Kolkata Knight Riders have been dealt a significant setback in their IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings, with both their premier spinners — Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine — unavailable.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane, after winning the toss and opting to bat at the Eden Gardens, confirmed the duo’s absence.
“We have two forced changes. Unfortunately, Varun Chakravarthy got injured taking a catch in the last game, and Narine is sick,” Rahane said.
Massive dent to KKR’s bowling strength
The absence of Narine and Chakravarthy is a huge blow for KKR, considering their pivotal role in recent seasons. The spin duo was instrumental in:
- KKR’s title-winning campaign in 2024
- Maintaining control in the middle overs during IPL 2025
Even when not among wickets, both bowlers have been crucial in containing runs and building pressure, especially on batting-friendly tracks.
Team balance reshuffled
KKR have reworked their combination to compensate:
- Navdeep Saini comes in as an additional seamer
- Rovman Powell strengthens the middle order
- Anukul Roy remains the only frontline spinner
KKR Playing XI
Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
With their spin attack severely weakened, KKR will rely heavily on their pace unit and batting firepower to stay competitive in this crucial encounter.
