KKR are not looking like a settled team right now in the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Things are not going their way, and this match against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens just showed that again.
The match did not last long because of rain, but one moment said a lot. Cameras showed Shah Rukh Khan talking seriously with Venky Mysore. It did not look like a normal chat. It looked like a proper discussion.
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He was using his hands, explaining something. Mysore was listening and nodding. No one knows what they spoke about, but it clearly showed that something is not right inside the camp.
Let’s be honest. KKR have not started well. They already lost two matches before this. They needed a strong start here. They made a strange decision at the toss much to everyone’s surprise. They chose to bat first in cloudy conditions, and anyone watching would question that because it is quite obvious that when the sky is overcast, the ball usually moves early and bowling first makes more sense. But KKR went the other way, and it cost them.
Finn Allen got out early. Cameron Green followed. The score became 25/2 in just a few overs. That is not a start you want when you are already under pressure. This is becoming a habit now. KKR are not getting good starts, and that is hurting them again and again.
Then rain came. And honestly, it helped KKR. The game stopped at the right time for them. If the play had continued, things could have gone worse. In the end, the match got abandoned because the outfield stayed wet. Both teams shared points.
KKR will not say it openly, but they got lucky, and this one point feels like a small escape. It does not solve anything. Their problems are still there.
One big issue is missing players. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy are not in the XI. That is a big loss. These are not average players. They control the game in the middle overs. They pick wickets. They slow things down. Without them, KKR look flat.
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They brought in Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini. But it did not change much. Replacements cannot always give the same impact. That is the truth.
On the other side of the coin, Punjab Kings looked more settled. They did not change their team, and they started well with the ball. They would feel disappointed because they had the game in their control at 25/2 and the rains just took that chance away from them.
The cameras also showed Suhana Khan and Pooja Dadlani sitting near Shah Rukh Khan. It looked like a family moment, but the mood was serious. When the owner is that involved during a rain break, it clearly means the team is trying to figure things out.
KKR need to fix things quickly. This tournament moves fast. If you lose early games, pressure builds up very quickly. They need to keep things simple now. Pick a strong playing XI and stick with it. Make better toss decisions. Back the players. That is the only way forward.
The three-time IPL champions are currently eighth on the IPL 2026 points table. They are one of the three teams alongside Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings to have not opened their account with a win so far this season. KKR’s first two games ended in defeats as they lost to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their third game saw them share a point with Punjab Kings due to rain.
