Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 12 of IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens on Monday, April 6. KKR have made a poor start to the edition, with two losses in two matches. On the other hand, PBKS have got off to an excellent start, with two wins in two games.

KKR went down to Mumbai Indians (MI) by six wickets in their opening game and then suffered a 65-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Bowling first against SRH, KKR gave away 226. Their bowling, including Varun Chakaravarthy’s form, is definitely a concern. Chasing the big total, KKR were knocked over for 161. Like their bowling, their batting is also a worry.

PBKS beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in their previous match at Chepauk. Bowling first, PBKS conceded 209-5. However, they chased down the target in 18.4 overs as Shreyas Iyer slammed 50 off 29, while the top three batters also made crucial contributions.

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings head-to-head record in IPL

Punjab and Kolkata have met 35 times in the IPL, with KKR having a 21-13 lead in the head-to-head battle. One match between the two teams ended in no result.

Here’s a look at their overall head-to-head record:

Matches Played – 35

Matches won by Kolkata Knight Riders – 21

Matches won by Punjab Kings – 13

Matches with No Result – 1

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Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings head-to-head record at Eden Gardens

KKR and PBKS have played 14 matches at Eden Gardens, with Kolkata winning nine games and Punjab four. Their scheduled clash at the venue last season ended in no result.

Matches Played – 14

Matches won by Kolkata Knight Riders – 9

Matches won by Punjab Kings – 4

Matches with No Result – 1

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Last five Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings matches

PBKS have won three of the last five matches played against KKR in the IPL. Kolkata’s last win over Punjab came in 2023 when they registered a five-wicket win off the last ball at Eden Gardens.

Here’s a summary of the last five Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders games:

• PBKS (201/4) vs KKR (7/0) – No result, April 26, 2025
• PBKS (111) beat KKR (95) vs 16 runs, April 15, 2025
• PBKS (262/2) beat KKR (261/6) by 8 wickets, April 26, 2024
• KKR (182/5) beat PBKS (179/7) by 5 wickets, May 8, 2023
• PBKS (191/5) beat KKR (146/7) by 7 runs [DLS method], April 1, 2023