KKR vs PBKS highlights, IPL 2026: Match abandoned due to rain, wet outfield

Punjab Kings climbed to the top of the IPL 2026 points table after their clash against Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned due to rain and a wet outfield at Eden Gardens on Monday. The washout proved beneficial for Punjab Kings, who now sit at No. 1 with five points from three matches, having registered two wins and one no result so far this season.

For Kolkata Knight Riders, the abandoned game at least helped them open their account.

After losing their first two matches, KKR finally earned their first point of the campaign and are currently placed eighth with one point from three games. However, their poor net run rate of -1.964 continues to be a concern early in the tournament.

At the top end of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals are closely following Punjab Kings with four points each. All three teams have won both their matches so far, but are separated by net run rate.

RCB currently hold the second spot with an impressive NRR of +2.501, followed by Rajasthan Royals at +2.233 and Delhi Capitals at +1.170.

In the mid-table, Sunrisers Hyderabad occupy the fifth position with two points from three matches, while Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are placed sixth and seventh respectively, both with two points from two games. Net run rate is currently separating these sides as the competition begins to take shape.

At the bottom of the table, Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings are yet to open their accounts.

Gujarat Titans, with two losses from two matches, are placed ninth, while Chennai Super Kings are struggling at the bottom after three consecutive defeats, with a worrying net run rate of -2.517.

Kolkata Knight Riders picked up their first point of the IPL following the first no-result of the 2026 tournament after their match against Punjab Kings was abandoned after just 22 deliveries on Monday.

Following defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in their two opening fixtures, Kolkata were in trouble at 25-2 after 3.4 overs at their Eden Gardens home ground when the rain arrived at 7:48 pm local time.

The rain finally relented 40 minutes before the 11:14 pm cut-off, but there wasn't enough time to get the ground ready for a five-overs-a-side shootout.

Unbeaten Punjab reclaimed the top position in the league table with five points from three matches while Kolkata opened their account fortuitously after going into the match without their lead spinners. Varun Chakravarthy was injured while West Indian Sunil Narine was ruled out because of illness.

Despite the threat of rain, Ajinkya Rahane surprisingly opted to bat first but watched in consternation as opening partner Finn Allen of New Zealand and Australian Cameron Green were both caught behind off Aussie swing exponent Xavier Bartlett in the space of three deliveries in the second over.

It started raining not long afterwards, forcing the sides to split the points.

Match abandoned due to rain, wet outfield

The cut off time for a 5-over-a-side game is 11:14 PM

Still a lot of water outside the boundary. Groudsmen are doing their work. They are woking really hard towards this. Will we get a 5-over-a-side game?

Umpires are in the middle. They are doing inspection. Former India captain and CAB President Sourav Ganguly is also in the middle. He is having a chat with the groundstaff.

The covers are coming off. Groundsmen are carefully doing this big job.

Good news, folks!

Rain has stopped. A loud cheer from the crowd.

Only 46 minutes left for a restart and a five-over game.

Groundsmen have a lot of to do.

The rain persists, but Shah Rukh Khan waves to the crowd, sparking a sudden surge of energy among the fans at Eden Gardens.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane faced heavy criticism on Monday after opting to bat first in a rain-threatened clash against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. In matches with rain forecasts, captains usually prefer to field first to have clarity on the target in a shortened game. However, Rahane’s decision did not go down well with many, including legendary Anil Kumble and former India cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Saba Karim.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rain was triggered by a low-pressure trough stretching from Bihar to Manipur, passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, leading to moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

“Thunderstorms with lightning and rain may occur in most districts of South Bengal. From Sunday to Thursday, scattered rainfall is likely across the state, with higher intensity on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the IMD said.

Despite these conditions, Rahane’s decision to bat first drew criticism from former cricketers.

“I am surprised that Rahane won the toss and chose to bat first. On a pitch like this, where there's some rain around, ideally, you would want to field first,” Kumble said on the JioHotstar broadcast during the rain break.

Ashwin took to social media and posted a sarcastic remark.

"When you know it’s going to be a rain affected game, with an inexperienced bowling attack at your disposal, you choose to bat first. Interesting thought process. #ipl2026," Ashwin wrote.

“I cannot understand this call. I cannot wrap my head around it,” Saba said.

Former Bengal batter Sreevats Goswami wrote: "Very surprised to see Rahane winning the toss & electing to bat first on a overcast condition. Bit of a shocker there. Immediately you can see swing and 2 caught behinds. Very very brave call. #kkr," he said.

Rain then interrupted Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL match against Punjab Kings, with the home side struggling at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs amid steady drizzle that later intensified into a thunderstorm.

Opting to bat, KKR - still searching for their first win of the season - were jolted early as Xavier Bartlett struck twice in the span of three balls.

Showing excellent control over swing and seam, the Australian pacer dismissed KKR’s two key overseas batters Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who had been promoted to No. 3.

Green, the highest-paid overseas player at Rs 25.20 crore, endured another poor outing, having earlier scored 18 against Mumbai Indians and 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as KKR’s struggles continued following two opening losses.

Skipper Rahane (8) and young wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi (7), who has been KKR’s most consistent performer this season with back-to-back fifties, were attempting to rebuild when persistent drizzle forced the umpires to halt play at 7:45 pm.

With Eden Gardens equipped with full ground covers, the groundstaff moved swiftly to cover the entire field.

Weather conditions are expected to worsen on Tuesday, with Kalbaisakhi storms likely to bring winds of 50-60 kmph, along with lightning and heavy rain in Kolkata and adjoining areas.

KKR have a third home match in a row facing Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday but that too has some rain forecast.

According to the IMD, the rain has been triggered by a low-pressure trough stretching from Bihar to Manipur, passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh, leading to moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

“Thunderstorms with lightning and rain may occur in most districts of South Bengal. From Sunday to Thursday, scattered rainfall is likely across the state, with higher intensity on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the IMD said.

Weather conditions are expected to worsen on Tuesday, with Kalbaisakhi storms likely to bring winds of 50-60 kmph, along with lightning and heavy rain in Kolkata and adjoining areas.

An inspection was held at 8.45 pm, but with further showers accompanied by gusty Kalbaisakhi (Nor’wester) winds, the outlook remained grim.

Overs begin to be reduced after a delay of one hour, with roughly one over per side lost for every four to five minutes thereafter.

Cameron Green, the highest-paid overseas player at Rs 25.20 crore, continued his miserable outing having earlier managed scores of 18 (against Mumbai Indians) and 2 (Sunrisers Hyderabad), as KKR stumbled having lost their opening two matches.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (8) and young wicketkeeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi (7), who has been KKR’s most consistent performer this season with successive fifties, were looking to rebuild when persistent drizzle forced the umpires to halt play at 7.45pm.

Rain played spoilsport as Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL match against Punjab Kings was interrupted with the home side struggling at 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs amid steady drizzle that later turned into a thunderstorm.

Opting to bat on a dry surface, KKR, in search of their first win of the season, were rocked early as Xavier Bartlett struck twice in the space of three balls.

Displaying fine control over swing and seam, the Australian pacer removed KKR's two star overseas recruits Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who had been promoted to No. 3.

What's the cut off time for a 5-over-a-side game?

It's 11:14 PM IST

'It's not looking pleasant at the moment'

Former England star Kevin Pietersen says on air.

Things aren't looking good now!

Blustery winds amid the drizzle push sections of the covers loose, forcing groundstaff into action.

It is still raining and the intensity is high. The overs will start getting reduced soon. Groundsmen will have a lot to do once it stops.

The rain is heavier now. Things aren't lookinggood at the moment. Fans, with their umbrellas, are waiting for it to stop.

There is a light drizzle at the moment. The waiting game continues.

Oh no!

Rain is back.

Groundsmen are rushing back with the the covers.

The rain has completely stopped.

Groundsmen are a work. They are removing the covers. Main cover is still in place.

Players are in the dug out, smiling and can't wait to hit the field.

Good news!

The rain has stopped.

The covers are coming off.

It is purding down at the moment. The players have left the dug out and are in the dressing room to grab some snacks and coffee.

Oh no!

The drizzle has picked up, and the umpires have called for the covers. More covers are coming on.

The good news is that this ground has full cover facilities, so once the rain stops, it shouldn’t take too long for play to resume.

RAIN! RAIN!

Rain halts play at Eden Gardens

KKR 25/2 in 3.4 overs vs PBKS

WICKET!

It's all happening here. Two in two for Bartlett. Bartlett strikes again, Cameron Green goes for 4 runs. Big big wicket for Punjab Kings. Bartlett bowls it on a hard length outside off, getting it to shape away. Green steps across and looks to push but doesn’t move his feet. He plays with his hands and gets a faint outside edge. Prabhsimran Singh takes a simple catch behind the stumps as Bartlett picks up his second wicket.

KKR 16/2 in 2 overs vs PBKS

WICKET!

Xavier Bartlett strikes, Finn Allen falls for 6 runs. Bartlett strikes as Allen departs cheaply. Bartlett bowls it just outside off, shaping away nicely. Allen stays rooted on the leg side and goes chasing the ball with hard hands. He gets a thick outside edge, and Prabhsimran Singh safely takes the catch behind the stumps. A reward for Bartlett’s tight bowling as KKR lose their first wicket early.

KKR 12/1 in 1.4 overs vs PBKS

Finn Allen tries to play a scoop off Xavier Bartlet. Allen fails to connect this. The ball lands near keeper Prabhsimran Singh. Prabhsimran collects the ball and hits the bowler instead hitting the stumps.

A slightly eventful opening over from Arshdeep Singh as he conceded 12 runs, with both batters settling in quickly. He started with a length ball to Ajinkya Rahane that swung sharply down the leg side, resulting in a soft LBW appeal but comfortably missing the line. Rahane followed with a classy boundary, opening the face of the bat to guide a full delivery between slip and short third- timed to perfection.

Allen kept the strike ticking with a single off the final ball, as 12 runs came off the over - an expensive start for Arshdeep.

KKR 12/0 in 1 over vs PBKS

KKR openers Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane are in the middle

Arshdeep Singh will open the attack for Punjab Kings

Here we go .. !!!

Here are the Impact substitutes for both the teams:

Punjab Kings Impact subs: Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Pravin Dubey, Harpreet Brar

Kolkata Knight Riders Impact subs: Blessing Muzarabani, Manish Pandey, Tejasvi Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Saurabh Dubey

Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi

Our (Shreyas and Ponting) chemistry blossomed from our Delhi Capitals days. He gives freedom to all the youngsters and he is an inspiration himself. Same team for us.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane wins toss, opts to bat vs Punjab Kings

Navdeep Saini receives his KKR cap.

He is set to make his debut tonight vs Punjab Kings.

Kolkata Knight Riders' high-profile acquisition Cameron Green has resumed bowling in the nets and is "not far away" from doing so in an IPL match, bowling coach Tim Southee said on Sunday.

The Australian all-format all-rounder, IPL's costliest overseas buy at Rs 25.20-crore, has not bowled so far in the season as Cricket Australia monitors his workload post his back surgery.

"Yeah, Green's been bowling well, tracking his rehab and getting himself back to being able to bowl in games. He'll continue to do that," Southee said ahead of KKR's clash against Punjab Kings.

However, it is unlikely that Green will bowl against PBKS on Monday, even though he was seen going full throttle at a practice session on Saturday.

Sunday's match-day minus one training was washed out at Eden Gardens, with most regulars staying away, while a few domestic recruits, including Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rahul Tripathi, trained indoors.

KKR's inexperienced pace attack -- in the absence of Mustafizur Rahman, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana for various reasons -- has been a major talking point early in the season.

The issue has been compounded by Green's inability to bowl, which became a talking point after KKR failed to defend 220 in their opening match loss to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede.

Responding to a broadcaster's query on Green not bowling, skipper Ajinkya Rahane had quipped, "Ask Cricket Australia," prompting their board to clarify that KKR were "fully aware" of his recovery timeline and workload management plan.

Southee said the franchise remains in constant touch with the Australian board.

"We're in regular contact with Cricket Australia and I'm sure we'll see Cameron bowling soon. I'm sure he's not far away from bowling in a match."

KKR have lost both their matches so far, including a crushing 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad to start the opening leg in their previous outing here on April 2.

Their inexperienced pace attack remains a work in progress. Mustafizur's replacement Blessing Muzarabani impressed with figures of 4/41, while youngsters Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have also shown promise with timely breakthroughs, but the seasoned spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy are yet to make an impact.

"It's certainly a long tournament, two games in. With the setbacks with the bowlers we've been unable to have, it presents opportunities for other guys. We're still excited about the bowling group we've got," Southee said.

"They're inexperienced but they've got a tremendous amount of skill. We've seen it in glimpses in the first two games. It's our job to get a little bit more consistency out of them."

"Although the first two games haven't gone to plan, I'm sure they will show how skilful and how good they can be at this level throughout the tournament."

Southee stressed the need for early wickets, especially in the power play.

"It's always hard when you're not taking wickets, particularly in the powerplay. Taking wickets early stems the run flow and makes things easier. We haven't quite managed to do that so far, but we’ll plan accordingly and hopefully take those early wickets."

Team selection has also come under scrutiny, with players such as Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra and Rovman Powell yet to feature.

But Southee said finding the right combination is never straightforward.

"I think you look at all the squads, there's so many good players to choose from. There are discussions around what side best matches up against the opposition and conditions," Southee said.

"There's so much talent that it's hard to get the perfect equilibrium. But it's the side we thought was best for the first two games. We'll plan for what we're going to come up against and pick the team that gives us the best chance."

Kolkata Knight Riders star pacer Harshit Rana may miss IPL 2026 due to his ongoing recovery from knee surgery, but the youngster has made sure to support his team from the stands. The 24-year-old will be present at the KKR vs Punjab Kings clash on Monday, cheering for his side.

“Look who’s here to cheer for the Knights tonight. Harshit Rana is in Kolkata, to spend a day with his KKR Family,” the franchise posted on its social media handles, clarifying that the youngster is in the city only to support the team and spend time with his teammates.

Rana had already been ruled out of IPL 2026 as he continues his recovery from knee surgery he underwent in February. KKR brought in India pacer Navdeep Saini as his replacement in the squad.

The injury also forced Rana out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He sustained the knee injury during a warm-up match against South Africa national cricket team in Navi Mumbai on February 4, 2026, pulling out after bowling just one over.

He subsequently underwent surgery and was replaced by Mohammed Siraj, as India went on to lift the 2026 T20 World Cup at home.

Despite the setback, Rana was honoured with the Best Men’s International Debutant award at the BCCI Awards last month in New Delhi. He attended the ceremony on crutches, with IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal stepping down from the stage to present him the award.

KKR head into the contest under pressure, having lost their opening two matches of IPL 2026 against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Still searching for their first points, KKR could face an additional hurdle from the weather when they take on Punjab Kings on Monday.

As per the IMD weather bulletin, there is a strong chance of rain affecting the match, which could result in a shortened contest.

With another fixture against Lucknow Super Giants at the same venue — a match that also carries a rain forecast — weather concerns could further add to KKR’s early-season troubles.

There has been persistent cloud cover since morning following a “low-pressure trough stretching from Bihar to Manipur, passing over North Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh”, according to the IMD.

"The state is likely to witness another round of Kalbaishakhi storms, with the possibility of hail and thunderstorms from Sunday through Thursday. The intensity and spread of rainfall are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday," the IMD said.

"The weather is expected to turn more severe on Tuesday, when Kalbaishakhi storms accompanied by winds of 50-60 kmph, lightning and rain are likely to impact Kolkata and adjoining areas."

Yuzvendra Chahal's "dangerous" outlook stems from his relentless work ethic, says Punjab Kings assistant bowling coach Trevor Gonsalves as the wily veteran leg-spinner eyes another telling impact against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL clash on Monday.

Chahal is the leading wicket-taker against KKR in the IPL. His match-up against skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh who have struggled against him, could prove decisive.

"Yuzvendra Chahal is a very dangerous name in Indian cricket. And overseas, he is even more dangerous," Gonsalves said on the eve of their IPL match against KKR.

"What I have seen in the last couple of years is that he is so serious, both on and off the field. He just wants to get going and win games for the side."

The leg-spinner has already shown his guile this season, picking up key wickets including Shubman Gill with flight and variation, while also accounting for Jos Buttler in a tidy spell of 2/28 in their opening match against Gujarat Titans.

He followed it up with another controlled effort against Chennai Super Kings, returning 1/21 in three overs, including the wicket of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.

For KKR, Rahane has managed just 46 runs in 10 IPL innings against him at a strike rate of 102, falling four times.

Rinku has scored only 15 runs in three innings while being dismissed twice, while young Raghuvanshi too has been removed twice in three outings.

Gonsalves pointed out Chahal’s work ethic as his biggest strength.

"He has been at every practice session, every single camp. He is the front-runner in all those camps and the most involved guy in this set-up,” he said.

"It's always like he just wants to perform, he wants to be the top guy for the side. That’s the kind of commitment he brings.”

Having led KKR to their third title in 2024, Shreyas Iyer was released by the franchise before taking over as Punjab Kings skipper, guiding them to the final last season.

The Shreyas-Ricky Ponting combination has since transformed the side, with Gonsalves reserving special praise for the captain-coach duo.

On Shreyas he said: “He has a very good mindset. The main thing I see is his team management. Whether things are going good or bad, I’ve always seen Shreyas backing his players,” he said.

“He is calm, he listens to everyone at length, and that’s his biggest plus point.”

"They (Shreyas and Ponting) both talk on the same lines. They both back each other. I haven't seen a single rift or a difference in opinion between the captain and the coach."

Having finished runners-up, PBKS have retained the bulk of their core (21 players), a move Gonsalves said was driven by stability under head coach Ponting.

"Our coach Ricky Ponting is always against chopping and changing. We played the final last year, so there was no reason to break that core," he said.

"It's almost the same group, they gel well and understand each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will host Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 12th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, at the Eden Gardens.

Kolkata Knight Riders enter this match under pressure. They have lost their first two games against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 season. With their season still struggling, KKR is hoping home support will help them bounce back.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings have been one of the top teams so far. They started with a thrilling win over Gujarat Titans, followed by a strong victory against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai. Boosted by confidence and momentum, PBKS is looking to secure their third win in a row.

Match details:

When: Monday, April 6, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Where to watch: Star Sports Network and JioStar

Squads:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh (vc), Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sarthak Ranjan, Tim Seifert, Rahul Tripathi, Daksh Kamra, Cameron Green, Sunil Narine, Rachin Ravindra, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Saurabh Dubey, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani, Navdeep Saini, Prashant Solanki and Umran Malik.

Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Harnoor Singh, Mitchell Owen, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Musheer Khan, Praveen Dubey, Vishal Nishad, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh.