IPL 2026 | Stage set for some big hitting from KKR and SRH batters

With similar backstories, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) would look to open their account in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 meeting at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.

Both the teams’ batting has emerged stronger than their bowling. KKR and SRH lost their season openers, to Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru respectively, despite scoring 200-plus totals. Here, in their second outing, the main challenge for the sides would be to strike a balance between the two key departments.

KKR will be excited for its opening home engagement. The success of multiple batters, including captain Ajinkya Rahane, Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh, against MI should inspire confidence. An eye-catching contribution from its costliest import, Australian Cameron Green, will make the host happier.

The KKR bowlers, who recorded double digit economies against MI, need to be parsimonious on another small ground. As Green’s unavailability due to a niggle restricts Rahane’s options, the KKR skipper will hope that others, especially experienced spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, rise to the occasion.

SRH will rely on its awe-inspiring firepower in batting. Even though Ishan Kishan, Aniket Verma and Heinrich Klaasen made noticeable contributions against RCB, the tourists would like to see their destructive openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head live up to their billing.

Apart from David Payne, who took two wickets against RCB, SRH will expect its experienced Indian seamers Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat to be more effective. 

Nevertheless, SRH would struggle to find replacements for skipper Pat Cummins, who is travelling with the squad even without playing, and Englishman Brydon Carse.

Known for staging high-scoring duels, the Eden track, sporting a tinge of green following some rains in recent past, may please the run-hungry batters and eagerly-awaiting fans alike.