The 12th clash of IPL 2026 sees Kolkata Knight Riders lock horns with Punjab Kings at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Monday, April 6. Expect an intense showdown with fireworks from both the batters and the bowlers.

Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled at the start of IPL 2026, suffering defeats in both opening fixtures, first to Mumbai Indians, and then against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With Eden Gardens backing them, KKR will be eager to turn the tide and claim their first victory of the season.

Punjab Kings have been in sublime form in IPL 2026. After thumping Gujarat Titans in a thrilling finish, PBKS dominated Chennai Super Kings. They will be looking to extend their winning momentum with a third consecutive triumph.

Complete Details of KKR vs PBKS Match

Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Match 12

Date: April 6, 2026 (Monday)

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Toss Time: 07:00 PM IST

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

KKR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record

Matches – 35

KKR – 21

PBKS-13

NR – 1

Eden Gardens Pitch Report

Eden Gardens in Kolkata remains one of India’s most celebrated cricket grounds. With KKR facing PBKS, the batters are likely to look for scoring opportunities, though clearing the boundary will not be easy despite shorter dimensions. Spin bowlers who can flight the ball cleverly could extract plenty of rewards.

KKR vs PBKS: Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter: Shreyas Iyer

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been in stellar touch this week. His composed half-century against Chennai Super Kings anchored a dominant chase, and if he maintains this form, he could prove pivotal in deciding the outcome at Eden Gardens.

Probable Best Bowler: Varun Chakraborty

Varun Chakravarthy has a tough start to IPL 2026, leaking runs in both outings. However, the mystery spinner knows Eden Gardens well and has previously thrived on this surface. With the pitch offering turn, he could be the game-changer for KKR on Monday.

Who will win the KKR vs PBKS match 12 of IPL 2026?

This IPL 2026 encounter between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens is set to be a thrilling contest. KKR will be eager to bounce back after a slow start, but PBKS’ in-form lineup and momentum from back-to-back wins make them strong contenders, even on KKR’s home turf.

KKR vs PBKS: Predicted Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakravarthy.

Impact Player: Blessing Muzarabani

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, and Xavier Bartlett.

Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal