Kolkata Knight Riders have been dealt a double blow ahead of their must-win KKR vs PBKS IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens, with both Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine ruled out of tonight’s match. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane confirmed the absences at the toss, calling both changes “forced”. Kolkata weather today remained clear at the toss despite rain prediction.
“Two changes for us, forced. Varun Chakravarthy got injured taking the catch in the last game and Sunil Narine isn’t playing,” Rahane said. Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini have been drafted in as replacements.
Why Is Varun Chakravarthy Not Playing Today?
Why is Varun Chakravarthy not playing today? The mystery spinner picked up an injury while taking the controversial diving catch to dismiss Abhishek Sharma during KKR’s previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens.
The incident occurred in the ninth over of SRH’s innings. Abhishek attempted a pull shot off Blessing Muzarabani, and Chakravarthy sprinted in at deep square leg to attempt a low catch. He dived forward and claimed the catch, but the effort clearly took a toll. The dismissal itself was controversial — the third umpire reviewed multiple angles before upholding the decision, with replays sparking debate over whether the ball had carried cleanly.
Is Varun Chakravarthy injured seriously? Rahane’s use of the word “forced” suggests the injury is genuine rather than a tactical rest. “Varun Chakaravarthy unfortunately got injured taking a catch in the last game,” Rahane said.
However, no specific details about the nature or severity of the injury have been disclosed. Given that KKR’s next match is against RR on April 10, Chakravarthy has a four-day window to recover.
Losing Chakravarthy is a significant setback for KKR. Despite a lean run of form since the T20 World Cup 2026 — where his poor outing against South Africa in the semi-final dented his confidence — he remains KKR’s primary spin threat and a key weapon in the middle overs at Eden Gardens.
Why Is Sunil Narine Not Playing Today?
Why is Sunil Narine not playing today against PBKS? Rahane offered no specific explanation at the toss beyond confirming it was a “forced” change. Is Sunil Narine injured? It appears he is sick based on Rahane’s words, though the exact nature of sickness is not known. “Sunil Narine is sick” is all that Rahane said.
Narine played both of KKR’s first two matches — against MI and SRH — but was ineffective in both. He conceded three runs from the fourth over against SRH and induced a miscue from Travis Head that landed safely, but otherwise struggled to create sustained pressure. His absence tonight leaves KKR without both their frontline spinners for the first time in recent memory.
What happened to Sunil Narine? Without an official statement from KKR, it is unclear what illness it is. The “forced” label from Rahane rules out a tactical decision.
Who Replaces Varun Chakravarthy And Sunil Narine?
KKR have brought in Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini to replace their two spinners. This fundamentally changes the team’s balance — KKR go from a spin-heavy attack to a pace-dominated one.
| Out | In | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Varun Chakravarthy | Navdeep Saini | Adds pace; KKR lose primary spin option |
| Sunil Narine | Rovman Powell | Adds batting firepower; KKR lose opening bat + spin all-rounder |
Narine’s absence is particularly disruptive because he served as both opener and frontline spinner. Without him, Finn Allen opens alongside Rahane, and KKR’s spin bowling falls entirely on Anukul Roy.
KKR vs PBKS Playing XIs
KKR Playing XI: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi.
Punjab Kings Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
PBKS are unchanged. Shreyas Iyer praised his partnership with head coach Ricky Ponting at the toss: “Our chemistry blossomed from our Delhi Capitals days. He gives freedom to all the youngsters and he is an inspiration himself.”
KKR vs PBKS Toss Update
KKR won the toss and opted to bat first under clear skies at Eden Gardens. Iyer was happy to bowl first, aligning with PBKS’ preference throughout the tournament so far.
What This Means For KKR’s Campaign
KKR are 0-2 after losses to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Losing both Chakravarthy and Narine for a must-win home game against an unbeaten PBKS side (2-0) is a nightmare scenario. Without Cameron Green’s bowling available either, KKR’s attack tonight relies heavily on pace — Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora, Navdeep Saini, and whatever overs Ramandeep Singh and Anukul Roy can contribute.
Against a PBKS batting line-up that chased down 210 at Chepauk just days ago, that is a daunting proposition.
Check the full KKR IPL 2026 squad and PBKS IPL 2026 squad here.
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