Last Updated on 21 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey

Punjab Kings (PBKS) mean business. The 2025 finalists have started the 2026 season in strong fashion, winning their first two games to set the tone.

First up, a Cooper Connolly-inspired knock got them over the line against Lucknow Super Giants, before a commanding run chase at Chennai sent a reminder of their batting depth.

Today, Shreyas Iyer’s team travel to Eden Gardens to face the winless Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Ajinkya Rahane launched a passionate defence of his strike rate following their defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the focus must quickly switch to this vital game.

Defeat for KKR, even at this early stage, puts them behind the pack and leaves them with plenty of chasing to do. The form of spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy is cause for concern, especially with the rest of the attack struggling to maintain the flow of runs. If that continues, PBKS can rack up a big score.

IPL 2026 12th Match: KKR vs PBKS Possible Playing XIIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Finn Allen (OS), 3. Cameron Green (OS), 4. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), 5. Rinku Singh, 6. Ramandeep Singh, 7. Anukul Roy, 8. Sunil Narine (OS), 9. Vaibhav Arora, 10. Varun Chakravarthy, 11. Blessing Muazabani (OS), 12. Kartik Tyagi

Punjab Kings: 1. Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2. Priyansh Arya, 3. Cooper Connolly (OS), 4. Shreyas Iyer (c), 5. Nehal Wadhera, 6. Marcus Stoinis (OS), 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen (OS), 9. Xavier Bartlett (OS), 10. Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Yuzvendra Chahal

Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report and Weather

SRH smashed 226/8 in the first match of IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens. They hit 80+ in the powerplay, and batting conditions should be excellent once again.

In IPL 2025, spinners fared better than pacers on this ground. Left-arm orthodox and chinaman bowlers went for under eight an over. Legspinners conceded 8.50 per over. Pace went for over 10.50.

There is the chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

Insights that could shape how the KKR vs PBKS match could transpire

Below are some interesting insights that could decide this contest, according to SPODA AI data.

• Angkrish Raghuvanshi has a 45.83% chance of making a 30+ score. Priyansh Arya (43.75%), Shreyas Iyer (41.84%), Finn Allen (40.59%) and Ajinkya Rahane (40.41%) all have a >40% chance as well.
• The in-form Yuzvendra Chahal has a 35.71% chance of taking 2+ wickets.
• If KKR bat first lose one wicket in the powerplay, score 50 runs in the death overs and score 200, they have a 71% chance of victory. The corresponding figure for PBKS is 68%.

For more such information, check out SPODA AI below.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for KKR vs PBKS: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicketkeeper picks:

• Finn Allen threatened to play a blinder against SRH, smashing 28 off seven balls. He hammered 100 off 33 balls on this ground in the T20 World Cup Semi-Final last month.
• Prabhsimran Singh has scored 206 runs in six innings against KKR at a strike rate of 185.6. This includes two fifties. He has good numbers against Chakravarthy (14 balls, 25 runs, no wicket) and Narine (17 balls, 29 runs, no wicket).
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi has struck consecutive fifties in IPL 2026. He has two fifties in seven IPL matches at Eden Gardens (7 inns, 209 runs, avg. 34.8, SR 157.1).

Key batter picks:

• KKR have erred on the shorter side with the ball this season. This is bread and butter for Priyansh Arya. The opener won player of the match against CSK thanks to a superb 11-ball 39.
• Shreyas Iyer has an average of 40.1 and strike rate of 149.8 in 16 innings against KKR.
• There is plenty of debate on Ajinkya Rahane’s strike rate. But, he’s been a consistent runscorer in the IPL since the start of 2025: 14 inns, 465 runs, avg. 35.8, SR 148.1.

Top allrounder picks:

• Marco Jansen will be key in different stages with the ball. Since the start of 2025, Ajinkya Rahane has been dismissed three times in 44 balls against left-arm seam (avg. 24.3, SR 165.9). Cameron Green has been dismissed twice in 28 balls against left-arm seam in all T20s (avg. 22, SR 157.1).
• Cooper Connolly has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, accumulating 218 Dream11 points in two matches. He’s scored 57 runs off 36 balls against spin in IPL 2026 (no dismissal).

Key bowler picks:

• Yuzvendra Chahal has started this IPL 2026 campaign superbly. The legspinner took 4/28 vs. KKR last season and has 33 wickets overall against them (avg. 20.8, SR 15.6).
• Vijaykumar Vyshak has taken five wickets in two matches this season. His changes of pace can be effective at different stages of the innings.

For predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams, check out SPODA AI (AI Cricket Prediction & Match Analysis Tool) below. If you sign up, you will receive 3 FREE match passes to start.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Arshdeep Singh has had a slow start to this campaign (0/42 and 0/41). He has a good record against Rahane (see below) and has 11 wickets at an average of 24.7 and strike rate of 17.3 against KKR.
• Cameron Green looked promising against MI (18 off 10) before he was run out cheaply against SRH.
• Varun Chakravarthy is not in good form. But, he has wickets against PBKS in recent years, with seven scalps since 2023 at an average of 22.6 and strike rate of 16.3.
• Blessing Muzarabani took four wickets against SRH, with two coming in the middle overs and two at the death.

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: KKR 21, PBKS 13.
• Shreyas Iyer’s IPL record at Eden Gardens: 13 inns, 289 runs, avg. 28.9, SR 129.6.
• Arshdeep Singh vs. Ajinkya Rahane in the IPL: 21 balls, 25 runs, two wickets.
• Vaibhav Arora vs. Prabhsimran Singh in the IPL: 24 balls, 39 runs, one wicket.
• Yuzvendra Chahal vs. Ajinkya Rahane in the IPL: 52 balls, 62 runs, four wickets.

IPL 2026 12th Match: KKR vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction Today

For paid fantasy cricket contests, we’ve partnered with MyRex11, a fantasy platform based in the UAE. Download the app here. Please play responsibly and within your limits.

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

IPL 2026 12th Match: KKR vs PBKS Match Prediction: Who will win?

Chasing team to win? Perhaps. However, PBKS are looking the better side and should win this match.

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