The IPL 2026 league stage reaches its climax with a blockbuster clash at the iconic Eden Gardens, where Kolkata Knight Riders face Delhi Capitals in Match 70. For KKR, this contest is nothing short of a do-or-die battle. Placed sixth on the table with 13 points, Ajinkya Rahane’s side must secure a victory to stay alive in the playoff race. However, their fate may not remain entirely in their own hands, as they will also keep a close eye on the earlier encounter between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. A Rajasthan victory would officially end Kolkata’s campaign even before the first delivery is bowled in this evening fixture. To make matters tougher, KKR will miss promising youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who has been sidelined with a finger injury, leaving experienced names like Rinku Singh and attacking opener Finn Allen with greater responsibility.
Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, enter the game with no playoff pressure after managing only six wins in 14 outings. Despite being out of contention, DC still have plenty to play for, especially pride and the opportunity to spoil Kolkata’s hopes. The Capitals will also remember their heavy defeat to KKR earlier in the season, where Allen’s breathtaking century off 47 deliveries powered Kolkata to a dominant eight-wicket win. With Eden Gardens expected to be packed with passionate home supporters on a lively Sunday evening, KKR may start as favorites due to their recent momentum. Still, a fearless Delhi lineup featuring experienced campaigners like KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka has the firepower to spring a surprise.
KKR vs DC IPL 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: May 25; 7:30 pm IST / 2 pm GMT
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
KKR vs DC, Head-to-Head Record in IPL
Matches played: 36 | KKR won: 20 | DC won: 15 | No result/Tied: 1
Eden Gardens Pitch Report
Eden Gardens has traditionally been known as one of India’s finest batting venues, offering excellent bounce, good pace, and a rapid outfield that rewards stroke-makers. The pitch generally produces high-scoring contests, although the new-ball bowlers could enjoy slight movement during the early stages under the lights. Once the surface settles, batting becomes significantly easier, allowing aggressive players to dominate. Spinners are also expected to have a role, with quality operators such as Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav likely to extract some grip and turn from the surface. Unlike some previous evening matches, heavy dew is unlikely to play a major role due to the late-May conditions, ensuring a balanced contest between bat and ball. Captains winning the toss may still prefer chasing at this venue, but a first-innings total in the range of 175-190 should provide a strong platform for victory.
Squads
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Finn Allen, Manish Pandey, Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Tejasvi Dahiya(w), Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Saurabh Dubey, Vaibhav Arora, Ramandeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Navdeep Saini, Sarthak Ranjan, Prashant Solanki, Blessing Muzarabani, Matheesha Pathirana, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra
Delhi Capitals: Abishek Porel, KL Rahul(w), Sahil Parakh, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Prithvi Shaw, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Nitish Rana, Kyle Jamieson, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Pathum Nissanka, Auqib Nabi Dar, Rehan Ahmed
KKR vs DC, IPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- KKR wins the toss and bowl first
- DC’s powerplay score: 50-60
- DC’s total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- DC wins the toss and bowl first
- KKR’s powerplay score: 40-50
- KKR’s total score: 170-180
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest
