Ajinkya Rahane is set to walk out for the toss in the IPL 2026 final league match, with the wider qualification picture already swinging on what happens earlier in the night. In Kolkata, KKR host DC on Sunday, 24 May 2026 at 7:30 PM local time at Eden Gardens, while RR will be playing MI in the other key game running at the same time. For Rahane and his side, the contest could carry different meanings depending on results elsewhere.
For RR, the scenario is straightforward if they can beat MI: a win would push them into the playoffs and effectively close the door on competing teams. If RR fail, then the atmosphere in Kolkata shifts—KKR would still be in the hunt and would be battling, in front of their home crowd, for a place in the Eliminator. Exactly how KKR approach the task—whether it’s simply about taking the points comfortably or pushing for a net run-rate swing—will hinge on whether PBKS win their match against LSG the night before.
Head coach Abhishek Nayar played down the idea of nerves ahead of the fixture, insisting the focus should remain on what the team can control. His line was clear: the priority is to produce “the best cricket that we can.” Even so, he stressed that, regardless of whether a playoff berth is directly on the line, there are still plenty of things at stake—especially the way momentum and individual performances can change the tone of a season.
“Imagine a player, someone getting a 100 tomorrow!” Nayar said. “When you play a game of cricket, everything is valuable, everything is a number, everything is a victory.”
What happens for DC is different. The Delhi Capitals remain mathematically in contention for now, but their route is steeper. If PBKS beat LSG earlier in the cycle, DC will be eliminated. Even if results line up and the sides were to finish level on 14 points with RR, DC would still not quite hold the net run-rate advantage required to make their case.
Still, Nayar’s message was that there is value in treating every match as consequential. Finishing the campaign with three successive wins, he suggested, would not be a bad outcome even if the postseason picture ends up already decided.
KKR vs DC: match details and conditions
When: KKR vs DC, Sunday, 24 May 2026 at 7:30 PM local
Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
What to expect: The pitch is expected to resemble the square used for the opening game of the season against SRH. That surface began as a grassy wicket in the middle, but slowed as the match moved forward, with SRH eventually securing a 65-run win after posting 226.
In IPL 2026, this Eden Gardens strip would be the only one used for a match on that specific pitch surface so far. With no rain reported in the city leading into the game, and no weather threat expected during play, the match is unlikely to be affected by showers. Dew also does not look like a major factor again, as evening temperatures are not expected to fall far enough to reach the dew point. In practical terms, both teams may prefer to bat first, and it could turn into another Powerplay-focused contest on a deck that offers slower conditions.
Team news, tactics and probable line-ups
Kolkata Knight Riders
Injuries/unavailability: Abhishek Nayar confirmed that Varun Chakaravarthy is carrying a fractured toe and has been managing it. Angkrish Raghuvanshi will miss the remainder of the season after suffering concussion along with a left-hand finger fracture. Matheesha Pathirana, who has been dealing with a hamstring problem, did some light jogging during practice and is expected to sit out again.
Tactics & matchups: With the pitch expected to play slowly, KKR may want to preserve some of Varun’s overs for the later phase of the innings. The legspinner has dismissed David Miller four times, despite Miller’s ability to score at a strike rate of 168 against spin. Axar Patel has struggled versus both Narine and Varun, which makes it likely that KKR’s spin-heavy approach could start early once DC’s captain walks to the crease.
Tejasvi Dahiya, who came in as the concussion substitute in the last match, is expected to take the gloves again. On match eve, he worked through a long session involving both keeping duties and batting drills.
Probable XII: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Tejasvi Dahiya, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Saurabh Dubey
Delhi Capitals
Injuries/unavailability: No injuries have been reported from the Capitals camp.
Tactics & matchups: Axar Patel is a key matchup point, with a strong record against both KKR openers. He may be used to handle the new ball. Axar’s role is also expected to matter against Manish Pandey, the PoTM from the previous game, even though Pandey’s strike rate against left-arm spin is listed at just 65.
Probable XII: KL Rahul (w), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar
Did you know?
- Sunil Narine has the best economy rate of 6.4 among bowlers who have bowled at least 20 overs this season.
- DC have dropped 22 catches so far, and their catching efficiency of 65.6% is the lowest in the league.
- Ajinkya Rahane has the lowest Powerplay strike rate of 127.1 among batters in IPL 2026, with Ruturaj Gaikwad close behind at 129.4.
Quotes from the camps
On Varun Chakaravarthy and his return through injury, KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar said: “He’s broken quite a few limbs in this tournament already. Before that, two fingers and now his toe. But I always say the toughest characters learn to go past pain and adversity and that’s what Varun Chakaravarthy is. He’s been a franchise player for us, he’s been an integral part and he understands it. So he’s very emotional when it comes to this team, very emotional when it comes to everyone associated with this team, and I feel that’s the thought for himself behind him actually wanting to do it and not having to force him to do it.”
Meanwhile, DC assistant coach Ian Bell looked at how fine margins have shaped the Capitals’ season. “We lost to Gujarat Titans off the last ball,” he said. “Against Punjab, we made 265 and still lost. Turn those results around and, if we win tomorrow, suddenly we are on 18 points and talking about a top-two finish. That’s why players and coaches want to be here—highest pressure, best players in the world, biggest fan base, best stadiums. But the margins are so small that you cannot afford to let moments slip. At times we were guilty of not seeing games through. Two different results and we are comfortably in the top four. You have to be ruthless in these opportunities.”
