KKR vs LSG IPL 2026 Preview: Can Kolkata End Their Winless Start at Eden Gardens?

Last Updated on April 9, 2026 by Khabr Bite

Kolkata Knight Riders have started the IPL 2026 with two consecutive losses, and their third game was abandoned because of rain. Their next match is against LSG on April 9, 2026.  The match will be at the Eden Gardens at 7:30 PM IST. On the other hand, LSG are looking confident and are all set for the game against KKR in Kolkata.

The match will be live broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioHotstar. Here are the match details:

Match Number: 15
Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Also Read: IPL 2026 Points Table Updates: Latest Standings, NRR & Team Rankings

KKR vs LSG Head-to-Head in IPL

There have been 6 clashes between LSG vs KKR, out of them 4 have been won by LSG and only 2 by KKR. It simply shows that LSG is dominating the rivalry. Seeing this year’s situation, KKR is in poor form and is struggling a lot. On the other hand, LSG is coming up with a victory and is hoping to win this as well. 

Pitch Report of Eden Gardens

After four days of heavy rain, the forecast finally shows clear weather during match hours. As per the reports, early movements are expected for seamers before the pitch settles into its traditional batting-friendly nature. Pitch is looking batting-friendly, and good pace and bounce are expected.

Cutters are effective in the middle overs for bowlers. The highest total is around 220+ in this venue, and the average 1st innings is 163. According to the stats, defending totals here are more successful. 5 of the last 6 matches have been won by the team batting first. 

Also Read: Players with Most Fifties in IPL 2026 Season – Live Updated Rankings

Weather Report: LSG vs KKR 

At the start of the play, the temperature is expected to be between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius. Chances of rain are around 15%, which means no significant interruption is expected during play. The dew factor can be critical and can help the chasing team.  Wind speed is expected to be around 10-15km/h. 

Key Players to Watch out For 

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in great form for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He has scored back-to-back two half-centuries. For LSG, its captain Rishabh Pant who assured in the last match that LSG would win. Talking about bowlers, for KKR, Vaibhav Arora can play a crucial role at the start because of his ability to swing the ball. For LSG, it’s Mohammed Shami, who has taken three wickets so far in two innings with an economy of 4.62. 

Also, Sunil Narine is expected to return after missing the PBKS match because of abdominal pain. As per DurhamCCC, he has trained on both days and expected to slot back into the XI. On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran is not seen in a good light, but his average against Sunil Narine is 48.25 with a strike rate of 134.02 and against Varun, he strikes at 165.21. 

Also Read: Indian Batters with the Fastest IPL Fifties: Yashasvi Jaiswal Leads the Pack

Prince Yadav is also one of the most critical bowlers for LSG. He has taken 4 wickets in two matches and is expected to perform well against LSG also. 

Varun Chakaravarthy Injury Update

Varun was injured during the clash between KKR and SRH. He hurt the little finger on his left while taking a catch, forcing the team management to closely monitor his recovery, but the good thing is that he has seen practice on April 8 with the team. 

Also Read: RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi Power Rajasthan Royals to Third Straight Win

What does Google AI mode predict for LSG vs KKR?

As per the Google AI mode, Lucknow Super Giants is expected to win the match against Kolkata Knight Riders because of their current form and advantage in the head-to-head rivalry. Win probability is 51.4% for Lucknow Super Giants and 48.6% For Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Probable XI for Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders 

Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (wk, capt), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, M Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav

Kolkata Knight Riders: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani

Also Read: Sameer Rizvi Net Worth 2026: From Domestic Player to Rising Star

Note: Varun Chakravarthy remains doubtful because of his finger injury on his left hand. According to KKR, ” the medical team has been working closely with him. He bowled his full set at training.”

IPL 2026 Points Table