IPL 2026: Struggling Kolkata Knight Riders looks for foothold against high-flying Rajasthan Royals

If performance were currency in the Indian Premier League, third-placed Rajasthan Royals (RR) would have its wallet full while bottom-feeding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would be left searching under the couch cushions.

Notwithstanding the minor blip in its last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, RR seems to have cracked the Twenty20 code, but Ajinkya Rahane and Co. have made losing look alarmingly routine.

As the schedule throws them together in the sultry afternoon conditions of the Eden Gardens here on Sunday, it is time to find out whether creative faculty does indeed trump desperation.

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Kumar Sangakkara, RR’s head coach and director of cricket, hasn’t dropped guard despite the opponent’s winless form guide reading like a cry for help after six games. He said, “They’re a very tough and good side. But it’s about concentrating on what we do well. And then trying to do that over the course of 240 balls. We don’t take any side easy. Records don’t matter for anything when you play head-to-head.”

Statistics would say Sangakkara is being too generous. The PowerPlay, in fact, may end up dictating proceedings. For RR, thanks to electric starts from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has the highest boundary percentage in the first six overs at 34.44. KKR batters have done only marginally better than Lucknow Super Giants (19.44) and Delhi Capitals (22.60) with 23.76.

Adding salt to its wounds are KKR’s bowlers. They have conceded 60.5 runs on average per wicket in the first 36 balls—the worst for any team. Meanwhile, no team has fared better than RR’s 20.69 in this regard.

With how the season has turned out, the host would be thanking its stars it didn’t have to face the media on Saturday. The team touched down at 5:10pm after another humiliating defeat in Ahmedabad the previous night.

Published on Apr 18, 2026