🏏IPL 2026: KKR vs Mumbai Indians, 65th Match, Eden Gardens🏏 - Page 2

What they said:

"When people talk about one family, the atmosphere is always like that. All the captains have different tactics. I, actually, enjoyed playing under everyone. So, I wouldn't say it was disturbing" - Naman Dhir on playing under three MI captains this season.

"I feel like I can do more, contribute more to the KKR side like I do for my team at the domestic level" - Anukul Roy reflects on his season so far

Thanks for the tag..KKR for the win

Tillu vs allen

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Languishing in the eighth spot with 11 points, there's an outside chance KKR might sneak through to the playoffs with even one win in their last two. Which, in itself, feels a bit farcical given the season they've had ft. losing ruts, untimely injuries and an inability to make the most of the Powerplay, both with bat and ball.

The aim, of course, is to win both, win them big and see what destiny has in store. But for that, they need their ace card, Varun Chakaravarthy, fit and firing. The 34-year-old spinner, who missed the RCB match and bowled with a "sore foot" against GT in the last match, trained on match eve before the MI fixture, but it was a short, sharp session behind one of the makeshift sightscreens at Eden Gardens, away from the media glare. Notably, he was limping while entering and exiting the field, suggesting that a full recovery remains a distant prospect.

KKR aren't alone in dealing with uncertainty though, with MI having their own fitness cloud to navigate through. Their captain didn't travel to Dharamsala due to back issues, instead spending hours training in Mumbai, which made it a conversation in itself, as it often happens with teams that are losing. But Hardik Pandya batted and bowled in MI's high-intensity training session two days before the match in Kolkata, and is likely to slot back in.

Thank you for the tags!

KKR i know your record against MI isn't good bt plz aj jeet jao

KKR find themselves in a tricky position where they need a win to keep their season alive. After enduring a brutal six-match losing streak earlier in the tournament, Ajinkya Rahane’s men mounted a dramatic comeback by winning five of their last six games. However, sitting eighth in the standings with 11 points from 13 matches, their equation is simple: they must defeat Mumbai to keep their mathematically slim playoff hopes alive.

MI, on the other hand, arrive in Kolkata with their playoff dreams officially shattered already. The five-time champions have endured a nightmare 2026 campaign, rooted near the bottom of the points table at ninth place with just 8 points.

The enigmatic KKR opener Finn Allen will come in as an impact sub for the hosts. He can change the course of the game with his power striking.

Kolkata Knight Riders are still in contention for the playoffs, and the only way to keep their hopes alive is to beat the Mumbai-based franchise by a comfortable margin, which will take their tally to thirteen points. With another league-stage match remaining, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side will be hoping not to slip up in this crunch juncture of the tournament, where they can miraculously break into the top four.

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are already out of the playoffs and have been eliminated. They also have a couple of games remaining in their 2026 campaign, which gives them a chance to spoil the party for their opposition. Hardik Pandya is likely to return in this match as the captain, which makes it very interesting to see the changes MI might make to their playing combination for this match.

KKR vs MI Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Ryan Rickelton

Ryan Rickelton has been the preferred opener for the Mumbai Indians since the start of the 2026 season, and he has delivered the goods despite a campaign that went in turmoil for the franchise. With a couple of hundreds in the 19th edition already, Rickelton has shown the kind of form he is in. Batting against a fairly inexperienced line-up of KKR on Wednesday, the Proteas cricketer will look to prove his worth once again.

Probable Best Bowler: Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine, on the other hand, has looked like the best spinner in IPL 2026 thus far. He has picked wickets on a regular basis and has also been quite frugal with his economy rates. The knack of not giving runs and adding pressure on the opposition batters has often resulted in KKR getting breakthroughs off Narine. The Caribbean cricketer will be confident of delivering a memorable spell in Kolkata.

Today's Match Prediction: The chasing team to win the match

Thanks for the tag Madhu.

May the best team win.

Cheers..