HIGHLIGHTS Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2026 Match 15 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the chase! The Kolkata Knight Riders players are in a huddle, where Ajinkya Rahane is giving them a last-minute pep talk to pump them up before taking the field. Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram are the two openers for Lucknow Super Giants. KKR also use their Impact Sub, with Vaibhav Arora coming in for Finn Allen. He will also start proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Middle phase pulls things back - Lucknow Super Giants will be fairly pleased with their bowling effort. Prince Yadav struck early to set the tone, though they went quiet for a while till the halfway stage. The momentum shifted again as Digvesh and Siddharth picked up back-to-back wickets, with Avesh chipping in as well after a tough start. They did well at the death, but still leaked 66 in the last five overs. With dew likely to play a role and confidence from a recent successful chase, LSG will back themselves, while KKR will need their bowlers to step up. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

A quick chat with Rovman Powell - On being asked about the surface, Powell says it's not the typical placid Kolkata wicket that they are used to seeing. Reckons that 180-190 is a decent score on this track. On the conversation with Cameron Green while batting, he shares that it was just the case of holding your shape a little longer as the ball was not sliding on. Says they tried their best to get back on track. On his match-up against the spinners, Powell details that he worked on that and went with an aggressive mindset against the spinners. When asked about his bowling, he tells that he has been bowling in the nets and admits that it's been quite a while since he has bowled in a match. Says he is ready whenever called upon for that role.

Momentum slips after set batters fall - KKR lost Finn Allen early once again, though his dismissal sparked plenty of debate over whether Digvesh had touched the ropes or not. They recovered well through Rahane and Angkrish, cruising to 98/1 at the halfway mark, but both falling in the 40s stalled the momentum. Rinku’s promotion didn’t quite work, while Green struggled to get going, but Rovman Powell’s explosive 39 off 24, along with a 70-run stand with Green, pushed them past the 180 mark.

A rollercoaster effort ends in a fighting total - A batting effort filled with ups and downs, but Kolkata Knight Riders have still managed to post a competitive total. Considering the start they got, they would have hoped for more, but Lucknow Super Giants pulled things back brilliantly, especially between overs 10 and 15, conceding just 17 runs while picking up three wickets. On a surface where the ball is holding a bit, LSG will be quite satisfied.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, Excellent deception! A knuckle ball, on the back of a length, over off. Rovman Powell is totally deceived by the lack of pace. Gets beaten on the pull shot fair and square. Pant collects the ball on the bounce as the batters complete the bye. 12 runs from the final over. KKR FINISH AT 181/4!

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, Big swing and a miss! On a good length, outside off, skidding through. Rovman Powell swings with all his might, but misses to put the bat on the ball.

Prince Yadav to Cameron Green, Perfect yorker on leg. Green whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Prince Yadav to Cameron Green, FOUR! Runs behind! At 136.1 kph, full and on the fourth stump. Cameron Green misses to nail the slot ball into the stands as he loses his shape. Gets a thick inside edge and it runs to the deep fine leg fence in a flash.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, Yorker on off, Powell drills it straight down the ground. And since Marsh is stationed at a straightish mid off, they only get a single.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, WIDE! An over-the-head bumper on top of middle. Powell is rushed on the pull shot and is beaten. Now then, the bowling side has reviewed it, challenging the on-field decision of a wide. The side-on replay shows that Powell did crouch a bit while playing the shot. Ball Tracking confirms it is clearly above head height. The on-field decision is upheld.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Cheeky and mighty effective! Prince fires in a low full toss, Rovman Powell gets across the line and down on a knee. Uses the pace of the ball and paddles it fine to the deep fine leg fence.

Prince Yadav (3-0-36-1) to bowl the last over. Can he keep KKR under 180 here?

Mohammad Shami to Rovman Powell, This is an outstanding display of death bowling by Shami! At 135.6 kph, on the pads and full in length. Powell flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single. 4-0-27-0, Shami impresses once more.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, Hasty single! Once again, the yorker is executed to perfection. Cameron Green carves it in front of backward point. Green is called through for a single by Powell, but the latter has to hurry as Digvesh Singh is quick to get rid of the ball. Misses his shy at the batting end, which allows Rovman to get in safely.

Mohammad Shami to Rovman Powell, Another yorker by Shami, a proper toe-crusher on leg. Rovman Powell tries to flick it past square leg, but inside edges on the back boot. The ball then rolls to point and they cross for a quick single.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, Yorker on middle, Green drills it to the left of long off for a single.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, Review time! Slower bumper, on top of off. Green clears the front leg and tries to hit it over point, but misses to connect. Pant leaps to collect the ball behind. Again, it's a fair delivery but Green has reviewed it for the wide not given. And this time, the Ball Tracking confirms that the ball is passing over the head height. Wide called.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, SIX! And one can see the relief on Green's face! Shami bowls the off-cutter, full and on the off pole. Cameron Green picks the pace off and smokes it over long on for a big six into the stands.

Mohammad Shami to Rovman Powell, Shoots in a full ball on leg. Rovman Powell swooshes but misses to connect. The ball thuds the front pad and rolls in front of cover-point for a leg bye.

Mohammad Shami to bowl the penultimate over.

Avesh Khan to Cameron Green, FOUR! Welcome runs not only for KKR, but for Green too! Fuller in length and outside off, Green throws everything left in his tank. Drags it off the inner half and it races to the fence, beating the long on fielder to his right.

Avesh Khan to Cameron Green, Banged in at halfway, outside off. Cameron Green stands tall and swings to slash it over backward point, but misses to connect as it flies back to the keeper. It is called a fair delivery and Green challenges the decision for the wide not given. The side-on replay shows that Green is on his toes while attempting to hit. Ball Tracking now comes up and confirms that it is passing above the shoulder, just 2 centimetres below the head height. The front-on replay now rolls in to check the wide. Green slightly moved outside off but the replay shows that the ball has just passed within the revised guideline. So it is a fair delivery.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Outside off, Powell fetches the full toss and heaves it to long on for a run.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, WIDE! Far outside off, beyond the guideline. Powell leaves it alone.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Into the gap! A dipping full toss on the stumps. Rovman Powell drags it over the vacant mid-wicket region and finds the fence. The long on fielder stands no chance to cut that off. 150 UP FOR KKR!

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Short into the body but it doesn't rise much. Rovman Powell is a bit rushed onto the shot. He swivels and pulls it over square leg for a couple of runs.

Avesh Khan to Cameron Green, Wide on off, full in length, Green tries to heave it across by dragging it, but inside edges to the square leg region for a single.

A very productive over for KKR and they need to maximise the remaining three overs as well. Avesh Khan (3-0-31-1) replaces Manimaran Siddharth.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, SIX! That was six the moment it left the bat! A waist height full toss. Rovman Powell needs no second invitation as he hangs back and pulls it cleanly behind deep mid-wicket for half a dozen more. KKR are getting back on track with 29 runs coming in the last 2 overs.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, FOUR! That has been SPANKED! Misses the yorker by a yard or so, does Prince. Around off and Rovman Powell stabilises his base to smash it straight down the ground for a cracking boundary.

Prince Yadav to Cameron Green, Cannons in a yorker on the leg stump. Cameron Green tries to whip it to leg side, but inside edges on the pads. The ball deflects to the point region for a run.

Prince Yadav to Cameron Green, FOUR! Superbly placed! Prince takes all the pace off and goes short into the pitch outside off. Cameron Green has to wait for an eternity for the ball to arrive. He arches back a bit and ramps it over and between backward point and short third for four.

Prince Yadav to Rovman Powell, Goes for the yorker again, but comes out as a low full toss. Powell knocks it down to long off for a single.

Prince Yadav to Cameron Green, A pinpoint yorker with a bit of inward shape. Cameron Green does well to dig it out to the point region for a single.

With Digvesh Singh done with his spell, there will be a change from the other end. Prince Yadav (2-0-19-1) comes back into the attack.

Manimaran Siddharth to Cameron Green, Full and goes with the arm, Cameron Green advances and drives it to long off for a single.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rovman Powell, Fired on the stumps, this is tucked in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rovman Powell, Pushed fuller on middle. Powell smacks straight down the ground but Siddharth gets his right hand on the ball and it deflects back onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. However, Cameron Green doesn't move a muscle, which saves him.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rovman Powell, FOUR! Off the inside edge! Darts on the leg stump, on a length. Rovman Powell goes for a booming pull shot but the ball stays low and he gets an inside edge. The ball goes with lightning speed to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rovman Powell, Straight in the blockhole, Rovman Powell carves it back to the bowler.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rovman Powell, SIX! Powell breaks the shackles! Manimaran Siddharth slides one into the batter, full and on leg. Rovman Powell jumps down the track, picks the length in a trice and pumps it massively over long on for a mammoth six. That's powerfully struck.

Just 17 runs in the last 5 overs for KKR. Manimaran Siddharth to bowl out now.

Digvesh Singh to Rovman Powell, Another brilliant over! Flatter, full and outside off, Rovman Powell opens the face of his bat and steers it to short third for just one. Digvesh Singh finishes his spell with fine figures of 4-0-25-1.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Another short delivery, on leg, Cameron Green punches it to long on for one.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Three dots! Slows it up, shortish and on middle, turns away a bit. Cameron Green once again pats it back to the bowler. The crowd is becoming restless here.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Drops it short again and on middle, Cameron Green stays back and pushes it down the pitch.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, A googly, short and on leg. Cameron Green looks to work it away but gets a leading edge along the ground back to the bowler.

Digvesh Singh to Rovman Powell, Drags his length back, on middle, angling in. Rovman Powell moves back and pulls it but straight towards deep mid-wicket for just a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Suddenly, this KKR inning has hit a roadblock. It's been 25 balls since the last boundary and the hosts have also lost three big wickets in that span. This middle phase in particular has been KKR's nemesis since the last couple of seasons and they need somebody to rescue them from this position. Cameron Green is best suited for such situations and with Powell partnering him, they would look to take it deep and reconstruct the innings responsibly. The Super Giants, on the other hand, have done their job with precision after going for many runs in the first ten overs or so. The pitch also looks like it has slowed down a touch, making timing the ball a bit tricky. Digvesh Singh is back on after the break.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Pitched up and around off, Rovman Powell miscues his drive off the toe-end of the bat to long on for just a single. Just 1 run and a wicket from the over. Superb stuff from Avesh.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Still no runs in the over! Back of a length and around off, Rovman Powell tries to cut it away but gets a bottom edge behind to the keeper. Rishabh Pant collects and throws it at the stumps at his end, but misses. Powell was anyway safe.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Fiery! Bangs in a quick and sharp bouncer, on middle, angling in a bit. Rovman Powell gets late on his hook and misses.

Avesh Khan to Rovman Powell, Short and wide outside off, and Powell finds himself all tangled up, as he goes for the pull shot. But it pops straight back to the bowler off the bottom end.

KKR slip further down in a hole. Rovman Powell is the next batter in at number 6.

Avesh Khan to Rinku Singh, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Avesh Khan vents out a roar as he cleans up Rinku Singh here. Avesh bowls this from around the wicket, lands this on a hard length and just on off, straightens a bit after hitting the deck. Rinku stays back in his crease and looks to run it down to third man, but the ball sneaks past the outside edge and hits the top of the off pole. A dream sight for any fast bowler in the world. KKR have lost the plot completely in the last few overs.

Avesh Khan to Rinku Singh, Fuller and on off, angling in, Rinku Singh's bottom hand comes off and he mistimes his drive to short cover.

Avesh Khan returns to the attack, replacing Manimaran Siddharth. Avesh has been a bit on the expensive side - 2-0-30-0 for him so far.

Mohammad Shami to Rinku Singh, Low full toss around off, Rinku Singh drives it away to sweeper cover for one more. One over without a boundary has suddenly become three overs without it.

Mohammad Shami to Rinku Singh, Another slower one, full and on off, Rinku Singh pushes it away to extra cover.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, Good length and on middle, takes pace off, Cameron Green stabs it out down the pitch and towards long on for one.

Mohammad Shami to Rinku Singh, Back of a length and around off, Rinku Singh guides it through backward point for another run.

Mohammad Shami to Cameron Green, A low full toss, on middle, Cameron Green can only drive it down to long off for a run.

Mohammad Shami to Rinku Singh, Slower one, hard length and around middle. Rinku Singh uses his feet to punch it away but gets an inside edge to the keeper's right for a single.

A couple of good overs strung together by the LSG spinners. Just 8/2 in the last two overs for KKR. And here's Mohammad Shami back on. 2-0-11-0 so far, replacing Digvesh Singh.

Manimaran Siddharth to Cameron Green, Pushed through quicker, full and on middle and leg, Cameron Green pats it back to the bowler. Excellent going for LSG.

Manimaran Siddharth to Rinku Singh, Shortish and on leg, Rinku Singh nudges it through mid-wicket for one.

99/1 becomes 105/3 for the Knight Riders with Raghuvanshi gone. Two relatively new batters at the crease for KKR as Rinku Singh comes in at number 5.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, OUT! TAKEN! Two wickets in two overs for LSG, and both the set batters are gone now. Manimaran Siddharth sees the batter advance and fires in an arm ball, full and on middle and leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is out of his crease and gets a bit too close to the ball. He does not have enough room to free his arms and mistimes the lofted shot down to long on. Aiden Markram moves a bit to his right and takes a good catch around his waist. A fantastic knock comes to an end for Raghuvanshi.

Manimaran Siddharth to Cameron Green, Arm ball, shortish and angling in, Cameron Green stays back and tucks it through square leg for another run.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a run.

Manimaran Siddharth to Cameron Green, Tossed up, full and around off, Cameron Green drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Wrong 'un, full and on leg, Cameron Green eases it to long on for one more. Harsha Bhogle on air mentions that this is the first over in the game without a boundary.

Digvesh Singh to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On off, on a dragged back length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi scythes it to deep point for a single.

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Full and outside off, crashed down to long off for a single. 100 COMES UP FOR KKR!

Digvesh Singh to Cameron Green, Digvesh comes in over the wicket with a slip in place. He lands it on a length and gets it to turn into the right-hander. Green reads it well, stays back, lets the ball come onto him and dabs it dead in front of the leg stump.

The KKR skipper is gone now, which puts a halt on this budding partnership. In walks the big bloke, Cameron Green, at number 4. He is in search of runs this season and has a perfect opportunity to get himself going.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! CAUGHT! Digvesh Singh gets the crucial breakthrough on his return to the attack. Not a wicket-taking delivery as he drops it short, outside off. Ajinkya Rahane tries to fetch it from there and pulls it. He seems to have mistimed it and hits it straight to mid-wicket, where the ball dips low on the fielder. Mohammad Shami gets low and takes a fine catch just inches above the ground. He signals out, but the umpires want to be sure this time. After watching different angles, the third umpire is satisfied that Shami's fingers are underneath the ball. Good hand from KKR's skipper comes to an end now.

Umpire's review for a catch. Has Shami taken it cleanly? The ball dipped on him at mid-wicket and Shami bent low to take it between the legs. He scooped the ball but the question is whether his fingers are cleanly under the ball. The first angle appears to be a bit blurry and hence, the TV umpire requests another to examine the legality. A couple of angles come in and it is deemed a clean catch. OUT loads on the giant screen.

Digvesh Singh to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated, short and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi pushes it to cover for a single.

Kolkata Knight Riders have put themselves in a good position at 98/1 after 10 overs. Lucknow Super Giants are desperate for wickets now.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Short and at 135.5 kph, on the body. Raghuvanshi miscues the pull shot to deep square leg for a single. At halfway, KKR are 98/1, motoring along pretty nicely.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Plays it fine enough! A low full toss that tails onto the pads. Angkrish Raghuvanshi whips it to deep fine leg. Mukul Choudhary, from deep square leg, runs and slides to his right but the ball stays out of his reach.

Prince Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane, A leg cutter, full and on off. Ajinkya Rahane drills it down the ground, to long on, for a single.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Back of a length, angled onto the pads. Angkrish Raghuvanshi turns it to deep backward square leg for a run.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Nails the yorker in and around middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi squeezes it out back to the bowler. Prince collects the bump ball around his right shin.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, WIDE! Reload! Over the head bumper with pace taken off and down leg as well. Angkrish Raghuvanshi ignores. Wide given.

Prince Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane, On leg, on a length. Ajinkya Rahane pulls it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Tries the slower one, outside off, on a back of a length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts it off the back foot to backward point.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, On a fuller length at 131.7 kph, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi carves it straight to Mukul Choudhary at extra cover.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, SIX! WHIPPED! Too full from Avesh, on middle and leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi brings his wrists into play and picks it up and over long leg for the second six of the over.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Slanted onto the pads, on a length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi tucks it through the vacant mid-wicket region and rushes back for the second before Markram gets rid of the ball.

Avesh Khan to Ajinkya Rahane, Full and on middle, crisply driven to deep point for a single.

Avesh Khan to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! A strange shot, but that adds six to the skipper's score. Around off on a good length. Ajinkya Rahane literally throws his bat at it, and loses his grip and the bat flies in the opposite direction. Ends up slicing it over deep third for a six.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Conventional leg break that holds and grips a bit, full on off. Ajinkya Rahane chips it down to long on for a single.

Digvesh Singh to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shortens the length now, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hangs back and scythes it to deep point for one more.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Fractionally full on the stumps. Rahane dinks it to widish mid-wicket for a run.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Placed to perfection! It's a full ball, in front of the sticks and slides in a touch. Ajinkya Rahane commits on the front foot, uses his wrists and flicks it perfectly between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Digvesh Singh to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, A slight appeal for LBW, but not entertained. LSG do not go for a review. Fuller and around the off pole. Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes for the reverse, but misses and wears it on the pads. The ball rolls to the cover-point region and they get a leg bye. The replays later show that the impact was way outside the line of the stumps.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Floated up, full on off. Rahane gets on the front foot and drives it to widish long off for a single.

Change? Yes, spin from both ends as Digvesh Singh replaces Avesh Khan.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Nice and full, on leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives it inside out to the cover fielder.

Manimaran Siddharth to Ajinkya Rahane, Drags the length back, on middle and leg. Ajinkya Rahane tucks it to the left of short fine leg for a single. That one stayed a bit too low, but Rahane played it well enough. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between these two.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, A touch shorter now, around middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi cuts it late. The fielder from backward point dives to his left and stops it nicely. One taken.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Nicely played! Much quicker at 103.3 kph, and it slides onto the leg stump, full in length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi drags his hands in front by getting down on his knee. Nails the sweep shot, beating deep square leg to his right for a boundary.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, At 99.9 kph, full on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets on the front foot and drives it to the right of deep point. Digvesh mops it up in the deep. Two taken.

Manimaran Siddharth to Ajinkya Rahane, An in-angler, full on the pads. Rahane flicks it along the ground through mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic Break! KKR have gained a bit of momentum with that last over of the Powerplay, but the test for them will be how they play the middle overs. Lucknow Super Giants will not be too unhappy with the start, as their bowlers have used the conditions well here, but their issue in the first couple of games was to pick up wickets after the Powerplay. An interesting phase of cricket awaits us. Here is Manimaran Siddharth to bowl after the break.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Threads it with clinical precision! Fuller one again, outside off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi presses forward and caresses it past cover-point for a cracking boundary. Expensive start for Avesh. Kolkata Knight Riders end their Powerplay with 56/1.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, SIX! Sweet piece of timing! Much fuller now, on off. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets under it nicely and launches it up and over deep extra cover for a huge six.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Nice adjustment! Nips in from off on a shorter length. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets on his toes, waits for the ball, adjusts to the bounce and cuts it over backward point for a boundary.

Avesh Khan to Ajinkya Rahane, Full toss outside off, and Rahane throws his hands at it with a cover drive. Mukul dives to his right at extra cover and cuts it off brilliantly. Top effort by the youngster. They cross.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Full and outside off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi shuffles across to slog sweep but gets hit on the pads instead. The ball then rolls to square leg for a leg bye.

Avesh Khan to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, BEATEN! Into the pitch, around off, jagging back in. Angkrish Raghuvanshi prepares himself for the square cut, but misses on the inside edge.

Change? Yup. Avesh Khan is introduced into the attack. He replaces Manimaran Siddharth.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Quicker, full and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! A bit streaky again! Loopy delivery, full and around off. Ajinkya Rahane backs away but opens the face of his bat a bit too much. He ends up slicing it in the air but well over short third for four more runs.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Takes the aerial route! Tossed up, full and on middle. Ajinkya Rahane gives himself a bit of room and lofts it over the bowler's head. He does not get it from the middle of the bat but gets enough to clear mid off for a boundary.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Too many dots creeping in now! Floated, shortish and on off. Ajinkya Rahane goes down for the sweep but gets an inside edge. It goes onto the kneeroll of the pads and gets stuck.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Flighted, full and on off, Ajinkya Rahane steps across and clips it to square leg.

Digvesh Singh to Ajinkya Rahane, Flatter and shorter, outside off. Ajinkya Rahane only manages to punch it to cover. Digvesh gets away with it here.

Spin in tandem now. Digvesh Singh replaces Mohammad Shami.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in. Angkrish Raghuvanshi goes down for the slog sweep but gets an inside edge towards short fine.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Another short delivery, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi stabs it out to cover.

Manimaran Siddharth to Ajinkya Rahane, Dragged back, on middle, Ajinkya Rahane swats it to long on for one.

Manimaran Siddharth to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! That is a shot and a half! Tossed up, full and on middle. Ajinkya Rahane uses his feet to go inside-out. Gets his right leg out of the way and lofts it beautifully over extra cover for a biggie.

Manimaran Siddharth to Ajinkya Rahane, Drops it short and on middle, Ajinkya Rahane stays back and nudges it to square leg.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Two wides! Fires this one full but down the leg side. Angkrish Raghuvanshi fails to paddle it away. Rishabh Pant also fails to stop it cleanly. A wide and a bye taken.

Manimaran Siddharth to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Floated, full and on middle, Angkrish Raghuvanshi pushes it to short cover.

A lot of chatter is going around Digvesh's catch to dismiss Allen. His feet were flirting with the boundary cushions and it was a touch-and-go kind of thing. Did his left foot kissed the rope? Is the question. Several replays roll in but there is no conclusive evidence. However, the umpires didn't have a second look to be doubly sure. But nothing to take away from Rathi for a good catch. Spin deployed already. Manimaran Siddharth is brought into the attack, replacing Prince Yadav.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Good fielding! Slower one, full and on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drills it hard and wide of mid on. Digvesh Singh dives to his left and gets a good hand on it to parry it towards mid off. Just one.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Follows the batter, serves this fuller and angling into leg. Angkrish Raghuvanshi gets cramped up for room and taps it out to short cover.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, FOUR! Up and over! Pitched up and around middle. Angkrish Raghuvanshi backs away to access the off side. He gets his hands through the shot with an angled bat and carves it over extra covers for a boundary.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Three dots in a row! Good length and on off, nips back in a bit. Angkrish Raghuvanshi stays back and steers it away but the ball goes on a couple of bounces to first slip.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Pulls his length back a bit, on off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi punches it sweetly again but fails to find the gap at cover.

Mohammad Shami to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Fuller in length and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi drives it firmly but straight to cover.

Prince Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane, Hard length, around off, shaping away. Rahane waits back and punches it to cover-point.

Prince Yadav to Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Good length and around off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi steers it through point for a single.

LSG with a big, big wicket first up. Consecutive single-digit scores for Allen after a decent start in this season. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in at number 3, with two slips waiting behind.

Prince Yadav to Finn Allen, OUT! TAKEN! Prince Yadav gets his man and this is a big wicket for LSG. He hits the length hard and keeps the line just outside off. Finn Allen tries to fetch it and heave it across the line, but the ball just bounces a bit more and shapes away. It takes the top edge and goes miles up in the air towards deep third. Digvesh Singh backpedals, first misjudges but recovers nicely. Settles under the skier, and takes a fantastic catch, also keeping his foot just inside the line. Kolkata Knight Riders are 15/1 after 1.4 overs.

Prince Yadav to Finn Allen, Much fuller and on off, Finn Allen drills it away but fails to beat short cover.

Prince Yadav to Finn Allen, FOUR! Not timed that well but gets the result! Bangs this into the pitch again, on middle. Finn Allen stays back and has a heave across the line. Gets an inside edge that races past short fine for another boundary.

Prince Yadav to Finn Allen, FOUR! Put away! Short of a length and on middle, angling into the leg side. Finn Allen just helps it on its way to the vacant deep backward square leg fence for a boundary.

Prince Yadav to Finn Allen, WIDE! Prince Yadav serves this fuller but down the leg side. Instead of angling in, it shapes away after leaving the batter. Rishabh Pant gets wrong-footed but manages well to get his gloves onto it.

Despite the boundary, that was an exceptional opening over from Shami. The ball obeyed him and swung extravagantly. The line and length were the key. Prince Yadav to operate from the opposite end.

Mohammad Shami to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Nicely played! Shami goes just a bit too full this time, on off. Ajinkya Rahane manages to get underneath the ball, negates the swing and thumps it past the bowler, to the long off fence for the first boundary of the game.

Mohammad Shami to Finn Allen, Short of a length and around off, Finn Allen tries to punch it but gets a thickish outside edge towards third man for one.

Mohammad Shami to Finn Allen, So close! Mohammad Shami pulls his length back a bit, on middle, gets it to swing in this time. Finn Allen charges down the track to go big down the ground but gets beaten on the inside edge this time. Shami is making the ball talk here.

Mohammad Shami to Finn Allen, Wow, that moved a lot! Pitched up and on the sixth stump line, hits the deck and swings away from the right-hander. Finn Allen goes after it again but the ball zips past the outside edge once again.

Mohammad Shami to Finn Allen, BEAUTY! Shami lands this on a good length and in that channel of off, getting it to shape away with extra bounce. Finn Allen looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Mohammad Shami to Ajinkya Rahane, KKR and Ajinkya Rahane are up and running! Mohammad Shami stars with a full delivery around off, shaping away a bit. Rahane opens the face of his bat and guides it to deep third for a single.

All set to get going in Match 15 in the City of Joy. Faf du Plessis gets the honor of ringing the bell at Eden Gardens to mark the commencement of the game. The two umpires now make their way out. Rishabh Pant leads his men out as the Super Giants scatter across the park to take their positions. Finn Allen walks out with Ajinkya Rahane to open for the Knight Riders. Mohammad Shami, who looked in fantastic rhythm in the previous game, will bowl the opening over of the match. Rahane to face. A slip in position. Let's play...

Let's unpack the toss - Interestingly, Muzarabani and Arora, KKR's two most effective bowlers this season, are both missing from the starting XI. Arora could yet make an appearance as the Impact Sub in the second innings, but for now, the batting is where KKR's attention must remain. Specifically, the Powerplay. Sunil Narine's return, of course, adds valuable depth to their lineup, but that only counts if the top order sets a strong foundation. LSG, on the other hand, are going with the same combination which was on the expected lines. They have picked up only three overseas players in the starting XI for now. Badoni looks the likeliest candidate for that role of Impact Sub, though Breetzke is not entirely out of the equation if need be.

Impact Players for Kolkata Knight Riders - Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Tejasvi Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI) - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine (In place of Blessing Muzarabani), Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi.

Impact Players for Lucknow Super Giants - Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Shahbaz Ahamad, Mayank Yadav, Himmat Singh.

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammad Shami, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav.

The skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says that they wanted to bowl as well. Informs that they have one change as Sunil Narine comes in for Blessing Muzarabani but Varun is still recovering from his hand injury. On Cameron Green's bowling, Rahane says that you will see him when he is allowed to bowl. That gives them to have more balance, with playing Rovman Powell as an extra batter and gives them another option with the ball as well. Jinx shares that they don't want to put themselves under pressure by having a number, and they just want to react to the ball and see how it goes.

The captain of Lucknow Super Giants - Rishabh Pant says they want to put the opposition to bat first as they trust their bowlers to do the job for them. Mentions that a victory definitely adds to the positive atmosphere in the team. Says that seeing that intent coming together feels very good. Adds that their batting unit is a little top-heavy and trusts them to get them through. Informs that they are going with the same playing XI for this match.

TOSS - It's toss time here at the Eden Gardens. Both the captains make their way out to the middle now. Ajinkya Rahane gives the coin a flick and Rishabh Pant calls 'Tails' and it comes down as Tails. Lucknow Super Giants elect to BOWL first.

Time to hear from the Lucknow camp - LSG's Head Coach, Justin Langer says the atmosphere in the IPL is always awesome and it feels like you are in a Coldplay concert or anything of that sort. On being asked about how important the previous win was for LSG, Justin stresses that every game and every win is important in such tournaments where every point counts. On Rishabh Pant batting through the innings, he says Rishabh batted with responsibility and got them two points. Highlights that the way Pant ran between the wickets and the way he led the side was very crucial for them.  Langer says that Eden Gardens is a great place to play cricket and with the rain gone now, he expects a high-scoring game. Tells that LSG are well-prepared and ready to show their best cricket this time around. On the batting order, he details that things are fairly settled for now and points out that the combination of Marsh and Markram at the top has worked well with Pant and Pooran to follow next. Also adds that they have got some really good young players in the mix and stresses the need to focus on executing their plans.

Power Coach of KKR is up for a chat - Andre Russell says that they have had two good days of preparation. Adds that the batters have had a good time at the nets while the bowlers have also had a run around, trying to improve on the execution of their plans. Mentions that they are in a good place as far as training goes, but not on the table and all they can do is improve in every game. Dre Russ shares that they need to start well in the Powerplay and not lose too many wickets. The batters need to play long and not get out in crucial moments. He reckons they have the power and skills and they can even chase 250, but they need to apply themselves better and once it clicks, he believes they will be a strong unit. Russell says that he was here last year, so he is familiar with this group of players. He approaches them as a friend and have good conversations. Tells that the players have the willingness to listen and his job is to help them have a clear mind to see the ball and hit the ball, but do it smartly. Ends by laughing and saying that he has been hitting the gym hard. 

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta welcomes by noting that Eden Gardens had been a high-scoring venue thanks to its quick outfield. On the dimensions, he says the square boundaries measure 65 metres and 64 meters respectively, and 74 metres is the straight hit. Faf du Plessis, assessing the surface, says the teams need to read the conditions early at this ground, watching for swing in the air and movement off the pitch. He describes the surface as a slowish one, with dry patches visible at one end. He expects the spinners to come into play from that side. Highlights that this is the same pitch used in the previous game, where the ball had swung around considerably. DDG points out that Eden Gardens had historically favoured teams batting first, with four of the last six matches going the way of the side that set the target. However, he raises the question of whether the overcast conditions might prompt teams to think differently. Faf says that with the weather looming, chasing is the preferred option every time. Adds, captains and teams always looked skyward, and when clouds are around, the DLS method makes chasing a significant strategic advantage. Deep agrees to that, adding that despite the dry surface and quick outfield making for a good batting track with the ball coming on nicely, teams would need to be wary of the new ball, which could swing in the conditions. He expects a high-scoring game overall.

Numbers vs Nature - At the Eden Gardens, the numbers tell a clear story, the average first-innings score in the last 10 IPL games here is 203, and teams batting first have won 75 per cent of those matches (including a couple of no results). Yet, it's not that straightforward. Rahane's call to bat first in the last game raised eyebrows, and with rain around once again, captains face a tricky choice - trust the stats or play the conditions. Stay tuned for the toss and other updates.

LSG's firepower with gaps to fill - Lucknow Super Giants have shown resilience but are still chasing a complete game. The Markram-Pant switch has worked well, Markram has 490 runs in 14 innings as an opener, while Pant averages 52.2 at number three among batters with 500 plus runs. Add the firepower of Marsh and Pooran, and they can be devastating if it clicks. Their pace attack remains their biggest strength, led by Shami's 36 Powerplay wickets since IPL 2022, only behind Trent Boult while Avesh Khan picks up 45 percent of his wickets at the death. With Prince Yadav and Anrich Nortje adding variety, they look well-stocked, though spin remains a concern.

KKR's top-heavy struggles - Kolkata have relied heavily on their openers. Ajinkya Rahane has been superb at Eden, averaging 52.9 since IPL 2023 and striking at 180 in the Powerplay since IPL 2025, while Finn Allen has been explosive, leading the Powerplay run charts in T20s this year with a boundary every 3.2 balls. However, apart from Angkrish Raghuvanshi's consistency, the rest of the batting has failed to fire. Their bowling hasn't helped either - the pacers have picked up wickets but leaked runs at over 10 an over, making the return of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy crucial to regaining control, despite them not being at their best this season so far.

Knights seek revival at Eden - Kolkata Knight Riders return to the Eden Gardens still searching for their first win of IPL 2026. Winless in their last six IPL games stretching back to last season, even a no result in the previous outing hasn't eased the pressure. They now face a Lucknow Super Giants side that has shown promise in patches but is still chasing that one complete performance to stamp their authority.

... MATCH DAY ...

Pressure vs promise at Eden - Match 15 of IPL 2026 brings us to the iconic Eden Gardens, where Kolkata Knight Riders take on Lucknow Super Giants. Two teams with very different starts - KKR searching for answers after a shaky opening, while LSG have shown glimpses of a well-rounded unit. With Eden known for big scores and momentum swings, this clash has all the ingredients of another thriller. KKR's unsettled start - It hasn't been the ideal beginning for the three-time champions. A failure to defend 220 against Mumbai and then conceding 226 against Hyderabad at home exposed major concerns in their bowling. Even in the last game, a questionable call to bat first in overcast conditions saw them stumble to 25/2 before rain bailed them out. There are clear signs that KKR are still searching for the right balance. Bright spots with the bat - Amidst the struggles, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been a standout, delivering consistent performances with a couple of half-centuries. Finn Allen has been explosive, striking at 229, but his inability to get past the Powerplay remains a concern. Ajinkya Rahane has been fluent early in the Powerplay last few seasons but slows down significantly in the middle overs, striking at below 130, something KKR can ill afford in modern T20 cricket. Rinku Singh has chipped in with starts but now carries greater responsibility in the absence of Andre Russell. Middle order and balance concerns - KKR's middle order still feels unsettled. Ramandeep Singh hasn't made much of an impact yet, while the inclusion of Rovman Powell adds firepower, though his role remains unclear. The potential return of Sunil Narine is massive, not just for balance, but for his incredible record at Eden, where he has scored 710 runs, second only to Gautam Gambhir for the franchise. Cameron Green, however, remains a major concern. The ₹25 crore signing has managed just 24 runs in three games so far, and with uncertainty around his bowling role, questions are only growing louder, especially with options like Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra waiting in the wings. Bowling - A major headache! KKR's biggest worry has been their bowling. Despite having variety, they've lacked discipline and control. Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have shown promise but haven't been consistent enough, while Navdeep Saini could be persisted with after his inclusion. Blessing Muzarabani has picked up wickets but leaked runs, and Umran Malik waits for his opportunity. The potential return of Varun Chakravarthy alongside Narine could be crucial, the duo has a strong record at Eden, combining over 100 wickets and remains central to KKR's bowling identity. LSG's pace battery leading the charge - Lucknow Super Giants, in contrast, have built their campaign around a formidable pace attack. In both games so far, they've reduced opponents to 26/4 in the Powerplay, a testament to their new-ball dominance. Mohammad Shami has been exceptional, striking early and finishing with superb figures of 2/9 in the last match, while Prince Yadav has impressed with his swing and aggression. The likes of Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and the raw pace of Anrich Nortje give LSG one of the most dangerous fast-bowling units in the tournament. Spin and batting - mixed returns! While their pace attack has flourished, spin remains a concern for LSG, with Digvesh Singh and Shahbaz Ahamad yet to make a strong impact. Aiden Markram can contribute, but they'll need more from that department. With the bat, it's been a mixed bag, Rishabh Pant’s return to number three paid off with a match-winning 68*, and he also boasts 384 runs in 16 games against KKR. Markram looked solid at the top returning to his opening spot, while Mitchell Marsh adds aggression. However, Nicholas Pooran is yet to fire, something LSG will be keen to address given his strike rate of 196.3 last season. The likes of Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni provide depth, but both will need to take on more responsibility to support the core. Edge with the Super Giants - LSG hold the edge in this rivalry, leading 4-2. Their last meeting at Eden was a run-fest, with Lucknow posting 238 and KKR falling just four runs short, a reminder of how little separates these sides and how high-scoring this contest can get. Team form (Last 5 completed games, recent first) - KKR - LLLLW | LSG - WLLWL. Rain threat over a run-fest? Eden Gardens has become a batting paradise, with 190 often par and 200 plus scores the norm, thanks to true bounce and shorter boundaries. This sets up a clash between KKR's search for rhythm and LSG's pace-driven approach. If KKR's batting clicks they can match anyone, but their bowling must improve, while LSG will look to strike early and finish strong. The last game here was washed out, and with rain in the forecast again, there's some uncertainty but hopefully it doesn't play spoilsport and we get a contest, even if it's a shortened one.