Why Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine are not playing today's match vs PBKS in IPL 2026?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opted to bat first after winning the toss against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens. For this crucial match, the home team, KKR, made multiple bold decisions.

To take on PBKS, the runners-up of the IPL 2025 season, who have been in good form in the ongoing season as well, the Knight Riders took Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy out of their playing combinations. Chakravarthy has been struggling with his form since the Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Why are Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine not playing today vs PBKS?

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane informed that Varun is out of contention as he received an injury in the last match. Keeping Sunil Narine on the bench is a massive decision taken by KKR. Rahane informed that Narine is not fit for the match tonight. In place of these two spinners, Navdeep Saini and Rovman Powell join the playing eleven.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

"Two changes, forced. Varun Chakravarthy got injured taking the catch in the last game, and Narine is sick. Powell and Saini are in," Rahane informed.

No Sunil Narine, no Varun Chakravarthy, double blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders

Since the last few seasons, the spin duo of Sunil and Varun Chakravarthy has remained the main cogs for the team. With the extensive amount of skill sets, they snatched multiple wins for the team on multiple occasions.

According to stats, Kolkata Knight Riders is playing their first match since 2020 without either Sunil Narine or Varun Chakravarthy in the playing eleven.

After winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane explained that the surface looks good, with less grass on the top, slightly on the drier side. But overall, it looks good enough for him to opt to bat first.

Rahane sounds confident at the toss

"We are going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket, a little bit on the drier side, but it's a very good wicket and slightly less covering of grass as well. That’s the reason to put the runs on the board first," KKR skipper mentioned at the toss.

"It’s all about having that belief, having that confidence. Preparation-wise, we’ve been fantastic, every player. It’s all about winning the small moments in the T20 format. It’s all about giving your best. And if you find that right moment, just give your best. So, as I said, we are confident as a unit and have that belief," he further added.

KKR have lost the two big wickets of Finn Allen and Cameron Green and are in deep trouble after the early wickets.

KKR vs PBKS Playing XIs

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi

Read More: "Loss is on me": Ruturaj Gaikwad takes full responsibility after defeat vs RCB in IPL 2026