Rain could once again influence proceedings as Kolkata Knight Riders take on Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2026 match on Thursday. The stakes are already heightened for KKR after their most recent outing against Punjab Kings on Monday was completely curtailed by weather, with only 3.4 overs possible in the first innings before the rain took over.
Even though Kolkata saw showers earlier in the day, the expectation is that they will ease off well before the game gets underway. The toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and the forecast currently points to no rain at all, with conditions projected to remain dry after the toss. Temperatures are expected to hover between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius, giving both sides some hope of a full contest rather than another interrupted evening.
Monday’s washout did at least allow KKR to register their first point of the campaign. They currently sit ninth in the table, having suffered two losses in their first three matches, and the early season rhythm has not been ideal for the franchise.
Part of KKR’s struggles have come from a depleted bowling group, with key pacers sidelined by injuries. The situation has also been compounded by the fact that even Varun Chakaravarthy, dealing with a hand injury, and Sunil Narine, managing an illness, were both unavailable for the rain-hit game. With fewer bowlers at full strength, KKR have found themselves relying heavily on their batters, and that approach has not yet delivered enough wins.
Despite the injury concerns, KKR pacer Kartik Tyagi believes the disruptions will not derail the team’s IPL 2026 plans. “We have known for a while about the injuries [in the team], so even in the camps we have been preparing that way. It became easier coming here. Yes, these injuries are a setback, but these things happen. You have to manage,” Tyagi said, signalling that the squad has been working with the situation in mind.
While Narine missed the match versus Punjab Kings, he is expected to return for the clash against Lucknow Super Giants. He was seen training on the eve of the game, and there is a possibility that he could replace Rovman Powell in the playing XI. Chakaravarthy’s comeback, however, remains uncertain, leaving KKR to consider alternate options depending on his fitness assessment.
For KKR, Vaibhav Arora is likely to be central to their bowling plans. He burst onto the scene in IPL 2024 and followed it with an even stronger IPL 2025, when he finished as the franchise’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps. This season, Arora has been spearheading the pace attack, but in the two matches he has bowled so far, he has taken just three wickets while conceding 12.37 runs per over.
Cameron Green’s availability could also add a new dimension. Green has begun bowling in practice, and he is expected to bowl against LSG. He did not bowl in the previous matches due to recovery from an injury, in line with instructions from Cricket Australia, but the latest training developments suggest he is moving closer to match readiness.
