KKR vs PBKS Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders will host Punjab Kings in the 12th match of IPL 2026. The clash at Eden Gardens will see Shreyas Iyer return to Kolkata to face his ex-team. PBKS come into this game on the back of a couple of wins; meanwhile, KKR have lost both of their opening fixtures of the season.
In their previous game at home, the Knight Riders lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The bowling department has been a point of concern for the three-time champions. In their two games in IPL 2026 so far, the bowlers from KKR have conceded more than 220 runs in 20 overs.
On the other hand, PBKS successfully chased down 210 runs in their previous game against Chennai Super Kings. In only two games in the season, the batters from PBKS have struck form and are looking dangerous. Who will win the clash between KKR and PBKS in IPL 2026?
Let’s find out!
KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Match Information
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Match 12 |
| Date | Monday, April 6, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
KKR vs PBKS: Eden Gardens Pitch Report
The pitch at Eden Gardens in recent years has been a heaven for the batters. As two of the most explosive batting units clash in IPL 2026, the pitch will have a huge impact on the result of the KKR vs PBKS clash. The batters from Punjab Kings have been in hot form since the start of the season. The pitch at Eden Gardens will once again provide the batters a chance to have a blast. With rain expected in Kolkata, the team winning the toss would be inclined to bowl first.
KKR vs PBKS: Predicted Playing XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy
Impact Player: Blessing Muzarabani
Punjab Kings XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal
KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Key Player Battles to Watch
Finn Allen vs Arshdeep Singh: There is no doubt about the fact that Finn Allen has been one of the best batters against fast bowling for a while. The Kiwi batter would need to provide a strong start as the Kolkata Knight Riders search for their first win of the season.
Shreyas Iyer vs Sunil Narine: Sunil Narine, as a spinner, holds the record for taking the most wickets against a single opponent. He has taken 35 wickets against PBKS. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has a strong record against his former team. He has scored 481 runs against KKR while striking at close to 150.
KKR vs PBKS Prediction: Who Will Win?
Punjab Kings will start as favourites in this KKR vs PBKS clash at Eden Gardens. The Shreyas Iyer-led unit has already started its campaign with two wins on the trot. They will fancy their chances of making it three in three as they travel to the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. However, winning the toss could give a slight advantage to the Knight Riders with rain being around in the city.
KKR vs PBKS Match Prediction, IPL 2026: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
