Key Match Details
In one of the high-stakes matches of the tournament, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 70th match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, 24th May. The KKR is looking to keep their playoff hopes alive and strengthen their chances with a win here, while DC aims for a miraculous victory.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Performance
The hopes of making the playoffs for the Kolkata Knight Riders are still alive as they secured a brilliant win over the Mumbai Indians in the last game by 4 wickets. While bowling first, KKR had a terrific day with their bowling, restricting MI to just 147 for 8 in the 20 overs. In reply, KKR easily chased down the target in 18.5 overs, with Manish Pandey (45) and Rovman Powell (40) playing their fighting knocks. As the fourth spot is still up for grabs, they will be looking to strengthen their spot with a victory here.
Delhi Capitals’ Performance
On the other hand, the Delhi Capitals have also kept their hopes alive for the playoffs, but they will be eager to pull a miraculous victory here. They will be coming into this match after defeating the Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets in their previous game. While batting first, RR posted 193 for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Mitchell Starc was their best bowler, taking four wickets in his bowling spell. In reply, DC, with the help of KL Rahul’s 56, Abhishek Porel’s 51, and a solid finishing knock from Ashutosh, sealed the match in 19.2 overs. They are currently sitting in the 8th spot, and their chances of making it to the playoffs are very slim.
Match Details
- Match: KKR vs DC 70th T20 IPL Match
- Date and Time: Sunday, May 24; 7:30 p.m. IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Broadcasting and Live Streaming: TV – Star Sports Network, Live Stream – JioHotstar
Pitch Report
The pitch at Eden Gardens is likely to offer balanced and ideal conditions for both batters and bowlers, with both pacers and spinners finding some assistance. However, with this being an evening fixture, the surface is expected to remain wet due to the dew conditions. The ball could swing around for the first few overs in the power-play. The first inning total at this venue is likely to be around 185.
Weather Report
The weather in Kolkata on Sunday evening is likely to be hot and humid, with temperatures hovering around 30–33°C during the evening. There is no rain predicted for this match, but it may feel closer to 40°C or more due to humidity levels. The skies are expected to remain clear throughout the match.
Head-to-Head Records
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 36 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| Delhi Capitals |
Probable XIs
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rahul Tripathi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Navdeep Saini, Sunil Narine, Saurabh Dubey, Varun Chakravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, Anukul Roy.
(Impact Players: Rovman Powell, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Ramandeep Singh)
Delhi Capitals:
KL Rahul (wk), Sahil Parekh, Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Abhishek Porel, Tripurana Vijay, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar
(Impact Players: Sameer Rizvi, Aquib Nabi, Kyle Jamieson, Karun Nair)
Players to Watch Out For
- Finn Allen | KKR: Finn Allen has been taking the tournament by storm with his batting performance, scoring consistent runs lately in the tournament. He has scored 329 runs in 10 innings at a phenomenal strike rate of 220. He recently scored 93 runs against the Gujarat Titans. He is expected to deliver in this match as well.
- KL Rahul | DC: KL Rahul has been the best player for the Delhi Capitals this season as well. With 533 runs in 13 matches this season with a healthy strike rate of 172, he has been their leading batter so far. He has been looking sublime form this season, and has been a consistent performer for the Delhi Capitals with the bat. He will be coming into this match after a brilliant performance.
- Mitchell Starc | DC: This left-arm pacer has strengthened the pace bowling attack of the Delhi Capitals after his arrival. The 36-year-old pacer has taken 9 wickets in 5 innings, out of which 6 have come in his last two matches. In his last match against the Rajasthan Royals, he grabbed four wickets in his spell. He can be a vital figure for the DC team if they want to win this match.
Toss Prediction
Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue:
In the 9 T20 matches played here, the toss-winning teams have opted to bowl on seven occasions while batting first twice.
Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch:
In the 192 T20 matches played at this venue, it has been recorded that the team batting first has registered victory in 89 games, while teams batting second have won 100 matches.
Match Scenario
Scenario 1
Toss Winner: KKR (opts to bowl first)
Power-Play Score: 45-48
DC Total: 165-185
Match Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders
Scenario 2
Toss Winner: DC (opts to bowl first)
Power-Play Score: 48-55
KKR Total: 210-220
Match Winner: Kolkata Knight Riders
Who Will Win?
By looking at the last five head-to-head stats of both teams, the Kolkata Knight Riders have a stellar record against the Delhi Capitals. They are ahead in the game with four wins, while the Capitals have only managed to secure one. This will be a must-win home game for KKR if they want to secure the fourth spot in the IPL 2026 leaderboard. However, this game against the Delhi Capitals is not going to be an easy task as DC, on their day, are a tough competitor. We are still backing KKR to win this game and remain alive in the tournament.
