Kolkata Knight Riders have had a tough start to the IPL 2026 season, losing their first two matches, and things did not improve early in their match against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday.After opting to bat first, KKR lost Finn Allen and Cameron Green early, reaching 25 for 2 in 3.4 overs. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were at the crease when rain stopped play.
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KKR, looking for their first win of the season, were rocked early when Xavier Bartlett scored twice in the space of three balls.Showing good control of swing and contact, the Australian displaced KKR’s overseas-recruited stars Finn Allen (6) and Cameron Green (4), who have been promoted to the No.1 position.
3.The decision to bat first under overcast conditions was questioned by former players Kevin Pietersen, Anil Kumble, Saba Karim and Ravichandran Ashwin.
During a rain break, cameras showed KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan in discussion with team CEO Venky Mysore. The conversation seemed serious, with Mysore listening as SRK spoke and used hand gestures.It is not known what this discussion was about. Shah Rukh Khan was attending his first match for KKR in IPL 2026.
He was present on the ground with his manager Pooja Dadlani and his daughter Suhana Khan, who was seen watching nearby.“They seem to be having a similar conversation. Badshah of Bollywood, owner of KKR. Intense conversation with KKR CEO Venky Mysore,” the host said during the rain break show.
In this match, KKR made changes to their playing XI, bringing in Rovman Paul and Navdeep Saini while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy were unavailable.Punjab Kings went with the same team from their previous match.