The build-up was perfect. Shah Rukh Khan attended his first match of the season, while fans turned up in decent numbers to cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders despite the team’s recent struggles.
But in the end, strong winds and torrential rain had the final say as the Indian Premier League 2026 fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was washed out on Monday.
Despite predictions of rain, KKR opted to bat and was reeling at 25 for two in 3.4 overs when the showers arrived, halting play barely 17 minutes into the game at Eden Gardens.
Coming off two consecutive defeats, KKR took the field without the injured Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. In a bid to strengthen the batting, Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini were drafted into the XI.
However, it was another disappointing start for KKR as neither Finn Allen nor Cameron Green managed to settle, both caught behind off a probing spell from Xavier Bartlett. With Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempting to rebuild, rain forced the players off the field.
There was initial hope of a restart as the groundstaff swiftly covered the square and outfield. But as the evening wore on, the rain intensified and powerful gusts of wind swept across the ground.
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Sheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.
With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.
Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.
A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.
Published on Apr 06, 2026
