Match overview
Lucknow Super Giants beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 3 wickets at Eden Gardens on 9 April 2026, completing a chase of 182 in what became a tense finish. Kolkata had posted 181/4 with a powerplay of 56 and an outstanding death spell of 66 runs from the final phase. Lucknow matched the powerplay score exactly, took the game deep through the middle overs, and held their nerve to win. MD Choudhary was named Player of the Match for his contribution with the ball, which helped keep KKR below 190 and kept the chase achievable. The result extends Lucknow's head-to-head lead over Kolkata to 5-2 across seven IPL meetings.
For Kolkata, this was another defeat in a difficult recent stretch. They have now lost four of their last five completed matches in IPL cricket, and conceding the chase at their home ground will sting. Their batting held up well, particularly in the death overs, but their bowling attack leaked enough through the middle and at the end to let Lucknow over the line. The margins in this rivalry are almost always tight, and this 3-wicket result continued that pattern.
Lucknow arrived at this fixture on mixed form themselves, with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and a loss to Delhi Capitals in 2026 before this match. The away win at Eden Gardens, where LSG have now beaten KKR multiple times, will be one of their more satisfying results of the season so far.
Venue and conditions
Eden Gardens is one of the most storied grounds in world cricket and one of the busier T20 venues in the IPL, having hosted 171 matches in the dataset. The average first-innings score is 186, which means KKR's 181 fell just below par for this ground. The average second-innings score of 170 suggests chasers typically fall short, making Lucknow's 182/7 a meaningful performance in context.
The powerplay average at Eden Gardens sits at 44 runs. Both teams significantly outpaced that on Thursday: KKR scored 56 with 1 wicket down, and LSG matched that figure despite losing 2. The death-overs average of 38 runs was also eclipsed by both sides, with KKR taking 66 from that phase and LSG 55. On this evidence, the pitch offered little assistance to bowlers across all three phases. Captains here tend to field after winning the toss: the venue's toss-field rate of 58% reflects the widespread view that dew and surface wear make chasing preferable. LSG followed that logic and it paid off. The ground's overall chase success rate of 53% across 171 matches is marginally above 50, suggesting conditions do favour the chasing side in aggregate.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Live streaming is available through Sky Go for Sky subscribers and through NOW TV for those who prefer a day or month pass without a full Sky Sports contract. Matches typically start at either 14:30 BST or 19:30 BST depending on the afternoon or evening slot, so check the schedule in advance to confirm the UK kickoff time for forthcoming fixtures.
For radio coverage of other major cricket events, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra carries commentary during ICC tournaments and selected Test series, though IPL coverage on the BBC is not guaranteed. Sky Sports' digital platforms also carry post-match analysis and highlights if you miss the live broadcast.
Recent form
Kolkata Knight Riders' recent record makes difficult reading. Across their last five completed results they have four defeats, including losses to Sunrisers Hyderabad (twice), Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings. Their only non-defeat in that run was a no-result against Punjab Kings in 2026. This Eden Gardens loss continues that slide and will raise questions about their ability to build momentum in the second half of the season.
Lucknow Super Giants present a more mixed picture. Their two 2026 results before this match were a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad and a loss to Delhi Capitals. In 2025 they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad but beat Gujarat Titans. The pattern suggests a side capable of beating strong opposition without consistency across full campaigns. Winning at Eden Gardens, away from home and in a match that required 182 to win, is the kind of result that builds confidence going deeper into the tournament.
