Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opted to bat first after winning the toss against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens. For this crucial match, the home team, KKR, made multiple bold decisions.
To take on PBKS, the runners-up of the IPL 2025 season, who have been in good form in the ongoing season as well, the Knight Riders took Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy out of their playing combinations. Chakravarthy has been struggling with his form since the Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Why are Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine not playing today vs PBKS?
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane informed that Varun is out of contention as he received an injury in the last match. Keeping Sunil Narine on the bench is a massive decision taken by KKR. Rahane informed that Narine is not fit for the match tonight. In place of these two spinners, Navdeep Saini and Rovman Powell join the playing eleven.
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Two changes, forced. Varun Chakravarthy got injured taking the catch in the last game, and Narine is sick. Powell and Saini are in
KKR vs PBKS Playing XIs
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
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