KKR vs MI, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Mumbai Indians are facing one another in what is a must-win clash for the former at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in the City of Joy. The high-stakes fixture at the storied venue sees the return of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, while Varun Chakravarthy remains in the line-up despite reportedly not looking fit during the training session.
KKR vs MI, IPL 2026: Why Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav missed Mumbai Indians’ previous game?
Pandya hasn’t played since the fixture against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Chepauk on May 2nd when the Mumbai Indians faced another humiliating defeat. Suryakumar Yadav captained the Mumbai-based franchise against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The loss to the Royal Challengers officially eliminated them from the playoffs race. But the Indian T20I skipper missed the game against the Punjab Kings in Dharamshala due to personal reasons, prompting Jasprit Bumrah to lead the Mumbai Indians for the first time. Despite missing two stalwarts, it didn’t stop the Mumbai Indians from consigning the Punjab Kings to another defeat at the venue.
KKR vs MI, IPL 2026: Who did the Kolkata Knight Riders beat in their previous match?
While the Mumbai Indians are out of the playoffs race, the Knight Riders have a lot to gain as they eye an unlikely playoffs spot. They were on a four-match winning streak until they ran into the Royal Challengers in Raipur as Virat Kohli’s majestic hundred fashioned a memorable victory for them. But the three-time champions returned to the winning ways as they beat the Gujarat Titans by 29 runs at the Eden Gardens, thanks to half-centuries from Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green.
The home side must win on Wednesday to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win on Wednesday would take them closer to the Royals and equivalent to the Punjab Kings, who are also on 13.
