With the previous game at Eden Gardens ending in a washout, weather concerns once again dominate discussions ahead of Match No. 15 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 9.
Led by Ajinkya Rahane, KKR currently sit ninth in the points table. The team is yet to register a victory this season, with their only point coming from a rain-affected match against Punjab Kings. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants enter the contest on a positive note, having secured a win in their previous outing, placing them seventh in the standings.
IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Kolkata
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for Kolkata on match day. This follows an Orange Alert declared on April 8 due to intense thunderstorms that swept across the city.
Weather forecasts predict a partly cloudy morning, turning mostly cloudy by the afternoon. There is a significant likelihood of moderate thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds in the evening—coinciding with the scheduled match time of 7:30 PM IST.
Temperatures are expected to range between 21°C and 31°C, with high humidity levels adding to the discomfort. The toss, slated for 7:00 PM IST, could also face delays if showers arrive as predicted.
Rain Likely to Impact Playing Conditions
According to AccuWeather, rain showers may affect outfield conditions and potentially disrupt play. Kolkata has been experiencing consistent pre-monsoon “Kalbaisakhi” storms throughout the week, resulting in damp surfaces and elevated humidity levels.
Although Eden Gardens boasts one of the best drainage systems in India, repeated evening showers reduce recovery time, increasing the chances of delays or a shortened contest.
Teams Eye Crucial Points
Despite the looming weather threat, both teams will be eager to secure vital points. KKR will look to register their first win of the season, while LSG aim to build momentum and climb higher in the standings.
Squads
Lucknow Super Giants:
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (wk/c), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Matthew Breetzke, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Himmat Singh, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Naman Tiwari, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Prabhu Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohsin Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani, Manish Pandey, Tejasvi Dahiya, Saurabh Dubey, Sunil Narine, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Rachin Ravindra, Prashant Solanki, Varun Chakaravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana, Umran Malik, Daksh Kamra.
