Eden Gardens, Kolkata will come alive as Kolkata Knight Riders take on Punjab Kings in the twelfth match of IPL 2026 at 6 PM.th April 7:30 pm IST.
Get the best KKR vs PBKS Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI and match insight for 12.th IPL 2026 match. Expert analysis and more.
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KKR vs PBKS Match Preview:
The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League returns to the historic Eden Gardens as Kolkata Knight Riders will host in-form Punjab Kings in match number 12. This evening match is scheduled for April 6, 2026, with the live telecast starting at 7:30 PM IST. Both the franchises are entering this match with opposite fortunes, as the hosts are keenly searching for their first point while the visitors are aiming to extend their winning streak.
The historical rivalry between these two sides highlights the significant dominance of the home side, especially at this prestigious venue. Out of the total 35 matches played between these teams in the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders have won 21, while Punjab Kings have claimed 13 wins. Furthermore, the Knight Riders maintain a strong 10-3 record against Punjab at the Eden Gardens, although the Kings’ recent league-wide form suggests it will be a much closer contest this time.
Kolkata Knight Riders have arrived for this home match looking for a comeback after consecutive defeats against Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team is currently ranked 9th under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane.th Position in the points table with a net run rate of -1.964. The best performer for the Knight Riders has been Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who provided a rare spark to an otherwise struggling batting line-up with a brilliant 52 in the last match. Additionally, the bowling unit will rely heavily on Sunil Narine to exploit the turn at Eden Gardens and contain the aggressive Punjab lineup.
In contrast, Punjab Kings are going into this match with immense confidence after their thrilling five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings. Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, the team is currently at third position.third Placed on the standings with 4 points and a positive net run rate of +0.637. The top performer for the Kings has been the dynamic Priyansh Arya, who demolished the opposition with a breathtaking knock of 39 runs in just 11 balls to ensure a comfortable target. Furthermore, Shreyas Iyer’s clinical middle-order contribution and Arshdeep Singh’s pace make them one of the most balanced units in the competition so far.
Therefore, both the franchises will view this match as a crucial opportunity to shape their early season trajectory. Kolkata Knight Riders aim to use their historic home ground advantage and better head-to-head record to eventually open their account for the season. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will look to maintain their clinical all-round performances to overcome their historic struggles in Kolkata and consolidate their position at the top of the table.
KKR vs PBKS head-to-head record:
|
teams |
win the match |
|
Kolkata Knight Riders |
11 |
|
punjab kings |
13 |
KKR vs PBKS Weather and Pitch Report:
|
temperature |
31°C |
|
weather forecast |
cloudy |
|
pitch behavior |
batting friendly |
|
Best suited for |
motion |
|
Average score of first innings |
170 |
Records of chasing teams:
|
record |
Good |
|
Victory % |
61% |
KKR vs PBKS Playing 11 (Expected):
Kolkata Knight Riders Playing 11:
1) Ajinkya Rahane ©
2) Finn Allen
3) Cameron Green
4) Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Wicketkeeper)
5) Rinku Singh
6) Ramandeep Singh
7) Sunil Narine
8) Anukul Roy
9) Vaibhav Arora
10) Varun Chakraborty
11) Kartik Tyagi
12) Blessing Muzarabani
punjab kings playing 11: :
1) Prabhsimran Singh (Wicketkeeper)
2)Priyansh Arya
3) Shreyas Iyer ©
4) Nehal Vadhera
5) Marcus Stoinis
6) Shashank Singh
7) Cooper Connolly
8) Marco Jansson
9) Vijaykumar Vaishya
10) Arshdeep Singh
11) Yuzvendra Chahal
12) Xavier Bartlett
KKR vs PBKS Hot Picks for Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Choice:
|
Cooper Connolly – The promising left-handed all-rounder for Punjab Kings has scored 108 runs this season, including a match-winning unbeaten 72 in a successful chase. |
|
Shreyas Iyer – The right-handed top-order batsman and Punjab Kings captain has scored 68 runs in two matches, highlighted by a steady half-century in the middle overs. |
Raises up:
|
Finn Allen – The explosive right-handed opening batsman for Kolkata Knight Riders has scored 65 runs in two innings, including a quickfire 28 off just 7 balls recently. |
|
Ajinkya Rahane – The experienced right-handed opening batsman and Kolkata Knight Riders captain has scored 75 runs in two matches, including 67 against Mumbai Indians. |
Budget Selection:
|
Sunil Narine – The experienced left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break all-rounder for Kolkata Knight Riders controls the flow of the game, maintains a disciplined economy rate and poses a consistent wicket-taking threat. |
|
Vijaykumar Vaishya – The right-arm medium pacer for Punjab Kings took 2 wickets for 38 runs while bowling a crucial death over spell to ensure the win. |
KKR vs PBKS IPL 2026 Captain and Vice-Captain Choices:
|
captain |
Shreyas Iyer and Cooper Connolly |
|
vice captain |
Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen |
KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Finn Allen (Vice Captain), Prabhsimran Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Batsmen – Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer ©, Priyansh Arya
- All-rounders – Cameron Green, Marco Johnson, Cooper Connolly
- Bowlers- Yuzvendra Chahal, Blessing Muzarabani
KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Finn Allen, Prabhsimran Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Batsmen – Ajinkya Rahane (Vice Captain), Shreyas Iyer
- All-rounders – Sunil Narine, Marco Johnson, Cooper Connolly ©
- Bowlers- Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vishak, Blessing Muzarabani
KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today Match 12 IPL 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
player |
dream11 credit |
Dream11 Points (Last Match) |
|
Vishnu Vinod |
7.0 credit |
No |
|
Manish Pandey |
6.5 credits |
No |
KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today Match 12 IPL 2026 Expert Advice:
|
sl captaincy option |
Shreyas Iyer |
|
gl captaincy option |
cooper connolly |
|
choice of punt |
Vijaykumar Vaishya and Sunil Narine |
|
dream11 combination |
3-3-3-2 |
KKR vs PBKS Match Winner Prediction:
Based on the current performance, Punjab Kings can win this match.

