Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) they got a double blow ipl 2026 struggle against Punjab Kings (PBKS) At Eden Gardens, two of their key bowlers – Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy – were ruled out of the match. The absence of these experienced players immediately caught the attention of fans, especially considering their importance to KKR’s bowling attack.
KKR vs PBKS: Why are Sunil Narine and Varun Chakraborty not playing today’s match?
At the time of the toss, captain Ajinkya Rahane confirmed the reasons behind the change. While Chakraborty has been ruled out due to injury, Narine has been ruled out due to illness. These were not tactical decisions but forced changes that the team had to deal with on match day.
Rahane explained, “Two changes, forced changes. Varun Chakravarthy unfortunately got injured while taking a catch in the last game and Sunil Narine is ill. [Rovman] powell and [Navdeep] Saini I am in.”
Chakraborty’s injury reportedly occurred during the previous match when he was hit while attempting to take a catch. Given his role as one of KKR’s most reliable spinners, his absence leaves a noticeable gap in the middle overs. Narine’s unavailability due to illness has compounded the problem, as he not only contributes with the ball but also provides flexibility with the bat.
Despite these setbacks, Rahane seemed confident about his team’s mentality and preparation. After winning the toss, KKR decided to bat first, with the captain explaining his reasoning based on the condition of the pitch.
“We are going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket, a bit dry but it is a very good wicket and has a bit less grass on it. That is the reason for getting runs on the board first.” Rahane said.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vishak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Also read: KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026 – Eden Gardens Pitch Report and Kolkata Weather Forecast
Punjab Kings has entered with an unchanged playing eleven.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has no complaints about losing the toss. In fact, he seemed comfortable with the situation and backed his team to perform regardless of the circumstances.
“Not at all, I also had to bowl. I am very happy with the decision he took.” Iyer said.
He also spoke about his working relationship with head coach Ricky Ponting and praised the freedom and confidence given to the players under his leadership.
“Our chemistry has evolved since the Delhi Capitals days. And he is someone who gives all kinds of leeway and freedom to the youngsters in the team. And the inspiration that he is himself, he has played great cricket over the years. And we have seen him grow into one of the best cricketers in the world. So yes, working with him, it is a phenomenal feeling. And at the same time with him at the helm at Punjab Kings, we know he has a lot of ideas. So, I personally feel that it It’s a blessing in disguise.” he explained.
Unlike KKR, Punjab Kings went into the match with an unchanged playing XI, indicating consistency in their approach.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wicketkeeper), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi.
