Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders are taking on 2022 winners Gujarat Titans in a crucial IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens on Saturday, with KKR battling to stay alive in the playoff race and GT aiming to seal a playoff spot.
KKR’s IPL 2026 campaign has been a rollercoaster so far. The Kolkata-based side endured a difficult start, failing to register a win in their opening six matches.
However, under captain Ajinkya Rahane, KKR revived their campaign with four consecutive victories before suffering a setback against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their previous outing.
With nine points from 11 matches, KKR currently sit eighth in the points table and remain in a precarious position. To keep their qualification hopes alive, they will likely need to win all their remaining fixtures and depend on net run rate as well as results elsewhere.
KKR vs GT: Predicted Playing XIs for IPL 2026 Clash
Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to field Ajinkya Rahane as captain alongside Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey in the batting line-up. Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi are expected to lead the bowling attack, while Varun Chakravarthy or Saurabh Dubey could be used as the Impact Player.
For Gujarat Titans, Sai Sudharsan and skipper Shubman Gill are expected to open the innings, with Jos Buttler strengthening the top order. The side could also feature Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder and Rahul Tewatia. Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj are likely to handle the bowling duties, with Prasidh Krishna tipped to be used as the Impact Player.
Gujarat Titans Aim to Become First Team to Seal Playoff Qualification
In contrast, Gujarat Titans have emerged as one of the strongest teams this season. Led by Shubman Gill, GT are currently on a five-match winning streak and sit second in the standings with 16 points from 12 matches.
A victory against KKR would not only confirm their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs but could also lift them to the top of the table.
The Titans’ success this season has been built around a balanced squad featuring experienced international stars and consistent domestic performers.
Key Players to Watch in KKR vs GT Clash
For KKR, much will depend on the experienced duo of Sunil Narine and Rahane, while explosive batters like Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell could play decisive roles in the middle order.
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, boast a formidable line-up including Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj and Sai Sudharsan. Their bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna, has been among the most effective in the tournament.
KKR vs GT IPL 2026 Match Details
Match
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2026 Match 60
Date
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Time
7:30 PM IST
Venue
Eden Gardens
Where to Watch KKR vs GT Live
The KKR vs GT IPL 2026 match will be broadcast live on Star Sports channels in India. Live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad
Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rinku Singh, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Cameron Green, Sunil Narine, Rachin Ravindra, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani, Matheesha Pathirana, Umran Malik and Varun Chakravarthy among others.
Gujarat Titans Squad
Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler, Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Prasidh Krishna and Sai Kishore among others.
Inputs from agencies
