IPL 2026, KKR vs PBKS 12th Match Match Preview – KKR looking for first points against in-form PBKS
Big picture – KKR sliding, PBKS rising
It started in 2025. KKR lost their last two completed games in that season, finished eighth, and revamped their side for IPL 2026 in the hope of better outcomes. But despite hitting the reset button, they started this season with successive defeats.
Compare that to PBKS’ run since 2025. They made the final last year, retained 21 players from that squad, and have started the 2026 season with two victories, with contributions from a host of players.
The PBKS top four has particularly particularly strong, and their new Australian recruit Cooper Connolly has slotted in seamlessly at No. 3. Meanwhile, the big-money Australia allrounder KKR have in their top four is yet to fire.
The contrast extends to the bowling as well. PBKS have almost all their players fit and available, and look like one of the most well-rounded attacks in the competition, unlike KKR whose unit has been hit hard by injuries. Their bowlers have conceded in excess of 220 in both losses, with their main spinner Varun Chakravarthy struggling to find his usual control.
There is also a subplot, with PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer returning to face his former franchise, the side he led to the title just two seasons ago.
Team news
Ramandeep Singh averages just 19.25 in 22 innings for KKR and fell for 10 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). KKR have Manish Pandey on the bench if they feel the need for a change. In the bowling department, Navdeep Saini and Umran Malik are the other pace options available to them.
Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), 5 Manish Pandey/Ramandeep Singh, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Anukul Roy, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Vaibhav Arora/Navdeep Saini/Umran Malik, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Blessing Muzarabani, 12 Kartik Tyagi
PBKS played the same 12 in both their wins, and are unlike to make changes.
Punjab Kings (probable): 1 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Xavier Bartlett, 10 Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12 Yuzvendra Chahal
Key question
In the spotlight – Cameron Green and Vijaykumar Vyshak
KKR bought Cameron Green for INR 25.2 crore, a record fee for an overseas player. He hasn’t started bowling for them yet though and has been short of runs in their first two games. After scoring just 18 against Mumbai Indians, Green was run out for 2 against SRH. He has been tried at No. 3 and 4 so far, and KKR will hope he finds form soon.
Vijaykumar Vyshak’s contributions for PBKS have flown under the radar•BCCI
With a lot more attention on Arshdeep Singh and Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak’s contributions for PBKS have flown under the radar. Vyshak has five wickets in two games, with three of those coming in the death overs. That’s already much better than the four wickets he took in five matches last season at an average of 45.25.
Stats and trivia
- Chahal dominates his match-up against Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku Singh. He has conceded just 46 runs off 45 balls to Rahane and dismissed him four times, while giving away only 15 runs in 19 deliveries to Rinku, whom he has dismissed twice.
Pitch and conditions
In the only game at Eden Gardens so far this season, SRH posted 226 batting first. It has also been the fastest-scoring ground in the IPL since 2023 (minimum ten matches played). A steady drizzle washed out the training sessions of both teams on Sunday, but the forecast is better for Monday.
Next three fixtures
Kolkata Knight Riders
Apr 9: vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata
Apr 14: vs Chennai Super Kings, Chennai
Apr 17: vs Gujarat Titans, Ahmedabad
Punjab Kings
Apr 11: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, New Chandigarh
Apr 16: vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai
Apr 19: vs Lucknow Super Giants, New Chandigarh
Himanshu Agrawal is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
