KKR vs PBKS IPL 2026 on matchday 12 is coming up. Get details on where to watch, playing XI, head-to-head records, and match predictions. On Monday, the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match in the Indian Premier League starts at 7:30 PM at the Eden Gardens.
Two teams are in very different shapes. The in-form Punjab Kings (PBKS) aim to keep the winning momentum. They face the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who want their first win.
A few days ago, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were one of the strong contenders for IPL 2026. But last week was a total upset for the KKR. They can’t defend 220 against the Mumbai Indians (MI).
And at their home, KKR collapsed in all departments against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Star all-rounder Green is not clicking. Varun Chakaravarthy is still trying to regain last year’s form.
They had early momentum, but the middle order has not kept it. Now, Ajinkya & Co. is looking for a season opener against in-form Shreyas & Co.
For PBKS, they have a chance to secure their third straight win. With 4 points and a +0.637 net run rate, they sat in 3rd place. Chasing a modest 210 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), PBKS is in red-hot form. From top to bottom, PBKS dominates in all areas.
The main talking point is how Shreyas Iyer played against his former team. When last time scored 261 against PBKS in 2024, PBKS won that match by 8 wickets. At Eden Gardens, in their last five meetings, KKR has a 3-2 edge.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Match Details
| Match | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings |
| Stadium | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date & Time | Monday, April 06, 07:30 P.M. (IST) |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
KKR vs PBKS Head to Head Records
| Matches | 35 |
| SRH Wons | 21 |
| RR Wons | 13 |
| No Results | Nil |
| Home Advantage Index (KKR) | 0.69 |
| Defensive Fragility Ratio | 0.39 |
KKR vs PBKS Pitch Report
Eden Gardens is a batter’s ground. The numbers back that up completely. The average first innings score here is 203. KKR vs SRH earlier this season confirmed that nothing has changed in 2026.
The surface is fast and bouncy, offering good pace and carry from ball one. The outfield is one of the fastest in India. Once the ball beats the infield, it goes for four almost every time.
Pacers get some movement with the new ball in the first four overs. After that the pitch settles and batting becomes significantly easier. Spinners play a role in the middle overs but the short boundaries make containment very difficult.
Pacers took 56 wickets here in 2025 compared to 37 for spinners, which tells you where the wicket-taking threat is coming from. Dew under lights makes the ball harder to grip in the second innings. Chasing is the smarter call tonight.
Weather Report
The temperature in Kolkata will be 26-28 degrees Celsius. The humidity level will be 67-74%. There will be terrific humid weather. Players and visitors will be feeling unpleasant conditions. Cloud will cover 69% of the sky. The air will blow from the West at 19km/h. There will be a possibility of rain.
KKR vs PBKS Probable Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders
Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cameron Green / Tim Seifert, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Blessing Muzarabani
Impact Player: Kartik Tyagi / Manish Pandey / Rovman Powell / Umran Malik / Navdeep Saini
Punjab Kings
Prabhsimran Singh(WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyash Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijay Kumar
Impact Player: Harpreet Brar / Yuzvendra Chahal
KKR vs PBKS Prediction
PBKS win. Nothing complicated about it.
KKR are broken right now. Two losses, no answers, and a dressing room that looks confused about its own best XI. Green is misfiring. Varun is a shadow of last season. Ajinkya is captaining a side that has lost its identity completely.
PBKS walk in knowing exactly who they are and how they win. Shreyas coming back to Eden Gardens against his former team adds an edge you cannot manufacture. That kind of motivation is real and it shows on the field.
Squad depth favours PBKS heavily. Their bowling covers more bases. Their batting goes deeper.
Rain remains a factor tonight at Eden. If it arrives early, KKR could benefit from a shorter chase. That is honestly their best hope.
PBKS win. Probably by 20 runs or more.
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My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
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