KKR vs RR: Will Kolkata Finally Secure a Win Against Rajasthan Royals?

The race for the playoffs in IPL 2026 is intensifying as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare to host Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 28th match of the season at Eden Gardens. This encounter is pivotal for both sides; while KKR is desperate to open its winning account, RR aims to return to its winning ways after a recent setback.

KKR's Struggle for Survival

Kolkata Knight Riders have endured a disappointing run in the current season. Out of the 6 matches played so far, the team has suffered 5 defeats, with one match ending in a no-result due to rain. Following a 5-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans in their previous outing, the pressure is mounting on the squad. The match scheduled for Sunday, April 18, is a must-win situation for the team to stay relevant in the competition.

Rajasthan Royals' Dominant Form

In contrast, Rajasthan Royals have been in stellar form this season, while under the leadership of Riyan Parag, RR has secured 4 victories in 5 matches, currently holding the third position on the points table. Although they faced their first defeat of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game, the team remains a formidable contender and looks to regain momentum at Eden Gardens.

Head-to-Head Statistics

The historical rivalry between KKR and RR has been closely contested, while over the years, the two teams have faced each other 32 times in the IPL.

Full Squad Details

The complete squads for both teams participating in this high-stakes encounter are listed below:

Rajasthan Royals:

Riyan Parag (Captain), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Luan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham दुबे, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, and Sandeep Sharma.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Varun Chakaravarthy, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Tejaswi Dahiya, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani, Navdeep Saini, Prashant Solanki, Sarthak Ranjan, Kartik Tyagi, Cameron Green, Saurabh Dubey, and Daksh Kamra.