RR Opt to Bat Against KKR at Eden Gardens as Hosts Seek First Win

Kolkata, April 2026 : Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 28 of the tournament at Eden Gardens on Sunday, marking the opening game of a double-header.

The contest carries contrasting narratives for both sides. Rajasthan Royals have been one of the most consistent teams this season, entering the match with strong momentum despite their recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad that ended a four-match winning streak. In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders are struggling to find form, still searching for their first win after six outings and managing just one point so far, which came from a rain-affected game at home.

Historically, the rivalry between the two sides has been closely contested. Out of 32 encounters in the IPL, KKR hold a slight edge with 16 wins, while RR have claimed 14 victories, making this clash another crucial chapter in their competitive history.

After winning the toss, RR captain Riyan Parag explained the decision to bat first, citing pitch conditions. “It looks like a dry wicket. The grass was cut yesterday, and it might turn a bit in the first innings and remain similar later. We want to set the tone early. The last game was a learning experience, and we want to build on that,” he said. Parag also confirmed changes to the lineup, with Shimron Hetmyer and Brijesh Sharma returning to the side in place of Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Tushar Deshpande.

On the other hand, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane admitted that he would have preferred to bat first but remained positive despite losing the toss. “We wanted to bat first so that our batters could play without pressure. The bowlers have started performing well. We can’t dwell on the past; we need to focus on what we can control,” Rahane said, adding that the team is going in unchanged.

For KKR, the match is crucial to revive their campaign and regain confidence, especially with the home crowd backing them. RR, meanwhile, will look to maintain their strong position near the top of the standings with another disciplined performance.

Both teams have fielded competitive playing XIs, with a mix of experienced internationals and promising domestic players. With the pitch expected to assist spinners and the stakes high for both sides, fans can expect an engaging contest.

As the tournament progresses, every match becomes vital, and this encounter could play a key role in shaping the momentum for both teams—either as a turning point for KKR or another step forward for RR in their impressive run this season.

Playing XIs:

Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, and Brijesh Sharma

Impact Substitutes: Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Yash Punja

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy

Impact substitutes: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Finn Allen, Manish Pandey, Tejasvi Singh, Navdeep Saini