KKR host DC in season’s last group stage match:Kolkata aim to lock playoff berth in must-win game, all eyes on Finn Allen’s carnage

In the last match of the league stage, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to host the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This battle will be a must-win for KKR in terms of playoff qualification. Meanwhile, DC are eliminated from the IPL 19th season after Punjab’s win on Saturday, while KKR is still alive in the qualification race. Earlier on 8th May, KKR defeated DC by 8 wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Batting first, Delhi scored 142 runs in 20 overs. Kolkata chased 143 runs within 14.2 overs. Finn Allen was awarded the POTM for his blistering, unbeaten 100-run knock, including 10 sixes, facing 47 balls. KKR vs DC, Match 70, IPL 2026, Match Details Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals, match 70 Date: 24 May, 2026, Sunday Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Time: 7:30 PM IST, toss at 7:00 PM How to watch: Star Sports network (Telecasting), JioHotstar (Streaming) Where to follow: Follow live updates from the match on the Bhaskar English app. KKR vs DC, head-to-head record Kolkata and Delhi have met 36 times in the IPL, with KKR holding a 20-15 lead, and one match ended without a result. Delhi’s highest total against KKR is 228, whereas Kolkata have piled up 272. With a history of close contests and big scores, this rivalry remains a fan favourite. Raghuvanshi ruled out of IPL 2026, all eyes on Kartik Tyagi Kolkata Knight Riders’ No.3 batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the leading run-scorer for the Purple Gold. He has scored 422 runs in 13 matches with a strike rate of 146.52. On the other hand, Kartik Tyagi has taken 18 wickets and conceded runs with an economy of 9.42 in 13 matches. However, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to the concussion and finger fracture sustained in the match against MI on 20 May. KL Rahul, Axar Patel aim to fight a final battle with KKR Delhi Capitals’ opener KL Rahul is the leading run-scorer for DC. He has scored 533 runs with a strike rate of 171.93, including a blistering, unbeaten 152-run knock against the Punjab Kings this season. On the other hand, captain Axar Patel with 10 wickets is the leading wicket-taker for the franchise. He has conceded runs with an economy of 8.05 in 13 matches. Finn dominated Starc in the season’s previous encounter KKR’s high-impact opener Finn Allen has scored 18 runs, facing 9 balls with a strike rate of 200. On the other hand, Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc couldn’t deceive Allen ever in IPL history. He has conceded runs with an expensive economy of 12.00. Notably, Finn holds the second spot in the contrast to strike rate just after Rajasthan’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. KL Rahul vs Sunil Narine Delhi Capitals’ opener KL Rahul has scored 120 runs, facing 88 balls with a strike rate of 136.36 against Sunil Narine. On the other hand, Narine has deceived Rahul two times in the tournament history. He has conceded runs with an economy of 8.18 in the past. Eden Gardens pitch report The iconic venue has been a paradise for batters throughout IPL 2026, offering a flat surface with true bounce and minimal assistance for bowlers. However, the KKR vs MI match had a wicket where run-scoring wasn’t easy at all. Although the venue is likely to favour chasing teams, it remains to be seen what kind of pitch is used for the last group stage match of the season. Kolkata weather report On Sunday evening, the weather in Kolkata is expected to be 87% humid. There is no chance of rain with the temperature expected to be 29° Celsius. With 35 km/h of wind gust, there is a dew point of 28°.