IPL 2026, KKR vs MI Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders wary of unpredictable Mumbai Indians

KOLKATA: One cannot but help remember the adage ‘cricket is a great leveller’ on seeing Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians meeting in what seems to be an inconsequential match at the business end of a tournament they have dominated over the years. While five-time winners MI are out of the race for the playoffs, three-time IPL champions KKR are all but out of the equation.

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The hosts remain one among the five teams — Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals being the other four — fighting for the sole available playoffs berth as all sorts of permutation and combinations come into play.




However, a defeat on Wednesday is likely to officially end KKR’s playoff hopes for the second successive season. At the same time winning the last two games, which will take them to 15 points, might not be good enough too.

KKR should take heart from the way they have pulled their campaign back, recording five wins in their last six matches after a disastrous start to the season.

But a side with nothing to lose often proves dangerous and MI have played the party poopers for Punjab Kings in their last match. As a matter of fact it was MI who had hit KKR hard in their first match in this IPL, recording a six-wicket victory.

The main architects of that victory — Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma — will once again hold the key. Skipper Hardik Pandya, who is expected to return after missing three games with an injury, will boost MI’s batting as well as bowling departments. MI might have faltered this time, but they will always stand ahead of their rivals on experience having a number of international players on the roster.

KKR, on the other hand, seem to have finally got their house in order. While New Zealand opener Finn Allen has got going, Rinku Singh has shouldered the responsibility of a finisher.

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