In a crucial IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first against the struggling Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR has yet to secure a win this season, while LSG rides on the momentum of their recent victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
After the toss, Pant expressed his satisfaction with the decision to bowl first, particularly given the rain forecast for the area. The previous match at Eden Gardens was unfortunately abandoned due to inclement weather. “We aim to put the opposition under pressure by choosing to bowl first. We have faith in our bowlers to deliver. Winning always boosts the team spirit; it’s all about maintaining a positive mindset and intent. When we win, everything just clicks into place, and we’re thrilled with that. We’re sticking with the same lineup — no changes. Our top order looks solid, and we trust them to guide us through the innings,” Pant remarked.
On the other hand, KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane mentioned he would have also preferred to bowl first. He confirmed that Sunil Narine has recovered from his injury and is back in the squad. “We also wanted to bowl first. Given the last match was abandoned, the conditions could be unpredictable. We’re making just one change — Sunil replaces Blessing. Varun is still on the mend from his hand injury,” Rahane stated.
Confirmed playing XI for both teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi
Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav