Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants IPL, 2026, Full Score Card

Vaibhav Arora goes for the bouncer for this last ball, and delivers it well, on off. Mukul Choudhary stands outside off for the pull but misses. Avesh Khan sets off for the bye, and Mukul has to go for it. The keeper, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, collects it, but cannot repeat what Jos Buttler did for GT last night and misses the stumps. LSG WIN A THRILLER BY 3 WICKETS!

SIX! UNBELIEVABLE! Why play the scoop when you can do that? He brings up a superb MAIDEN IPL FIFTY as well, and will be hoping to finish the job now. Arora misses the yorker just by an inch, outside off. Mukul Choudhary backs away, crouches low and extends his arms to reach out for it. He carves it out, and the ball rockets over the deep extra cover fence for a biggie. SCORES LEVEL!

Back-to-back dots! Vaibhav Arora sees the batter move across and delivers another wide yorker, outside off. Mukul Choudhary shuffles across a long way for the scoop but misses.

Well bowled! Vaibhav Arora comes around the wide and executes the wide yorker to perfection, outside off. Mukul Choudhary cannot get under it and misses. 7 needed off 3 now.

SIX! Into the stands! Mukul Choudhary, you beauty. Vaibhav Arora lands his back of a length and on middle, angling into the pads. Mukul makes no mistake of picking it up and whipping it over the deep square leg fence for another six. 7 needed 4 now.

Golden run from Avesh Khan! Good length and on middle, Khan nudges it through mid-wicket for a single and gets Mukul back on strike. 13 needed in 5 balls now.

Right. 14 needed from the last over. But with Avesh on strike, LSG's best hope is simply to work the single and get Mukul on strike to the rest. Also, Kolkata Knight Riders have been penalised for a slow-over rate. An extra fielder will have to be kept inside the ring till the end of the innings. Vaibhav Arora (3-0-25-2) to bowl the final over. Can he make an impact for his side? This could swing any way, folks.

SIX! Pressure? What pressure? Cameron Green with another short delivery, slower again. Mukul Choudhary anticipates it early, waits for it and smashes it cleanly over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more. 16 from the over!

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Short again and on middle, pace on this time. Mukul Choudhary goes for the pull again but gets a top edge over the keeper's head for a boundary. 20 needed in 7 balls now.

Clever bowling! Takes pace off again, serves this full and outside off. Mukul Choudhary has a big slog across the line. Gets a slight outside edge on a couple of bounces to the keeper.

SIX! Gets hold of that one! Goes for the off-cutter into the deck, but it is just not enough. Mukul Choudhary manages to pick up the length, swivels and smacks it flat and over the deep backward square leg fence for another biggie.

Short of a length and on off, takes pace off. Mukul Choudhary goes through the pull shot early and misses. It hits his back and deflects towards short third.

In the air...SAFE! A slower bumper, on middle. Mukul Choudhary stays back and tries to flat-bat it down the ground but gets a top edge. It flies high in the air but lands perfectly between the converging long on and long off fielders. Dot ball.

Lucknow Super Giants need 30 runs from 12 balls. Mukul Choudhary is on strike and will look to play most of the remaining balls. Cameron Green (1-0-12-1) is back into the attack to bowl the most important over of the game.

A dot! Fuller and outside off, keeping it away from the batter. Avesh Khan backs away and swings hard but gets nowhere near the ball. 13 from the over!

Hits the deck hard and around off, Mukul Choudhary pulls it away to deep mid-wicket and takes the run. Avesh Khan has the free license to go big on the last ball.

SIX! Connects well again! Kartik Tyagi misses the mark and serves a juicy full toss, on middle. Mukul Choudhary stays deep inside his crease and launches it powerfully over the long-on fence for half a dozen more. 31 needed in 14 now.

Back of a length and around off, Mukul Choudhary heaves it away to deep mid-wicket but does not take the run.

A full toss, on middle, Mukul Choudhary drills it hard but down towards long on. Denies the single.

SIX! Mukul Choudhary is keeping LSG in this game! Short of a length and just outside off. Mukul steps across early. He waits for it and, using his wrists, gives it a big swat, sending the ball flying over the wide long off fence for a biggie. Unbelievable shot!

Last 3 overs to go. The Super Giants need 43 from 18 balls. It's not over until Mukul is there in the middle. Kartik Tyagi (2-0-18-1) is back on.

A quick bouncer, around off. Avesh Khan opens up his body to whack it but fails to connect.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Mukul Choudhary heaves it away to deep mid-wicket for one.

SIX! Wow..where has that come from? Vaibhav Arora goes fuller, follows the batter into the leg side. Mukul Choudhary brings out his inner MS Dhoni. Gets under it and nails the helicopter shot over the long on fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Superb effort in the deep, but it goes in vain! Back of a length and on middle. Mukul Choudhary connects well with his pull again. It zips to the left of deep square leg, where Ramandeep Singh moves and gets a good left hand on it, but it clips his boots and rolls to the fence for a boundary.

Nails the yorker, on middle, Mukul Choudhary can only jam it out to the leg side.

Short of a length and on middle, Mukul Choudhary pulls it hard but straight to deep square leg for a single.

A perfect way to end a frugal spell. Narine finishes off with 4-0-13-1. Avesh Khan is in at number 9. Vaibhav Arora (2-0-14-2) is back on.

OUT! TAKEN! Sunil Narine finishes an incredible spell of bowling with a wicket. 200 T20 scalps in India for Narine, he is the first overseas bowler to achieve this feat. The West Indian reaches that milestone with a delivery that's floated up, full and on middle, turning it in. Mohammad Shami looks to slog it with the spin but gets it more from the inside half of the bat. It flies straight towards deep square leg, where Anukul Roy takes a good catch around his waist. Narine punches the air in delight. You don't often see him showing his emotions. LSG are 128/7, needing 54 runs from 24 balls.

Another dot! A carrom ball, full and on off, turns in now. Mohammad Shami falls over to his front trying to play and the ball sneaks past the outside edge.

Flighted, full and on middle, Mukul Choudhary goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Three dots in a row! Flatter and shorter, on off. Mukul Choudhary looks to punch it away but misses again.

Beaten! Slower through the air, full and around off, grips and turns away sharply. Mukul Choudhary is finding it hard to read Narine. He pushes his bat in front but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Tossed up, full and on off, Mukul Choudhary looks to work it away but gets an outside edge along the ground to short third.

Skids through from a length, on the stumps. Mukul Choudhary is rushed on the back foot and stabs it down to long on for a single. Anukul Roy is done with his spell, with figures reading 4-0-32-2.

Uses the wider angle, short on middle. Shami goes back and across and nudges it in front of square leg for a single.

Strategic Break! Ayush Badoni's wicket has shifted the game back towards Kolkata Knight Riders. He was looking in great touch, proving to be the difference in this game but KKR will be relieved seeing the back of him. However, Mukul Choudhary has shown glimpses this season that he can hit the ball, and what better situation to be in to make a name in front of the world? Mohammad Shami joins him out in the middle. He can also hit it a long way.

OUT! FIFTY AND OUT FOR BADONI! Wicket number 2 for Anukul Roy and the most important one in the game's context. Length ball outside off, and Badoni gets forward but has to stretch for it a bit extra. He goes inside-out over extra cover, but the bottom hand slips off the handle at the moment of impact. The ball loops in the air, and Rinku runs to his left from long off and settles under it without fuss. He is not dropping those at all. Lucknow Super Giants are 125/6, needing 57 runs from 32 balls.

SIX! FIFTY FOR AYUSH BADONI! A very, very well-compiled half-century. His 7th in the IPL and the first in this season. Anukul misfires a full toss at knee height. Ayush Badoni accepts it gleefully and clears the deep mid-wicket fence with ease for a crucial six to cross his milestone. A fantastic knock from the youngster on a sluggish pitch. But he knows the job is far from done.

Too full outside off, carved straight to cover.

In-angler, on a length, on leg. Badoni tries to tuck it to the leg side, but misses and wears it on the pad.

Again, the pace is taken off, but the line is much closer to the off pole, on a length. Ayush Badoni moves a bit across and heaves it to deep mid-wicket. Rinku Singh collects it on the bounce. A single taken.

FOUR! This is turning out to be a fine knock from Badoni! Hard length, outside off, with pace taken off. Ayush Badoni predicts the pace off, waits on it and uppercuts it over backward point for a boundary. 14 from the over with a ball to go.

At pace, short and outside off, Badoni climbs over it and square cuts it to backward point. Vaibhav Arora dives to his left but fails to stop it cleanly, parrying the ball to the deep. Kartik Tyagi from deep third gets across to keep it down to a couple.

Leg cutter, outside off at 118.7 kph. Ayush tries to knife it with the cut shot, but it just goes underground and beats the inside edge.

FOUR! Crashed away! A slower delivery, full and outside off. Ayush Badoni takes a baby step on the front foot and smashes it through cover-point for a cracking four.

FOUR! Top shot! Full and outside off, Badoni gets under it nicely and lofts it inside out over extra cover for a boundary. Perfectly off the middle.

Nicely flighted up, full and around off, Mukul takes a big stride ahead and drives it straight to cover. A wicket and just 8 runs from this over. 3-0-24-1 so far for Anukul Roy.

LSG lose half their side now. Mukul Choudhary comes out to the middle.

OUT! BOWLED! It is spiralling down badly for the Super Giants now. Tossed up full, on middle and off, and Samad's eyes light up. He goes for the big slog across the line, but the ball does just enough to slide in with the angle and catch him half-forward. He misses it completely and the ball brushes his back leg before crashing into the stumps. 73/2 becomes 104/5 for LSG, and they need 78 runs to win from 43 balls.

WIDE! Miles outside off, breaching the guideline, Samad walks across and opts to leave.

A full toss, on middle. Badoni finds no power on it and airs it off the toe end. It goes on the bounce to Cameron Green at long on for a single.

WIDE! Far outside off beyond the tramline. Badoni lets it pass.

FOUR! Swept neatly! Drifting on the pads, full in length. Badoni sits down, uses his wrists to play it finer, and sweeps it through backward square leg for a boundary.

Full and wide, Badoni leaves. But it is well within the guidelines.

Floated up at 90.5 kph, full on middle, Samad runs it down to long on for a single.

Fuller than the previous ball, outside off, Samad leans across and caresses it behind point for a run. This has been an excellent little phase for the Knight Riders. 86 needed off 48 balls.

BEATEN! Back of a length, kicking up a bit, outside off. Abdul Samad presses in front to drive it on the rise through cover. He plays inside the line and is beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

Another timely wicket for KKR, and they will feel they are ahead in the game now. Abdul Samad is the next man in.

OUT! MISTIMED AND TAKEN! Once again, the short ball does the trick. Kartik runs his fingers across the leather and takes pace off by banging it short, on off. Nicholas Pooran shapes up to crash it into the stands over mid-wicket, but gets no timing whatsoever. The ball climbs on him and he only manages to top-edge it towards long on. Ramandeep Singh runs backwards and takes a simple catch at the edge of the ring to send Pooran packing. Lucknow Super Giants are 95/4 and it's getting interesting now. KKR right back in the game.

Hard length, on middle, Ayush walks across and dinks it through mid-wicket. They run the first one hard, and try for the second, but the fielder moves rapidly from the ropes and restricts them.

FOUR! This time, he gets the connection alright! Hard length, on top of off, Ayush Badoni arches back, uses the pace and uppercuts it over short third to find the fence.

Play and a miss! At pace, outside off on a hard length and it keeps leaving the batter after pitching. Ayush Badoni has an ungainly waft at it with his feet going nowhere. Misses to connect.

Takes pace off again, across the batter on a length. Pooran scythes it to deep cover. Ramandeep Singh comes charging across from deep point and cuts it off in the deep. Two taken. LSG need 92 more runs from 54 balls.

Well bowled! Deceives the batter with a slower bouncer, on off. Pooran is months early into the pull shot and is beaten all ends up. Excellent so far by Saini with all his variations.

Off-pace delivery, on a length, on off. Pooran dabs it in front of backward point and tries to pinch a single. But Badoni sends him back and he retreats in time.

Across off, on a fullish length. Pooran slaps it to the right of long off. Despite the ball running through the practice pitches in the deep, Ajinkya Rahane does well to cut it off with a dive. Two taken.

WIDE! Down leg, and way too short. Pooran ducks and lets it be. Wide given.

Slows it up, on a length, and nips away from the left-hander. Pooran swings across to pull, only to miss.

Nice and full, straighter outside off, Pooran carves it to cover.

That was an over of high quality from Narine. At halfway, LSG's 85/3 meets KKR's 98/1. The Super Giants need 97 runs from 60 balls. Now then, Navdeep Saini (1-0-17-0) returns to the attack.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Ayush Badoni pushes it back to the bowler. Just one off the over. Excellent stuff!

Floated, shortish and on off, holds its line. Ayush Badoni guides it off the outer half of the bat wide of point, where the fielder dives to his left to make the stop.

Short again and around leg, Nicholas Pooran clips it through mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Three dots! Slower through the air, full and on off, grips and turns away. Nicholas Pooran gets forward to block but is beaten on the outside edge.

Drops it short and on middle and off, Nicholas Pooran pats it towards point. He wants the run but is sent back.

Oh, so close! Flatter delivery, short and on middle, turns in just a bit. Nicholas Pooran stays back to play it but gets beaten on the inside edge as the ball just goes over the stumps.

Short again and on middle, Nicholas Pooran gets a top edge on his pull shot towards deep mid-wicket. Rovman Powell runs to his right and grabs it, but it won't matter. He quickly throws it back. Just one.

Another slower bumper, but too high again, Nicholas Pooran lets it go. It is called a No Ball for this being the second bouncer of the over. Free Hit up next..

SIX! Nicholas Pooran gets going! Cameron Green bangs it into the pitch again, but this one just sits up nicely for the batter. Pooran climbs onto it and pulls it away flat, and it flies over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Back of a length and around off, Ayush Badoni lifts his front leg to heave it away but mistimes it wide of mid on for a run.

Good length and on middle, Nicholas Pooran drops it in front of cover for a quick single.

A slight halt in play. Change of boots for Cameron Green. He puts on the new pair and we are good to continue.

WIDE! A slower bouncer, around off, but way too high for the batter. Nicholas Pooran leaves it alone. Easy wide decision.

Green will surely be the happiest man in the park right now. And yet again, a wicket right after the break. LSG lose their skipper and Nicholas Pooran is in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Cameron Green comes in and gets a huge wicket of Rishabh Pant. This is why KKR were desperately waiting for him to finally be able to bowl. He bangs this hard into the pitch, on middle, and gets some extra bounce due to his height. Pant goes for the pull shot but the ball gets big on him and he fails to control the shot. It takes the top edge and flies wide of short fine, where Kartik Tyagi moves to his right and takes a good running catch. A body blow to LSG as their famed top three are now back in the hut.

Short of a length and outside off, Ayush Badoni cuts it away really hard but finds deep point. Just a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It's pretty much even stevens at the moment. LSG are 72/2 in 8 overs. At the same stage, KKR were 74/1. So a nice contest is brewing up in Kolkata. It's just about who applies in a better way. The pitch is slow and the ball has turned a fair bit for Narine who has bowled a frugal spell so far. Pant and Badoni have formed a steady stand together and with 110 runs needed off 72 balls, which is no big ask, these two would like to consolidate the middle phase. Knight Riders know that they need wickets regularly and would look upon Narine to bring the breakthrough. And surprise, surprise! Cameron Green is brought into the attack now. For the first time in this IPL.

Nicely bowled! Flighted, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Rishabh Pant looks to clip it across the line but gets a leading edge as the ball rolls towards short third.

Another short delivery, on middle, angling in. Ayush Badoni tucks it off the back foot through square leg for one.

Quicker and shorter, on the pads, Rishabh Pant works it through square leg for another run.

Drags his length back now, on middle, Ayush Badoni steps across and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Flighted, full and around off, Ayush Badoni goes for the drive but gets a bottom edge down the pitch.

Shorter in length and outside off, Rishabh Pant cuts it away to deep point for a single.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, slower again. Rishabh Pant moves across to get inside the line and hook it away over short fine. He hits it with the inside half of the bat and towards deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Cracking shot! Kartik Tyagi bowls the off-cutter, full and on middle. Rishabh Pant skips down the track but stays leg side of the ball. He waits for it and hits through the line to power it wide of long off for a boundary.

Back of a length and just outside off, Ayush Badoni reaches out and punches it to sweeper cover for another run.

Goes fuller and on the pads, Rishabh Pant flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Short of a length and on off, shoots up a bit, Ayush Badoni rides the bounce and dabs it in front of point for a single.

FOUR! Gets greeted with a boundary! Kartik Tyagi lands this on a hard length and just around off. Ayush Badoni just opens the face of his bat and uses the pace of the ball to steer it through backward point. No chance for the fielder in the deep as the ball races to the fence.

End of Powerplay. Same scores for both teams at this stage. LSG have lost one extra wicket though. Kartik Tyagi to bowl now. He replaces Vaibhav Arora.

Drags his length back once more, on middle, Ayush Badoni nudges it through mid-wicket for one. LSG are 56/2 at the end of the Powerplay!

Tossed up, full and on middle, turns in sharply. Ayush Badoni prods forward to defend but misses and gets hit on the pads. Turned a bit too much.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Narine drags his length back again and just around off. Ayush Badoni takes a step back. He gets on top of the bounce and punches it sweetly through covers for a boundary.

Keeps the length short again, on middle and leg, Rishabh Pant tucks it towards square leg and thinks about the second. However, the keeper, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, is quick to get to the ball and keeps it to one.

Short again and on off, Ayush Badoni steps across and punches it to long on for a single. 50 UP FOR LSG!

Floated, short and on off, Ayush Badoni stays back and blocks it out well.

Short on leg, a rib-tickler from Vaibhav. Badoni helps it behind to deep fine leg for a single. A fantastic over from KKR's impact player. 2 wickets and 8 runs from it.

SIX! JUST OVER! A cross-seam ball, short and on middle. Ayush Badoni swivels and pulls it aerially. Gets a bit of a top edge, but the ball has enough wheels to clear the deep fine leg fence. Just for a moment, Kartik Tyagi looked in the game to catch it. He even leaps to pluck the ball but it is just high enough to sail over him.

Bangs it short over the shoulder of the batter. Ayush Badoni ducks under it safely.

Markram and Marsh go in the same over, and the home crowd believes again. Lucknow Super Giants bring in Ayush Badoni as the Impact Sub, who replaces Manimaran Siddharth.

Manimaran Siddharth is substituted by Ayush Badoni

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Both the LSG openers are gone now. Arora makes a huge impact with a double blow. Not the best of balls he has bowled. It is dug in short and angled down leg. Mitchell Marsh goes for the pull shot, but the ball slightly gets big on him and he only manages to glove it behind to Angkrish Raghuvanshi who takes a regulation catch. Joyous faces in the KKR camp and understandably so. LSG are 42/2, needing 140 runs from 93 balls.

Short of a length, on leg, Pant tucks it past mid-wicket for a single.

A big wicket for KKR. Skipper Rishabh Pant walks out to bat at number 3. A slip in place for him.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Arora, with the first breakthrough for KKR, is all pumped up. Short and sharp outside off, and Markram is onto the pull in a flash. But the ball climbs on him a touch more than he expects, cramping him for space at the moment of contact. He cannot find the power to sail it over the ropes and it balloons straight to deep mid-wicket, where Rovman Powell takes an absolute dolly. Lucknow Super Giants are 41/1, chasing 182.

Vaibhav Arora is back on. He went for just 6 runs in the first over.

SIX! Spoils a very good over from Roy! A touch full and on the stumps. Mitchell Marsh sits on his knee and nails the slog sweep behind deep square leg for a six. LSG need 141 runs from 96 balls.

A round-arm delivery, full and on middle, at 89.2 kph. Aiden Markram leans on and drives it inside out to widish long off for a single.

Nicely tossed up, full and on off, Markram clips it to square leg and finds the fielder there.

An in-dipping full toss, around off, Marsh runs it down to long off for a single.

Drifts in and skids from a fuller length, on middle. Aiden Markram is rushed on the back foot and manages to whip it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Short and on off, punched off the back foot to long off for a single.

Slows it up again, does Saini. This is angled on the pads, and Markram steers it to deep square leg's left for a couple of runs. A very profitable over for the Super Giants. 18 runs from it.

Slower length ball, on top of off, Marsh climbs on the bounce and dabs it through backward point for a single.

A muted appeal for LBW, but turned down. Only Saini was interested and got no support from the others. Nips in from middle to leg, on a fullish length. Markram tries to play it to the leg side, but misses and is hit on the front pad. The ball then rolls in front of covers for a leg bye.

FOUR! Cracked away! On a length, slightly outside off, Aiden Markram waits for the slower one to arrive and crashes it past cover and mid off for a boundary. Saini under immense pressure.

SIX! Almost an action replay of the previous ball, but this time, he clears the fence! Hits the hard length, on leg, drifting more down leg. Aiden Markram lifts his back leg up to balance himself and whips it aerially. Parks it into the stands behind deep mid-wicket.

FOUR! Just clears the inner ring! Back of a length, on the pads. Markram picks it up over mid-wicket. Cameron Green gives it a chase, tries to flick it back in with a slide, but the ball wins the race.

Third over and third bowler for KKR. Navdeep Saini replaces Vaibhav Arora.

Very full and around off, Markram carves it down to long off for a single.

WIDE! Pushes it quicker and flatter, drifting down leg. Markram misses to whip that away.

Arm ball, full on the pads. Marsh misses to slog sweep and the ball deflects off the pads to short fine leg. Leg bye taken.

Not too full and not that short either, curving back on the stumps. Markram rocks back and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The quicker one, full and on leg. Marsh drives it to long off for a single.

Slowish through the air, on middle, Marsh dinks it back to the bowler.

WIDE! Slides down leg with the arm, on a length. Marsh leaves. A good take by Raghuvanshi to his left.

Nicely tossed up, full and on off, Markram eases it into the extra cover region for a single.

Early signs of spin as Anukul Roy will share the attack.

In front of the sticks, fractionally fuller. Markram flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Sharply cuts back in and finishes on the off pole, on a back of a length. Markram is taken aback but fends it with soft hands to cover-point.

In-between length, on top of middle. Markram gets inside the line and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Inward shape around off, on a good length. Marsh taps it to cover for a single.

Jags back in at the body, on a hard length. Mitchell Marsh hangs back, lets the ball arrive and punches it to cover.

FOUR! Picture-perfect start for Marsh! Back of a length, outside off, shaping away a little. Mitchell Marsh stands tall and square cuts it to the left of backward point for a boundary to get the chase underway for the Super Giants.

Excellent deception! A knuckle ball, on the back of a length, over off. Rovman Powell is totally deceived by the lack of pace. Gets beaten on the pull shot fair and square. Pant collects the ball on the bounce as the batters complete the bye. 12 runs from the final over. KKR FINISH AT 181/4!

Big swing and a miss! On a good length, outside off, skidding through. Rovman Powell swings with all his might, but misses to put the bat on the ball.

Perfect yorker on leg. Green whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Runs behind! At 136.1 kph, full and on the fourth stump. Cameron Green misses to nail the slot ball into the stands as he loses his shape. Gets a thick inside edge and it runs to the deep fine leg fence in a flash.

Yorker on off, Powell drills it straight down the ground. And since Marsh is stationed at a straightish mid off, they only get a single.

WIDE! An over-the-head bumper on top of middle. Powell is rushed on the pull shot and is beaten. Now then, the bowling side has reviewed it, challenging the on-field decision of a wide. The side-on replay shows that Powell did crouch a bit while playing the shot. Ball Tracking confirms it is clearly above head height. The on-field decision is upheld.

FOUR! Cheeky and mighty effective! Prince fires in a low full toss, Rovman Powell gets across the line and down on a knee. Uses the pace of the ball and paddles it fine to the deep fine leg fence.

Prince Yadav (3-0-36-1) to bowl the last over. Can he keep KKR under 180 here?

This is an outstanding display of death bowling by Shami! At 135.6 kph, on the pads and full in length. Powell flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single. 4-0-27-0, Shami impresses once more.

Hasty single! Once again, the yorker is executed to perfection. Cameron Green carves it in front of backward point. Green is called through for a single by Powell, but the latter has to hurry as Digvesh Singh is quick to get rid of the ball. Misses his shy at the batting end, which allows Rovman to get in safely.

Another yorker by Shami, a proper toe-crusher on leg. Rovman Powell tries to flick it past square leg, but inside edges on the back boot. The ball then rolls to point and they cross for a quick single.

Yorker on middle, Green drills it to the left of long off for a single.

Review time! Slower bumper, on top of off. Green clears the front leg and tries to hit it over point, but misses to connect. Pant leaps to collect the ball behind. Again, it's a fair delivery but Green has reviewed it for the wide not given. And this time, the Ball Tracking confirms that the ball is passing over the head height. Wide called.

SIX! And one can see the relief on Green's face! Shami bowls the off-cutter, full and on the off pole. Cameron Green picks the pace off and smokes it over long on for a big six into the stands.

Shoots in a full ball on leg. Rovman Powell swooshes but misses to connect. The ball thuds the front pad and rolls in front of cover-point for a leg bye.

Mohammad Shami to bowl the penultimate over.

FOUR! Welcome runs not only for KKR, but for Green too! Fuller in length and outside off, Green throws everything left in his tank. Drags it off the inner half and it races to the fence, beating the long on fielder to his right.

Banged in at halfway, outside off. Cameron Green stands tall and swings to slash it over backward point, but misses to connect as it flies back to the keeper. It is called a fair delivery and Green challenges the decision for the wide not given. The side-on replay shows that Green is on his toes while attempting to hit. Ball Tracking now comes up and confirms that it is passing above the shoulder, just 2 centimetres below the head height. The front-on replay now rolls in to check the wide. Green slightly moved outside off but the replay shows that the ball has just passed within the revised guideline. So it is a fair delivery.

Outside off, Powell fetches the full toss and heaves it to long on for a run.

WIDE! Far outside off, beyond the guideline. Powell leaves it alone.

FOUR! Into the gap! A dipping full toss on the stumps. Rovman Powell drags it over the vacant mid-wicket region and finds the fence. The long on fielder stands no chance to cut that off. 150 UP FOR KKR!

Short into the body but it doesn't rise much. Rovman Powell is a bit rushed onto the shot. He swivels and pulls it over square leg for a couple of runs.

Wide on off, full in length, Green tries to heave it across by dragging it, but inside edges to the square leg region for a single.

A very productive over for KKR and they need to maximise the remaining three overs as well. Avesh Khan (3-0-31-1) replaces Manimaran Siddharth.

SIX! That was six the moment it left the bat! A waist height full toss. Rovman Powell needs no second invitation as he hangs back and pulls it cleanly behind deep mid-wicket for half a dozen more. KKR are getting back on track with 29 runs coming in the last 2 overs.

FOUR! That has been SPANKED! Misses the yorker by a yard or so, does Prince. Around off and Rovman Powell stabilises his base to smash it straight down the ground for a cracking boundary.

Cannons in a yorker on the leg stump. Cameron Green tries to whip it to leg side, but inside edges on the pads. The ball deflects to the point region for a run.

FOUR! Superbly placed! Prince takes all the pace off and goes short into the pitch outside off. Cameron Green has to wait for an eternity for the ball to arrive. He arches back a bit and ramps it over and between backward point and short third for four.

Goes for the yorker again, but comes out as a low full toss. Powell knocks it down to long off for a single.

A pinpoint yorker with a bit of inward shape. Cameron Green does well to dig it out to the point region for a single.

With Digvesh Singh done with his spell, there will be a change from the other end. Prince Yadav (2-0-19-1) comes back into the attack.

Full and goes with the arm, Cameron Green advances and drives it to long off for a single.

Fired on the stumps, this is tucked in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Pushed fuller on middle. Powell smacks straight down the ground but Siddharth gets his right hand on the ball and it deflects back onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. However, Cameron Green doesn't move a muscle, which saves him.

FOUR! Off the inside edge! Darts on the leg stump, on a length. Rovman Powell goes for a booming pull shot but the ball stays low and he gets an inside edge. The ball goes with lightning speed to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Straight in the blockhole, Rovman Powell carves it back to the bowler.

SIX! Powell breaks the shackles! Manimaran Siddharth slides one into the batter, full and on leg. Rovman Powell jumps down the track, picks the length in a trice and pumps it massively over long on for a mammoth six. That's powerfully struck.

Just 17 runs in the last 5 overs for KKR. Manimaran Siddharth to bowl out now.

Another brilliant over! Flatter, full and outside off, Rovman Powell opens the face of his bat and steers it to short third for just one. Digvesh Singh finishes his spell with fine figures of 4-0-25-1.

Another short delivery, on leg, Cameron Green punches it to long on for one.

Three dots! Slows it up, shortish and on middle, turns away a bit. Cameron Green once again pats it back to the bowler. The crowd is becoming restless here.

Drops it short again and on middle, Cameron Green stays back and pushes it down the pitch.

A googly, short and on leg. Cameron Green looks to work it away but gets a leading edge along the ground back to the bowler.

Drags his length back, on middle, angling in. Rovman Powell moves back and pulls it but straight towards deep mid-wicket for just a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Suddenly, this KKR inning has hit a roadblock. It's been 25 balls since the last boundary and the hosts have also lost three big wickets in that span. This middle phase in particular has been KKR's nemesis since the last couple of seasons and they need somebody to rescue them from this position. Cameron Green is best suited for such situations and with Powell partnering him, they would look to take it deep and reconstruct the innings responsibly. The Super Giants, on the other hand, have done their job with precision after going for many runs in the first ten overs or so. The pitch also looks like it has slowed down a touch, making timing the ball a bit tricky. Digvesh Singh is back on after the break.

Pitched up and around off, Rovman Powell miscues his drive off the toe-end of the bat to long on for just a single. Just 1 run and a wicket from the over. Superb stuff from Avesh.

Still no runs in the over! Back of a length and around off, Rovman Powell tries to cut it away but gets a bottom edge behind to the keeper. Rishabh Pant collects and throws it at the stumps at his end, but misses. Powell was anyway safe.

Fiery! Bangs in a quick and sharp bouncer, on middle, angling in a bit. Rovman Powell gets late on his hook and misses.

Short and wide outside off, and Powell finds himself all tangled up, as he goes for the pull shot. But it pops straight back to the bowler off the bottom end.

KKR slip further down in a hole. Rovman Powell is the next batter in at number 6.

OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Avesh Khan vents out a roar as he cleans up Rinku Singh here. Avesh bowls this from around the wicket, lands this on a hard length and just on off, straightens a bit after hitting the deck. Rinku stays back in his crease and looks to run it down to third man, but the ball sneaks past the outside edge and hits the top of the off pole. A dream sight for any fast bowler in the world. KKR have lost the plot completely in the last few overs.

Fuller and on off, angling in, Rinku Singh's bottom hand comes off and he mistimes his drive to short cover.

Avesh Khan returns to the attack, replacing Manimaran Siddharth. Avesh has been a bit on the expensive side - 2-0-30-0 for him so far.

Low full toss around off, Rinku Singh drives it away to sweeper cover for one more. One over without a boundary has suddenly become three overs without it.

Another slower one, full and on off, Rinku Singh pushes it away to extra cover.

Good length and on middle, takes pace off, Cameron Green stabs it out down the pitch and towards long on for one.

Back of a length and around off, Rinku Singh guides it through backward point for another run.

A low full toss, on middle, Cameron Green can only drive it down to long off for a run.

Slower one, hard length and around middle. Rinku Singh uses his feet to punch it away but gets an inside edge to the keeper's right for a single.

A couple of good overs strung together by the LSG spinners. Just 8/2 in the last two overs for KKR. And here's Mohammad Shami back on. 2-0-11-0 so far, replacing Digvesh Singh.

Pushed through quicker, full and on middle and leg, Cameron Green pats it back to the bowler. Excellent going for LSG.

Shortish and on leg, Rinku Singh nudges it through mid-wicket for one.

99/1 becomes 105/3 for the Knight Riders with Raghuvanshi gone. Two relatively new batters at the crease for KKR as Rinku Singh comes in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Two wickets in two overs for LSG, and both the set batters are gone now. Manimaran Siddharth sees the batter advance and fires in an arm ball, full and on middle and leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is out of his crease and gets a bit too close to the ball. He does not have enough room to free his arms and mistimes the lofted shot down to long on. Aiden Markram moves a bit to his right and takes a good catch around his waist. A fantastic knock comes to an end for Raghuvanshi.

Arm ball, shortish and angling in, Cameron Green stays back and tucks it through square leg for another run.

Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a run.

Tossed up, full and around off, Cameron Green drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Wrong 'un, full and on leg, Cameron Green eases it to long on for one more. Harsha Bhogle on air mentions that this is the first over in the game without a boundary.

On off, on a dragged back length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi scythes it to deep point for a single.

Full and outside off, crashed down to long off for a single. 100 COMES UP FOR KKR!

Digvesh comes in over the wicket with a slip in place. He lands it on a length and gets it to turn into the right-hander. Green reads it well, stays back, lets the ball come onto him and dabs it dead in front of the leg stump.

The KKR skipper is gone now, which puts a halt on this budding partnership. In walks the big bloke, Cameron Green, at number 4. He is in search of runs this season and has a perfect opportunity to get himself going.

OUT! CAUGHT! Digvesh Singh gets the crucial breakthrough on his return to the attack. Not a wicket-taking delivery as he drops it short, outside off. Ajinkya Rahane tries to fetch it from there and pulls it. He seems to have mistimed it and hits it straight to mid-wicket, where the ball dips low on the fielder. Mohammad Shami gets low and takes a fine catch just inches above the ground. He signals out, but the umpires want to be sure this time. After watching different angles, the third umpire is satisfied that Shami's fingers are underneath the ball. Good hand from KKR's skipper comes to an end now.

Umpire's review for a catch. Has Shami taken it cleanly? The ball dipped on him at mid-wicket and Shami bent low to take it between the legs. He scooped the ball but the question is whether his fingers are cleanly under the ball. The first angle appears to be a bit blurry and hence, the TV umpire requests another to examine the legality. A couple of angles come in and it is deemed a clean catch. OUT loads on the giant screen.

Floated, short and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi pushes it to cover for a single.

Kolkata Knight Riders have put themselves in a good position at 98/1 after 10 overs. Lucknow Super Giants are desperate for wickets now.

Short and at 135.5 kph, on the body. Raghuvanshi miscues the pull shot to deep square leg for a single. At halfway, KKR are 98/1, motoring along pretty nicely.

FOUR! Plays it fine enough! A low full toss that tails onto the pads. Angkrish Raghuvanshi whips it to deep fine leg. Mukul Choudhary, from deep square leg, runs and slides to his right but the ball stays out of his reach.

A leg cutter, full and on off. Ajinkya Rahane drills it down the ground, to long on, for a single.

Back of a length, angled onto the pads. Angkrish Raghuvanshi turns it to deep backward square leg for a run.

Nails the yorker in and around middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi squeezes it out back to the bowler. Prince collects the bump ball around his right shin.

WIDE! Reload! Over the head bumper with pace taken off and down leg as well. Angkrish Raghuvanshi ignores. Wide given.

On leg, on a length. Ajinkya Rahane pulls it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Tries the slower one, outside off, on a back of a length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts it off the back foot to backward point.

On a fuller length at 131.7 kph, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi carves it straight to Mukul Choudhary at extra cover.

SIX! WHIPPED! Too full from Avesh, on middle and leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi brings his wrists into play and picks it up and over long leg for the second six of the over.

Slanted onto the pads, on a length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks it through the vacant mid-wicket region and rushes back for the second before Markram gets rid of the ball.

Full and on middle, crisply driven to deep point for a single.

SIX! A strange shot, but that adds six to the skipper's score. Around off on a good length. Ajinkya Rahane literally throws his bat at it, and loses his grip and the bat flies in the opposite direction. Ends up slicing it over deep third for a six.

Conventional leg break that holds and grips a bit, full on off. Ajinkya Rahane chips it down to long on for a single.

Shortens the length now, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hangs back and scythes it to deep point for one more.

Fractionally full on the stumps. Rahane dinks it to widish mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Placed to perfection! It's a full ball, in front of the sticks and slides in a touch. Ajinkya Rahane commits on the front foot, uses his wrists and flicks it perfectly between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

A slight appeal for LBW, but not entertained. LSG do not go for a review. Fuller and around the off pole. Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes for the reverse, but misses and wears it on the pads. The ball rolls to the cover-point region and they get a leg bye. The replays later show that the impact was way outside the line of the stumps.

Floated up, full on off. Rahane gets on the front foot and drives it to widish long off for a single.

Change? Yes, spin from both ends as Digvesh Singh replaces Avesh Khan.

Nice and full, on leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives it inside out to the cover fielder.

Drags the length back, on middle and leg. Ajinkya Rahane tucks it to the left of short fine leg for a single. That one stayed a bit too low, but Rahane played it well enough. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between these two.

A touch shorter now, around middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts it late. The fielder from backward point dives to his left and stops it nicely. One taken.

FOUR! Nicely played! Much quicker at 103.3 kph, and it slides onto the leg stump, full in length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi drags his hands in front by getting down on his knee. Nails the sweep shot, beating deep square leg to his right for a boundary.

At 99.9 kph, full on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets on the front foot and drives it to the right of deep point. Digvesh mops it up in the deep. Two taken.

An in-angler, full on the pads. Rahane flicks it along the ground through mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic Break! KKR have gained a bit of momentum with that last over of the Powerplay, but the test for them will be how they play the middle overs. Lucknow Super Giants will not be too unhappy with the start, as their bowlers have used the conditions well here, but their issue in the first couple of games was to pick up wickets after the Powerplay. An interesting phase of cricket awaits us. Here is Manimaran Siddharth to bowl after the break.

FOUR! Threads it with clinical precision! Fuller one again, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi presses forward and caresses it past cover-point for a cracking boundary. Expensive start for Avesh. Kolkata Knight Riders end their Powerplay with 56/1.

SIX! Sweet piece of timing! Much fuller now, on off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets under it nicely and launches it up and over deep extra cover for a huge six.

FOUR! Nice adjustment! Nips in from off on a shorter length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets on his toes, waits for the ball, adjusts to the bounce and cuts it over backward point for a boundary.

Full toss outside off, and Rahane throws his hands at it with a cover drive. Mukul dives to his right at extra cover and cuts it off brilliantly. Top effort by the youngster. They cross.

Full and outside off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi shuffles across to slog sweep but gets hit on the pads instead. The ball then rolls to square leg for a leg bye.

BEATEN! Into the pitch, around off, jagging back in. Angkrish Raghuvanshi prepares himself for the square cut, but misses on the inside edge.

Change? Yup. Avesh Khan is introduced into the attack. He replaces Manimaran Siddharth.

Quicker, full and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

FOUR! A bit streaky again! Loopy delivery, full and around off. Ajinkya Rahane backs away but opens the face of his bat a bit too much. He ends up slicing it in the air but well over short third for four more runs.

FOUR! Takes the aerial route! Tossed up, full and on middle. Ajinkya Rahane gives himself a bit of room and lofts it over the bowler's head. He does not get it from the middle of the bat but gets enough to clear mid off for a boundary.

Too many dots creeping in now! Floated, shortish and on off. Ajinkya Rahane goes down for the sweep but gets an inside edge. It goes onto the kneeroll of the pads and gets stuck.

Flighted, full and on off, Ajinkya Rahane steps across and clips it to square leg.

Flatter and shorter, outside off. Ajinkya Rahane only manages to punch it to cover. Digvesh gets away with it here.

Spin in tandem now. Digvesh Singh replaces Mohammad Shami.

Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in. Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down for the slog sweep but gets an inside edge towards short fine.

Another short delivery, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi stabs it out to cover.

Dragged back, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane swats it to long on for one.

SIX! That is a shot and a half! Tossed up, full and on middle. Ajinkya Rahane uses his feet to go inside-out. Gets his right leg out of the way and lofts it beautifully over extra cover for a biggie.

Drops it short and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stays back and nudges it to square leg.

Two wides! Fires this one full but down the leg side. Angkrish Raghuvanshi fails to paddle it away. Rishabh Pant also fails to stop it cleanly. A wide and a bye taken.

Floated, full and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi pushes it to short cover.

A lot of chatter is going around Digvesh's catch to dismiss Allen. His feet were flirting with the boundary cushions and it was a touch-and-go kind of thing. Did his left foot kissed the rope? Is the question. Several replays roll in but there is no conclusive evidence. However, the umpires didn't have a second look to be doubly sure. But nothing to take away from Rathi for a good catch. Spin deployed already. Manimaran Siddharth is brought into the attack, replacing Prince Yadav.

Good fielding! Slower one, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drills it hard and wide of mid on. Digvesh Singh dives to his left and gets a good hand on it to parry it towards mid off. Just one.

Follows the batter, serves this fuller and angling into leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets cramped up for room and taps it out to short cover.

FOUR! Up and over! Pitched up and around middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi backs away to access the off side. He gets his hands through the shot with an angled bat and carves it over extra covers for a boundary.

Three dots in a row! Good length and on off, nips back in a bit. Angkrish Raghuvanshi stays back and steers it away but the ball goes on a couple of bounces to first slip.

Pulls his length back a bit, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi punches it sweetly again but fails to find the gap at cover.

Fuller in length and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives it firmly but straight to cover.

Hard length, around off, shaping away. Rahane waits back and punches it to cover-point.

Good length and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steers it through point for a single.

LSG with a big, big wicket first up. Consecutive single-digit scores for Allen after a decent start in this season. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in at number 3, with two slips waiting behind.

OUT! TAKEN! Prince Yadav gets his man and this is a big wicket for LSG. He hits the length hard and keeps the line just outside off. Finn Allen tries to fetch it and heave it across the line, but the ball just bounces a bit more and shapes away. It takes the top edge and goes miles up in the air towards deep third. Digvesh Singh backpedals, first misjudges but recovers nicely. Settles under the skier, and takes a fantastic catch, also keeping his foot just inside the line. Kolkata Knight Riders are 15/1 after 1.4 overs.

Much fuller and on off, Finn Allen drills it away but fails to beat short cover.

FOUR! Not timed that well but gets the result! Bangs this into the pitch again, on middle. Finn Allen stays back and has a heave across the line. Gets an inside edge that races past short fine for another boundary.

FOUR! Put away! Short of a length and on middle, angling into the leg side. Finn Allen just helps it on its way to the vacant deep backward square leg fence for a boundary.

WIDE! Prince Yadav serves this fuller but down the leg side. Instead of angling in, it shapes away after leaving the batter. Rishabh Pant gets wrong-footed but manages well to get his gloves onto it.

Despite the boundary, that was an exceptional opening over from Shami. The ball obeyed him and swung extravagantly. The line and length were the key. Prince Yadav to operate from the opposite end.

FOUR! Nicely played! Shami goes just a bit too full this time, on off. Ajinkya Rahane manages to get underneath the ball, negates the swing and thumps it past the bowler, to the long off fence for the first boundary of the game.

Short of a length and around off, Finn Allen tries to punch it but gets a thickish outside edge towards third man for one.

So close! Mohammad Shami pulls his length back a bit, on middle, gets it to swing in this time. Finn Allen charges down the track to go big down the ground but gets beaten on the inside edge this time. Shami is making the ball talk here.

Wow, that moved a lot! Pitched up and on the sixth stump line, hits the deck and swings away from the right-hander. Finn Allen goes after it again but the ball zips past the outside edge once again.

BEAUTY! Shami lands this on a good length and in that channel of off, getting it to shape away with extra bounce. Finn Allen looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

KKR and Ajinkya Rahane are up and running! Mohammad Shami stars with a full delivery around off, shaping away a bit. Rahane opens the face of his bat and guides it to deep third for a single.

All set to get going in Match 15 in the City of Joy. Faf du Plessis gets the honor of ringing the bell at Eden Gardens to mark the commencement of the game. The two umpires now make their way out. Rishabh Pant leads his men out as the Super Giants scatter across the park to take their positions. Finn Allen walks out with Ajinkya Rahane to open for the Knight Riders. Mohammad Shami, who looked in fantastic rhythm in the previous game, will bowl the opening over of the match. Rahane to face. A slip in position. Let's play...

Let's unpack the toss - Interestingly, Muzarabani and Arora, KKR's two most effective bowlers this season, are both missing from the starting XI. Arora could yet make an appearance as the Impact Sub in the second innings, but for now, the batting is where KKR's attention must remain. Specifically, the Powerplay. Sunil Narine's return, of course, adds valuable depth to their lineup, but that only counts if the top order sets a strong foundation. LSG, on the other hand, are going with the same combination which was on the expected lines. They have picked up only three overseas players in the starting XI for now. Badoni looks the likeliest candidate for that role of Impact Sub, though Breetzke is not entirely out of the equation if need be.

Impact Players for Kolkata Knight Riders - Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Tejasvi Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine (In place of Blessing Muzarabani), Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi.

Impact Players for Lucknow Super Giants - Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Shahbaz Ahamad, Mayank Yadav, Himmat Singh.

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammad Shami, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav.

The skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says that they wanted to bowl as well. Informs that they have one change as Sunil Narine comes in for Blessing Muzarabani but Varun is still recovering from his hand injury. On Cameron Green's bowling, Rahane says that you will see him when he is allowed to bowl. That gives them to have more balance, with playing Rovman Powell as an extra batter and gives them another option with the ball as well. Jinx shares that they don't want to put themselves under pressure by having a number, and they just want to react to the ball and see how it goes.

The captain of Lucknow Super Giants - Rishabh Pant says they want to put the opposition to bat first as they trust their bowlers to do the job for them. Mentions that a victory definitely adds to the positive atmosphere in the team. Says that seeing that intent coming together feels very good. Adds that their batting unit is a little top-heavy and trusts them to get them through. Informs that they are going with the same playing XI for this match.

TOSS - It's toss time here at the Eden Gardens. Both the captains make their way out to the middle now. Ajinkya Rahane gives the coin a flick and Rishabh Pant calls 'Tails' and it comes down as Tails. Lucknow Super Giants elect to BOWL first.

Time to hear from the Lucknow camp - LSG's Head Coach, Justin Langer says the atmosphere in the IPL is always awesome and it feels like you are in a Coldplay concert or anything of that sort. On being asked about how important the previous win was for LSG, Justin stresses that every game and every win is important in such tournaments where every point counts. On Rishabh Pant batting through the innings, he says Rishabh batted with responsibility and got them two points. Highlights that the way Pant ran between the wickets and the way he led the side was very crucial for them.  Langer says that Eden Gardens is a great place to play cricket and with the rain gone now, he expects a high-scoring game. Tells that LSG are well-prepared and ready to show their best cricket this time around. On the batting order, he details that things are fairly settled for now and points out that the combination of Marsh and Markram at the top has worked well with Pant and Pooran to follow next. Also adds that they have got some really good young players in the mix and stresses the need to focus on executing their plans.

Power Coach of KKR is up for a chat - Andre Russell says that they have had two good days of preparation. Adds that the batters have had a good time at the nets while the bowlers have also had a run around, trying to improve on the execution of their plans. Mentions that they are in a good place as far as training goes, but not on the table and all they can do is improve in every game. Dre Russ shares that they need to start well in the Powerplay and not lose too many wickets. The batters need to play long and not get out in crucial moments. He reckons they have the power and skills and they can even chase 250, but they need to apply themselves better and once it clicks, he believes they will be a strong unit. Russell says that he was here last year, so he is familiar with this group of players. He approaches them as a friend and have good conversations. Tells that the players have the willingness to listen and his job is to help them have a clear mind to see the ball and hit the ball, but do it smartly. Ends by laughing and saying that he has been hitting the gym hard. 

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta welcomes by noting that Eden Gardens had been a high-scoring venue thanks to its quick outfield. On the dimensions, he says the square boundaries measure 65 metres and 64 meters respectively, and 74 metres is the straight hit. Faf du Plessis, assessing the surface, says the teams need to read the conditions early at this ground, watching for swing in the air and movement off the pitch. He describes the surface as a slowish one, with dry patches visible at one end. He expects the spinners to come into play from that side. Highlights that this is the same pitch used in the previous game, where the ball had swung around considerably. DDG points out that Eden Gardens had historically favoured teams batting first, with four of the last six matches going the way of the side that set the target. However, he raises the question of whether the overcast conditions might prompt teams to think differently. Faf says that with the weather looming, chasing is the preferred option every time. Adds, captains and teams always looked skyward, and when clouds are around, the DLS method makes chasing a significant strategic advantage. Deep agrees to that, adding that despite the dry surface and quick outfield making for a good batting track with the ball coming on nicely, teams would need to be wary of the new ball, which could swing in the conditions. He expects a high-scoring game overall.

Numbers vs Nature - At the Eden Gardens, the numbers tell a clear story, the average first-innings score in the last 10 IPL games here is 203, and teams batting first have won 75 per cent of those matches (including a couple of no results). Yet, it's not that straightforward. Rahane's call to bat first in the last game raised eyebrows, and with rain around once again, captains face a tricky choice - trust the stats or play the conditions. Stay tuned for the toss and other updates.

LSG's firepower with gaps to fill - Lucknow Super Giants have shown resilience but are still chasing a complete game. The Markram-Pant switch has worked well, Markram has 490 runs in 14 innings as an opener, while Pant averages 52.2 at number three among batters with 500 plus runs. Add the firepower of Marsh and Pooran, and they can be devastating if it clicks. Their pace attack remains their biggest strength, led by Shami's 36 Powerplay wickets since IPL 2022, only behind Trent Boult while Avesh Khan picks up 45 percent of his wickets at the death. With Prince Yadav and Anrich Nortje adding variety, they look well-stocked, though spin remains a concern.

KKR's top-heavy struggles - Kolkata have relied heavily on their openers. Ajinkya Rahane has been superb at Eden, averaging 52.9 since IPL 2023 and striking at 180 in the Powerplay since IPL 2025, while Finn Allen has been explosive, leading the Powerplay run charts in T20s this year with a boundary every 3.2 balls. However, apart from Angkrish Raghuvanshi's consistency, the rest of the batting has failed to fire. Their bowling hasn't helped either - the pacers have picked up wickets but leaked runs at over 10 an over, making the return of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy crucial to regaining control, despite them not being at their best this season so far.

Knights seek revival at Eden - Kolkata Knight Riders return to the Eden Gardens still searching for their first win of IPL 2026. Winless in their last six IPL games stretching back to last season, even a no result in the previous outing hasn't eased the pressure. They now face a Lucknow Super Giants side that has shown promise in patches but is still chasing that one complete performance to stamp their authority.

... MATCH DAY ...

Pressure vs promise at Eden - Match 15 of IPL 2026 brings us to the iconic Eden Gardens, where Kolkata Knight Riders take on Lucknow Super Giants. Two teams with very different starts - KKR searching for answers after a shaky opening, while LSG have shown glimpses of a well-rounded unit. With Eden known for big scores and momentum swings, this clash has all the ingredients of another thriller. KKR's unsettled start - It hasn't been the ideal beginning for the three-time champions. A failure to defend 220 against Mumbai and then conceding 226 against Hyderabad at home exposed major concerns in their bowling. Even in the last game, a questionable call to bat first in overcast conditions saw them stumble to 25/2 before rain bailed them out. There are clear signs that KKR are still searching for the right balance. Bright spots with the bat - Amidst the struggles, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been a standout, delivering consistent performances with a couple of half-centuries. Finn Allen has been explosive, striking at 229, but his inability to get past the Powerplay remains a concern. Ajinkya Rahane has been fluent early in the Powerplay last few seasons but slows down significantly in the middle overs, striking at below 130, something KKR can ill afford in modern T20 cricket. Rinku Singh has chipped in with starts but now carries greater responsibility in the absence of Andre Russell. Middle order and balance concerns - KKR's middle order still feels unsettled. Ramandeep Singh hasn't made much of an impact yet, while the inclusion of Rovman Powell adds firepower, though his role remains unclear. The potential return of Sunil Narine is massive, not just for balance, but for his incredible record at Eden, where he has scored 710 runs, second only to Gautam Gambhir for the franchise. Cameron Green, however, remains a major concern. The ₹25 crore signing has managed just 24 runs in three games so far, and with uncertainty around his bowling role, questions are only growing louder, especially with options like Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra waiting in the wings. Bowling - A major headache! KKR's biggest worry has been their bowling. Despite having variety, they've lacked discipline and control. Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have shown promise but haven't been consistent enough, while Navdeep Saini could be persisted with after his inclusion. Blessing Muzarabani has picked up wickets but leaked runs, and Umran Malik waits for his opportunity. The potential return of Varun Chakravarthy alongside Narine could be crucial, the duo has a strong record at Eden, combining over 100 wickets and remains central to KKR's bowling identity. LSG's pace battery leading the charge - Lucknow Super Giants, in contrast, have built their campaign around a formidable pace attack. In both games so far, they've reduced opponents to 26/4 in the Powerplay, a testament to their new-ball dominance. Mohammad Shami has been exceptional, striking early and finishing with superb figures of 2/9 in the last match, while Prince Yadav has impressed with his swing and aggression. The likes of Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and the raw pace of Anrich Nortje give LSG one of the most dangerous fast-bowling units in the tournament. Spin and batting - mixed returns! While their pace attack has flourished, spin remains a concern for LSG, with Digvesh Singh and Shahbaz Ahamad yet to make a strong impact. Aiden Markram can contribute, but they'll need more from that department. With the bat, it's been a mixed bag, Rishabh Pant’s return to number three paid off with a match-winning 68*, and he also boasts 384 runs in 16 games against KKR. Markram looked solid at the top returning to his opening spot, while Mitchell Marsh adds aggression. However, Nicholas Pooran is yet to fire, something LSG will be keen to address given his strike rate of 196.3 last season. The likes of Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni provide depth, but both will need to take on more responsibility to support the core. Edge with the Super Giants - LSG hold the edge in this rivalry, leading 4-2. Their last meeting at Eden was a run-fest, with Lucknow posting 238 and KKR falling just four runs short, a reminder of how little separates these sides and how high-scoring this contest can get. Team form (Last 5 completed games, recent first) - KKR - LLLLW | LSG - WLLWL. Rain threat over a run-fest? Eden Gardens has become a batting paradise, with 190 often par and 200 plus scores the norm, thanks to true bounce and shorter boundaries. This sets up a clash between KKR's search for rhythm and LSG's pace-driven approach. If KKR's batting clicks they can match anyone, but their bowling must improve, while LSG will look to strike early and finish strong. The last game here was washed out, and with rain in the forecast again, there's some uncertainty but hopefully it doesn't play spoilsport and we get a contest, even if it's a shortened one.