wadhera laps a full toss towards the fine leg boundary.

Six! Wadhera ramps the next ball over the fine leg for a maximum.

Out! Wadhera goes, caught by Nicholas Pooran.

Wadhera goes of 13 off 7 balls with a boundary and six each.

Shashank Singh comes to the crease and smashes one straight down the ground for a maximum.

18 runs came off the over.

Avesh Khan is back into the attack with his third over and Stoinis edges the first delivery past the wicket keeper for a boundary.

Six! Brutal power as Stoinis muscles one over wide of long-on for a flat six.

A dot later, Stoinis bludgeons one down the ground for a boundary.

A single (leg bye) and a dot to end the over. 15 runs came off it.

20:55

LSG fight back; Punjab 4 down

PBKS 196-4 (16 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Manimaran Siddharth is back into the attack and Shreyas Iyer drives the first delivery to mid-on and brings Priyansh Arya back on strike.

Out! Arya departs, caught by Mitchell Marsh. In the slot and Arya looks to loft it down the ground but fails to get the elevation and Marsh catches it near the boundary line at long off.

Marcus Stoinis comes to the crease and opens his account with a double through fine leg.

A single through off-side brings Shreyas on strike.

Shreys then drives one to long-off and picks up a couple.

A single through backward point to end the 7-run over.

Mohsin Khan is back with his final over and Shreyas plays out a dot.

Out! Shreyas goes, caught by Mohammed Shami. Punjab have lost three quick wickets.

Slower delivery outside off and Shreyas looks to lofts it but outside-edges it to Shami at short third man.

Shreyas goes for 5 off 6 balls.

Nehal Wadhera comes to the crease and plays the yorker with soft hands for no run before opening his account by nudging one to point.

Two dots and a single follow.

Just three runs came off the over.

20:41

Connolly departs after whirlwind knock

PBKS 186-2 (14 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Aiden Markram comes into the attack and Cooper Connolly smashes the first delivery over extra cover and out of the park for a maximum.

Six more! Connolly lofts the next delivery straight down the ground.

Another six! In the slot and Connolly swings hard and clears the long-off boundary.

A wide outside off and a single through deep square leg follow.

It's raining sixes here in Mohali as Priyansh Arya finishes the over with two more maximums.

32 runs came off Markram's over.

Prince Yadav is back into the attack and Connolly inside-edges the first delivery for no run.

Four! Full and wide outside off and Connolly smashes it over deep extra cover and the ball flies away to the fence.

Slower delivery and Connolly slices it to cover point for a single.

Arya then steers one to off-side and gets a single.

Out! Connolly is out, caught by Manimaran Siddharth. Short ball around off and Connolly swings across the line but miscues it to backward point.

Connolly goes for 87 off 46 balls with eight fours and seven sixes.

Shreyas Iyer is the new man in and opens his account with a punch down the ground for a single.

7 runs came off the over.

20:29

Arya, Connolly fifties put Punjab in command

PBKS 147-1 (12 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Mohammed Shami is back into the attack and Priyansh Arya flicks the first delivery to mid-wicket for a single.

Six! Cooper Connolly stays put and blasts one over the deep mid-wicket fielder.

Two singles later, Connolly brings up his fifty off 35 balls with a maximum over extra cover.

Four! Yorker and Connolly guides it through third man.

19 runs came off Shami's third over.

Avesh Khan is back into the attack and Arya hits him for back-to-back sixes. Avesh bowls a yorker and Arya smashes it over the sightscreen before slicing a wide full toss over deep point fence.

A single through third man follows.

Four! Again Avesh looks to bowl a yorker but sends down a full toss which Connolly scoops over short fine leg.

A single to third man and a dot to end the over. 18 runs came off it.

20:20

Arya hits 19-ball fifty; Punjab on top

PBKS 110-1 (10 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Manimaran Siddharth comes into the attack and Cooper Connolly plays the first delivery with soft hands and guides it to short third man for a single.

Priyansh Arya then completes his fifty off 19 balls by flicking one to deep mid-wicket for a couple. His fourth in IPL.

Four! On the stumps and Arya ramps it over short fine for a boundary.

Three singles come off the last three balls. 10 off the over.

Prince Yadav is back into the attack and Priyansh plays out two dots before slicing a length delivery over backward point for a six.

Priyansh then hits the next delivery back to the bowler and Prince stops it but seems he has hurt himself. Physio is attending to him.

Prince is back and bowls a length delivery on pads which Connolly flicks to deep square leg.

A single through backward point to end the over. 9 runs came off it.

Punjab Kings are 110/2 at the half-way mark.

20:11

Arya, Connolly cut loose; Punjab on top

PBKS 91-1 (8 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Ayush Badoni comes into the attack and Cooper Connolly drills the first delivery through deep extra cover for a boundary.

Six! Flighted delivery and Connolly smashes it down the ground for a maximum.

Follows it up with a single through sweeper cover.

Three more singles come off the next three deliveries. 14 runs came off the over.

Avesh Khan comes into the attack and Arya drives the first delivery to mid-off and gets a single.

Connolly then plays out a dot before hoisting Avesh over long-on for a maximum.

Follows it up with a single through long-on.

Four! In the arc and Arya opens the face of his bat and guides it through extra cover for a boundary.

A couple through deep backward point to end the 14-run over.

20:00

Arya on the attack; Punjab on top

PBKS 63-1 (6 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Prince Yadav comes into the attack and Cooper Connolly looks the cut short of a length delivery outside off but misses.

Four more dots follow as Yadav mixes his lengths well.

Four! Pace off and Connolly waits for it and smashes over mid-on for a boundary.

Four runs off the over.

Mohsin Khan to bowl the final over of the Powerplay and Priyansh Arya steers the short of a length delivery outside off to mid-wicket and gets a single.

A single (leg byes) follows.

Four! Slower delivery and Arya pulls it through deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Six! Short delivery and Arya top-edges it over fine leg for a maximum.

Arya mistimes the next delivery but the ball lands safely next the long-on boundary. Two runs taken.

Six! Arya smashes the next delivery over deep square leg for a maximum.

20 runs came off the over.

Punjab finish the Powerplay with 63\1.

19:51

Arya, Connolly steady Punjab Kings

PBKS 39-1 (4 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Mohammed Shami continues and Cooper Connolly lofts the length delivery and clears the in-field for a boundary.

A dot later, Connolly tucks one to cover and gets a single.

Four! Arya out-side edges a good length delivery outside off and the ball flies through deep backward point.

Two singles off the final two deliveries of the 11-run over.

Mohsin Khan continues and Connolly inside edges the first delivery onto his pads before edging the next delivery through slips for a boundary.

A dot later, Connolly pushes one to mid-on and takes a quick single.

Arya then mis-times a pull but the ball lands safely and there is enough time to pick up a couple.

Six! On stumps and Arya pulls it over square leg for a maximum.

13 runs came off the over.

19:42

Shami dismisses Prabhsimran for golden duck

PBKS 15-1 (2 ovs) vs LSG | Scorecard

Punjab Kings openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya are out in the middle.

Mohammed Shami to open the bowling for Lucknow Super Giants.

Prabhsimran is on strike and Shami starts off with two wides down the leg.

A dot and a wide outside off follow.

Arya then gets off the mark with a punch to mid-on for a single.

Out! Prabhsimran is out, caught by Mitchell Marsh.

Full delivery outside off luring Prabhsimran into a big cover drive but he edges it to Marsh at first slip.

Prabhsimran goes for a golden duck.

Cooper Connolly is the new man in and after playing out two dots he gets off the mark in style by drilling one down the ground for a boundary.

Seven runs came off the over.

Mohsin Khan to bowl from the other end and Arya greets him with a flat six by pulling a short of a length delivery over mid-wicket.

Arya then gets off the strike by knocking one to square leg for a single.

Connolly is on strike he plays out a dot before Mohsin hits him on the pads but Rishabh Pant refuses to go upstairs. Ball tracker shows three reds.

A dot and a single to end the 8-run over.

19:24

LSG opt to bowl vs Punjab; KKR down Royals

Lucknow Super Giants' skipper Rishabh Pant has won the toss and has opted to field against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur.

Let's have a look at the Playing XIs:

Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Mohsin Khan.

Impact subs: Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Matthew Breetzke, Mayank Yadav, Himmat Singh.

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact subs: Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod.

19:20

Rinku powers KKR to first win of IPL 2026

KKR's Anukul Roy and Rinku Singh.

KKR 161-6 (19.4 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Rinku finishes off the match in style. He hits two successive boundaries off the first two balls of the final over bowled by Brijesh to level scores.

The first ball, a slower bouncer, is pulled through fine leg for a four before he crashes the next through the covers for the same result.

Rinku swings and misses before he seals the deal with a six, top edging Brijesh over the wicketkeeper for a six.

A match-winning knock of Rinku as he smashes an unbeaten 53 from 34 balls to lead KKR to their first victory of IPL 2026.

Rinku turned the match on it's head with his crucial partnership of 76 from 37 balls with Anukul, who made a vital 29 not out from 16 balls.

19:16

KKR need 8 from the final over

KKR 147-6 (19 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Archer to bowl the crucial 19th over. Anukul hits the first ball down the ground for a single as Parag makes a good stop at mid-off.

Rinku can only jam his down to keep out the yorker for just one.

Archer misses his length as Anukul despatches the full delivery over long-on for a crucial six.

The next ball is a yorker but Anukul manages to steal a quick run and Rinku gets one off the next ball past point.

Anukul mistimes the full toss as it falls in the vacant mid-off region and Rinku pushes his partner for the second.

12 runs from the over as KKR need just nine from the final over.

19:09

KKR need 21 from last 2 overs

Rinku Singh

KKR 135-6 (18 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

KKR need 40 from the last four overs as Royals bring back Jofra Archer to bowl the 17th over.

He starts with a short ball as Rinku gets inside the line to pull it over short fine leg for a six.

Archer then bowls a wide down the leg side. Rinku turning it on as he lofts Archer inside out over the covers for a four and guides the next ball to deep point for one.

Anukul sensibly takes one to hand the strike back to Rinku, who is also content to guide the full toss down to long-on for another run.

Archer bowls a quick bouncer as Anukul is beaten trying to get his bat on it. KKR take the review for the wide not given for the high bouncer.

A good review from Anukul as the ball is clearly above the head height and is ruled a wide.

Medium pacer Brijesh Sharma comes into the attack. Rinku walks across but misses the length ball down the leg side but that is not ruled a wide as the batter had walked across.

The same happens next ball as Rinku walks across and misses the sweep off a full ball down the leg side.

Brijesh then bowls a wide outside the off-stump trying to angle the bouncer across the left-hander.

Good change of pace from Brijesh as Rinku misses the pull shot off a slower bouncer down the leg side. He seems to have got a thin edge as umpire Kumar Dharmasena doesn't rule it a wide.

He then flicks a full toss to deep midwicket for a single before Anukul swings hard but gets a thick outside edge which falls fine on the off-side for a four.

He keeps strike with a single from the last ball of the over.

The equation is under control with KKR needing 21 from the last two overs.

18:55

Rinku keeps KKR in the hunt

KKR 116-6 (16 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

KKR need a few sixes in the next couple of overs to getting the asking rate back in control.

Rinku, who was dropped on 8, needs to make lost of the lifeline and push KKR towards victory.

Rinku makes his intent clear as he slog sweeps Bishnoi's first ball over midwicket for a six to take KKR past 100, in the 16th over.

Bishnoi bowls a wide down the leg side before Rinku misses the clip and collects a leg bye.

Anukul punches the third ball over the covers for two runs as Hetmyer makes a good stop at deep extra cover followed by another wide.

Singles off the next two balls before Rinku hammers Bishnoi's last ball inside out over the covers for the second six of the over.

Rinku has raced to 26 from 20 balls as Bishnoi goes for 19 runs in his final over.

18:49

Ramandeep out for 10; KKR 6 down

KKR 97-6 (15 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Captain Riyan Parag brings himself into the attack to bowl the 15th over. Just two singles from the first three balls before Parag bowls a leg side wide as Rinku misses the lap sweep.

Rinku uses his feet to loft Parag straight down the ground for a four and clips the next off his pads for one.

Anukul mistimes the inside out lofted shot as the ball falls just short of the fielder charging in from long-off, who does well to stop the ball on the bounce. Ferreira's quick work sees the batters restricted to just one but Parag gives away an overthrow as he misses the attempted run out at the non-striker's end.

KKR need 59 from the last five overs for victory.

18:45

Ramandeep out for 10; KKR 6 down

KKR 87-6 (14 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Debutant Punja grabs his maiden IPL wicket as he bowls Ramandeep off the inside edge for 10.

KKR continue to disappoint with the bat, as they stumble to 84/6 in the 14th over.

Anukul Roy misses the flick and is hit on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down. He cuts the next ball for a single behind point.

Rinku makes room and plays the cut shot but can't beat the fielder at point, who fails to stop it cleanly to concede a single.

Three runs from Punja's final over as he finishes with good figures of 1/25 in four overs.

KKR need 69 from six overs for victory. Their hopes rest on Rinku, who has struggled to 13 from 14 balls. Can he script a magical finish?

18:39

Jadeja dismisses Powell as KKR slip further

KKR 84-5 (13 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Punja bowls a tidy over to pile up the pressure on KKR, as the debutant gives away just three singles in the 12th over.

The asking rate has touched the 10 mark with 80 needed from the last eight overs.

Rinku has struggled against spin, scoring just nine from the first 10 balls faced, while Ramandeep has made four from seven balls.

Bishnoi back from the other end. Ramandeep releases some pressure as he crashes a wide overpitched delivery through the covers for a four.

Singles off the last two balls as Bishnoi gives away eight runs from his third over.

18:33

Jadeja dismisses Powell; KKR slip further

KKR 73-5 (11 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Jadeja strikes another big blow for KKR as he dismisses the dangerous Powell. He looks to break free, using his feet to loft Jadeja down the ground but holes out a simple catch to long-on.

Powell walks back after a scratchy 23 from 20 balls as KKR slip to 70/5 in the 11th over.

Rinku Singh nearly gifts his wicket away to Jadeja. He attempts a reckless slog off the spinner but ends up miscuing it high off a thick leading edge. Nandre Burger at short thirdman has enough time to settle under the ball but puts down the simple catch.

Jadeja not at all happy with the fielder's effort as he misses out on an easy wicket.

Jadeja superb with the ball with excellent figures of 2/8 in three overs.

That was an irresponsible short from senior pro Rinku, also the vice-captain of KKR.

18:28

Jadeja strikes; KKR in big trouble

KKR 70-4 (10 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Jadeja will prove to be a tough customer to contend on this wicket offering some assistance to the spinners.

He bowls another tidy over, giving away just four singles in the ninth over.

Bishnoi comes back into the attack. Rinku slaps the first ball past point for a couple of runs before he takes a single next ball.

He pushes the next to midwicket for one before Bishnoi bowls a wide down the leg side to Powell.

Singles from the last three balls as KKR reach 70/4 in 10 overs at the halfway mark, needing another 86 from the last 10 overs.

18:19

Jadeja strikes; KKR in big trouble

Ravindra Jadeja celebrates

KKR 59-4 (8 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Punja gets the ball to grip and turn as Powell is beaten on the outside edge. The next ball is short and turns away sharply as the KKR right-hander misses again trying to play the cut shot.

He pushes the third ball into the off-side for a single and Rinku Singh takes a quick run to get off the mark.

Powell misses the flick but the ball goes fine off the edge for a four and he keeps strike with one from the last ball.

18:14

Jadeja strikes; KKR in big trouble

KKR 52-4 (7 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

The experienced Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack after the Powerplay. Powell gets the leading edge first ball as Jadeja fails to get to the ball which falls just short as he leaps forward.

Powell clips the next ball on the leg side for one before Raghuvanshi is dismissed off the last ball after missing the reverse sweep.

Three dots in a row before Raghuvanshi looks to break free with the reverse sweep but is struck plumb in front.

Raghuvanshi doesn't look confident but takes the DRS after a chat with Powell.

But after seeing the first replay which confirms that there is no inside edge Raghuvanshi starts making his way back to the dressing room. The ball has struck in line and is going on to hit the stumps as the decision stands.

Raghuvanshi dismissed leg before wicket for 10 as KKR slip to 52/4 in the seventh over.

A superb start from Jadeja as he concedes just a single while taking the wicket of Raghuvanshi.

18:10

Green out for 27; KKR in trouble

Cameron Green is stumped by Dhruv Jurel

KKR 51-3 (6 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Debutant leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja comes into the attack, to bowl the final over of Powerplay.

Raghuvanshi takes a single first ball before Powell hits the next inside out over the off-side for a four.

Punja gifts Powell a full toss which the West Indian smashes over midwicket for a six, who keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

KKR recover to 51/3 in six overs, needing 105 from 14 overs for victory at an asking rate of 7.50.

18:05

Green out for 27; KKR in trouble

KKR 39-3 (5 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi strikes in his first over. He claims the vital wicket of Green, who is stumped courtesy of a brilliant piece of glovework from Dhruv Jurel.

Green steps out of his crease too early as Bishnoi pitches the googly halfway down the pitch and fires it down the leg side. Jurel reacts quickly to lunge to his left to collect the ball before he breaks the stumps in a flash.

Green dismissed after a quickfire 27 from 13 balls as KKR slip to 37/3 in the fifth over.

Rovman Powell gets off the mark with a single and Raghuvanshi takes one off the last ball down to long-on.

17:58

Rahane out for duck; KKR in trouble

KKR 31-2 (4 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Green off to a smashing start! The Australian glances Archer's back of length delivery off his pads fine on the leg side for a four.

Archer beats him with a cracking delivery, the length ball shaping away late to beat the outside edge.

He pushes the fourth ball into the off-side before taking a quick single in the covers off the next and Raghuvanshi defends the last ball.

Green looking to be aggressive as he attempts to hammer Burger over the top but misses.

The tall all-rounder then swings the length ball from Burger over midwicket for a huge six. He again looks to have the next ball but mistimes the pull short for a couple of runs.

17:50

Rahane out for duck; KKR in trouble

Jofra Archer celebrates

KKR 15-2 (2 ovs) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Ajinkya Rahane falls for a second successive duck. He goes after a back of length delivery angled across from Nandre Burger, attempting the cut shot, but gets the edge and is caught for a two-ball duck.

KKR in big trouble on 5/2 in the second over.

This is Rahane's 12th duck as an opener in the IPL.

Cameron Green at No 4 gets a thick outside edge on the off-side for a single and Raghuvanshi inside edges the next ball for another run.

Green hits a confident punch through the covers for a boundary before he slashes the last ball past point for another four.

17:42

Archer strikes first ball, Seifert out for duck

KKR 5-1 (1 ov) vs Royals 155-9 | SCORECARD

Tim Seifert and Ajinkya Rahane are the two openers for KKR, who need a good start in the Powerplay.

Jofra Archer gives Royals a dream start, striking first ball with the wicket of Seifert, who is bowled for a first-ball duck. The full delivery swings into the right-hander, who misses the flick as the ball goes off the pads into the stumps.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi at No 3 for KKR. He pushes the first ball he faces into the off-side before Archer beats him on the inside edge with a length ball which jags in enough.

A sharp bouncer from Archer as Raghuvanshi is beaten for pace attempting the pull shot following by a block.

Archer slips down the leg side to the right-hander for a wide before Raghuvanshi plays a cracking shot, hitting the pacer on the up past point for a four to get off the mark.

17:23

KKR fight back to limit Royals to 155

Royals 155-9 (20 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Arora to bowl the final over. He starts with a short ball pitched away from the stumps, which Archer swats wide of long-on for two runs and flicks the next ball, a full toss, through square leg for one.

Another sharp bouncer wide of the stumps as Brijesh Sharma swings and misses before he pulls the next for a single.

Arora getting predictable with his length, keeping it short and on the body, as Archer pulls it through square leg for a four.

Archer is run out off the last ball after he misses the scoop, going for the second run.

Rajasthan Royals finish on 155/9 in their 20 overs, losing five wickets for 37 runs in the last five overs.

They were well-placed on 81 for no loss in 8.3 overs before the dismissal of Sooryavanshi turned the Royals innings on it's head.

Chakravarthy was instrumental in the fightback, with superb figures of 3/14, while Tyagi claimed 3/22 and Narine bagged 2/26.

17:16

Kartik Tyagi's triple strike rocks Royals

Kartik Tyagi celebrates the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja.

Royals 146-8 (19 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Tyagi starts the 19th over with the wicket of Jadeja, who mistimes the pull shot off a slower bouncer and is caught at deep square leg by Green for nine.

Royals in danger of finishing a below-par score as they are reduced to 144/6 in the 19th over.

Tyagi strikes another crucial blow with the wicket of Hetmyer, who gets the leading edge off the full toss and is caught at thirdman.

Hetmyer fails to convert his start as Royals slip to 146/7 in the 19th over.

Pacer Tyagi picks his third wicket of the over as Ravi Bishnoi gets the edge off a full wide delivery and is caught behind for a two-ball duck.

Three wickets and two runs from the 19th over as Tyagi registers superb figures of 3/22 in four overs.

17:08

Chakravarthy, Narine lead KKR's fightback

Royals 144-5 (18 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

KKR take a gamble Ramandeep Singh, bowling for only the second time this season, is given the crucial 18th over ahead of Green.

Hetmyer gets a single first ball before Jadeja sweeps the next ball square for two runs. He then picks the slower ball, smashing it over midwicket for a boundary.

Ramandeep bowls two wides in a row looking to bowl full and out of Jadeja's reach, who pulls the next ball on the bounce to long-on for one.

Hetmyer top edges the pull shot but Arora tracking back from square leg puts down the easy catch and Jadeja gets one off the last ball.

A decent over from Ramandeep as he concedes 12 runs from the 18th over.

17:02

Chakravarthy, Narine lead KKR's fightback

Royals 132-5 (17 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Pacer Arora back to bowl the 17th over. Hetmyer mishits the pull shot which falls safely for two runs followed by a single.

Ravindra Jadeja throws his bat at a wide delivery and is beaten before he takes a single off the next.

Arora's slow bouncer sails high and is ruled a wide for height before Hetmyer swats the full toss off his pads as Green makes a superb stop at deep square leg to stop the boundary and keep it down to two runs.

Hetmyer clips the last ball to deep square leg for a single to retain strike as Arora does well to give away just eight runs in the 17th over.

16:58

Chakravarthy, Narine lead KKR's fightback

Royals 124-5 (16 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Narine to bowl his final over. Donovan Ferreira has no idea of where the ball is going as he is beaten on the outside edge off the first two balls.

The third ball turns into Ferreira, who gets his bat down in time and gets the inside edge.

Ferreira then breaks free as he heaves Narine over midwicket for a six before the spinner has the last laugh.

Ferreira fails to read the carrom ball from Narine, looking to flick, but ends up spooning a simple return catch back to the bowler to be dismissed for seven.

Narine finishes with superb figures of 2/26 in four overs.

The two spinners were instrumental in KKR's excellent fightback with combined figures of 5/40 in eight overs.

16:53

Chakravarthy leads KKR's superb fightback

Royals 118-4 (15 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Pacer Tyagi back into the attack after a long chat with coach Abhishek Nayar in the Strategic Timeout.

Shimron Hetmyer misses the pull shot and is hit on the pads to collect a leg bye. Parag drives the third ball to the fielder on the off-side before he pulls the next for another run.

Hetmyer under edges the slower bouncer to the wicketkeeper before he swats a full toss wide of long-on for two runs.

Chakravarthy continues his wicket ways. Parag attempts a big heave across the line but misses and is struck on the pads. KKR take the review but it is going down to miss the leg stump.

Parag then reverse sweeps Chakravarthy over the fielder at short thirdman for a four, the first boundary for Royals after 29 balls.

However, Chakravarthy gets revenge next ball as Parag goes for the big slog over midwicket but misses the ball completely and is bowled for 12.

Superb bowling from Chakravarthy as he registers excellent figures of 3/14 in four overs. He single-handedly brought KKR back into the game with regular wickets as Royals are reduced to 118/4 in 15 overs.

16:41

Royals lose way after good start

Royals 109-3 (13 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Chakravarthy bowls another tight over, conceding just five singles in his third over.

Royals were well-placed on 79 for no loss in eight overs before they lost their way after Sooryavanshi's dismissal.

They have lost three wickets for 30 runs in the last five overs.

The two spinners have done exceedingly well to build some pressure in the middle overs while chipping away at the wickets.

Can KKR keep chipping away at the wickets? Or can Royals bounce back in the next few overs with some boundaries?

16:35

Varun, Narine dent Rajasthan Royals

Tim Seifert stumps Dhruv Jurel off the bowling of Varun Chakravarthy.

Royals 104-3 (12 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

KKR are storming back into the contest. Narine now joins the party with the wicket of well-set Jaiswal, who reaches out to a length delivery angled across. He hits it uppishly but Rahane reacts quickly to pouch the catch in the covers to send back Jaiswal after a good knock of 39 from 29 balls.

Royals have lost three wickets for 18 runs in the space of 22 balls as KKR fight back through their spin twins.

Royals have two new batters in Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, who will need to build a good partnership and give their team a good platform ahead of the death overs.

Singles off the next three balls before Parag hits the last ball wide of long-off for two runs as Royals go past the 100-run mark.

16:29

Varun Chakravarthy strikes again; Royals lose Jurel

Royals 98-2 (11 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Jaiswal looking to change gears. He plays the sweep shot but fails to find the gap, hitting it for a single to deep square leg.

Chakravarthy strikes another blow in his next over as he dismisses Jurel stumped for five. The right-hander misses the reverse sweep and lost his balance as wicketkeeper Tim Seifert is quick to dislodge the bails and effect the stumping.

KKR inching their way back into the game through Chakravarthy, who has started off well with figures of 2/4 in two overs, with eight dot balls.

Royals losing some momentum as they are reduced to 98/2 in 11 overs.

16:24

Varun strikes; Sooryavanshi out for 46

Kolkata Knight Riders' players celebrate the wicket of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Royals 95-1 (10 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Interesting move from Rahane as KKR bring in part-time medium pacer Ramandeep Singh into the attack.

Jaiswal the first ball through square leg for a single and Jurel gets the next off his pads for two runs behind square on the leg side for two runs.

Jurel takes one down to long-off followed by a wide. Off the next ball Jaiswal walks across a long way to pull off a sensational scoop for a six over fine leg.

Ramandeep bowls another wide before the two batters pick a single each.

Royals on course for a huge total as they race to 95/1 in 10 overs, with Jaiswal looking good on 38 from 27 balls and Jurel on four.

16:18

Varun strikes; Sooryavanshi out for 46

Royals 81-1 (9 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack, to bowl the ninth over. Sooryavanshi clips the first ball off his pads for a single before Jaiswal is beaten on the outside edge off the quicker ball which skids straight on.

Jaiswal tries the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.

Chakravarthy makes the first breakthrough with the wicket of the dangerous Sooryavanshi, who goes for the big slog over midwicket but miscues it high and Ramandeep Singh takes a well-judged catch in the deep.

Sooryavanshi walks back after a good knock of 46 from 28 balls, having put on 81 runs for the opening wicket from 52 balls.

Chakravarthy completes 200 wickets in T20 cricket as he becomes the 20th Indian bowler to achieve the landmark.

Superb start from Chakravarthy, conceding just a single while making a crucial breakthrough to get KKR back in the contest.

16:12

Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi put RR in control

Yashaswi Jaiswal plays the ramp shot.

Royals 79-0 (8 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Narine continues after the Powerplay. Sooryavanshi clips the first ball for a single through the gap at midwicket before Jaiswal drives the overpitched delivery through the covers for a four.

The left-hander clips the next square on the leg side for two runs followed by a single. Sooryavanshi calmly taps the last ball back to the bowler as Narine goes for eight in his second over.

Varun Chakravarthy still not called into the attack with two left-handers out in the middle. Pacer Kartik Tyagi comes back into the attack for his second spell.

Sooryavanshi has a close shave. He cuts the short wide ball from Tyagi, hitting it uppishly as Rinku Singh charges in from deep extra cover but fails to get to the ball and also can't stop the ball on the bounce to concede a four.

Tyagi bowls a full toss as Sooryavanshi flicks it wide of long-on where the fielder makes a superb stop to save the boundary and keep it down to just a single.

Jaiswal cuts the short wide ball to the fielder at deep point for a single and his partner flays the last ball through the covers for a single as Rinku is quick to get to the ball.

16:02

Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi give Royals good start

Yashaswi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Royals 63-0 (6 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Spin introduced as Sunil Narine comes into the attack, to bowl the fifth over. He beats Sooryavanshi first ball as the left-hander looks to drive it through the off-side but is beaten by some turn.

The next ball is flighted again but a bit straighter as Sooryavanshi smashes it over midwicket for a six.

Sooryavanshi has a big swing across the line next ball but is beaten all ends up. The young left-hander showing good restraint as he watchfully keeps out the last three balls.

Narine did well to keep Sooryavanshi quiet after the six, bowling four successive dot balls.

Cameron Green back into the attack. He starts with a short ball as Jaiswal pulls it powerfully over midwicket for a huge six.

Green bowls a wide down the leg side before Jaiswal picks a quick single.

Sooryavanshi then picks the full delivery, smacking it back over the bowler's head for a straight six as Royals race past 50, in 5.3 overs.

Green missing the line with the back of length deliveries angled across, bowling two successive wides to Sooryavanshi. The left-hander then slashes at a short wide delivery but can't get it past point for a single.

Jaiswal plays a stunning reverse scoop, slicing Green over short thirdman for a six followed by another wide. Jaiswal goes for the big swing last ball but fails to connect.

Royals have made a superb start, racing to 63 for no loss in six overs in the Powerplay.

Sooryavanshi has smashed his way to 38 from 21 balls, while Jaiswal has stroked 21 from 15 balls.

15:50

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the attack!

Royals 35-0 (4 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

It's Vaibhav against Vaibhav as Arora comes back into the attack, and is bowling against Sooryavanshi.

He starts with a short wide delivery which the left-hander hammers through the covers for a four. The next ball is cut as it evades the dive from the fielder at point, who is unable to stop the ball to concede another boundary.

Singles off the next two balls before Sooryavanshi upper cuts the short ball for a four fine on the off-side and keeps strike with one from the last ball.

15 runs from the over as Royals race to 35 for no loss in four overs.

Sooryavanshi off to a flier, hitting a quickfire 25 from 13 balls.

15:46

Royals off to a quiet start vs KKR

Royals 20-0 (3 ovs) vs KKR | SCORECARD

Pacers from both ends as Kartik Tyagi bowls from the other end. He starts with an overpitched delivery on the pads as Sooryavanshi flicks it through midwicket for a four.

KKR move out the fielder from slip and get a man at midwicket. But off the very next ball Sooryavanshi pushes at the length ball angled across and gets the edge which goes through the vacant slip region for a four. If the fielder had not been moved, it would have been a simple catch for him. Once again the captaincy of Rahane will raise a few question marks as removing the slip fielder so early has proved dear for KKR.

Sooryavanshi being watchful as he defends the next two balls and then clips the last ball for a single to retain strike.

Cameron Green comes into the attack. Sooryavanshi picks a single first ball before Jaiswal ramps the short ball over the wicketkeeper for a four.

But Green makes a good comeback, bowling four dots in a row to Jaiswal.

This has been a quiet start by Royals, scoring 20 from the first three overs at just above six per over.

15:37

Royals elect to bat vs KKR; Hetmyer back

Royals 6-0 (1 ov) vs KKR | SCORECARD

The left-handed dashing duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal walk out to open the batting for Royals.

Vaibhav Arora will bowl the first over for KKR, who will need to strike early or else the two left-handers could go ballistic in the Powerplay.

Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi get off the mark with a single each off the first two balls on the off-side.

Jaiswal is then beaten on the outside edge as Arora gets some extra bounce before he hits the next past point for a four.

Jaiswal watchfully keeps out the last two balls as six runs come from the first over.

15:14

One Year Since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL debut

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

KKR are looking for their first victory of IPL 2026 as they seek to turn around their fortunes. They are bottom of the standings with just a single point from an abandoned match while suffering five defeats from the first six games.

Royals have made a great start, with four wins from the first five matches.

It's been exactly a year since the young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals as a 14-year-old, against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on April 19, 2025.

He made an immediate impact scoring a quickfire 34 from 20 balls, with two fours and three sixes. In the following 12 months, he has blasted his way to numerous batting records across formats and announced himself as the next big thing in world cricket.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Tim Seifert (w/k), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (w/k), Riyan Parag (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi.

15:04

Royals elect to bat vs KKR; Hetmyer back

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has won the toss and elected to bat against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Sunday.

'It looks like a dry wicket, the grass was cut yesterday. There will be turn in the second innings,' said Parag at the toss.

For RR, Shimron Hetymer is back as he replaces Lhuan-dre Pretorius, while Tushar Deshpande is rested as Brijesh Sharma gets a game.

Meanwhile, hosts KKR are unchanged.

'We were looking to bat as well,' said Rahane at the toss.

'We want all the batters to bat freely, the bowlers have done well in the last three games,' he adds.

14:18

Struggling Knights face Royals challenge

Kolkata Knight Riders

Welcome to the coverage of the IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

A bruised Rajasthan Royals will look to bounce back strongly and deepen the misery of floundering Kolkata Knight Riders when the two sides with contrasting fortunes clash in the afternoon IPL fixture.

The match pits one of the stronger outfits this season against arguably the most out-of-sorts side.

While Rajasthan surged with four consecutive wins before being halted by Sunrisers Hyderabad, KKR have progressed in the opposite trajectory, still searching for their first win after six matches.

Under Ajinkya Rahane, defeats have been the only constant, often from winning positions, leaving the side short on confidence and momentum. Their only point has come through a rain wash-out against Punjab Kings in Kolkata.

KKR's struggles are compounded by an understrength pace attack, with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep ruled out due to injuries, while Matheesha Pathirana is yet to join.

Yet, their on-field decisions under Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar have also come under scrutiny.

Selection calls and match management have raised eyebrows.

The 'entry points' of Varun Chakravarthy has been particularly puzzling.

Low on confidence from the T20 World Cup, the premier India spinner was used in the power play early in the season, conceding heavily, including a 25-run over to Abhishek Sharma, denting his confidence early on.

It took him four matches to open his wickets' tally with scalps of Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar in Ahmedabad.

There have also been questionable selection calls, with New Zealand's top T20 World Cup scorer Tim Seifert featuring only in the last match, while star all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is still warming the bench.

If the spinners can exploit the afternoon conditions, KKR might finally find a foothold against the top-heavy RR.

Rajasthan arrived in Kolkata early to acclimatise after the defeat in Hyderabad.

Their top order -- Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Riyan Parag all got out for single digit scores -- and will be wary after a collective failure against SRH.

That leaves the contest delicately poised.

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