Kolkata host Mumbai in ‘do-or-die’ match:Red-hot MI might ruin KKR’s playoff hopes despite Angkrish’s merry with willow

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to challenge five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on their home soil on 20 May, Wednesday, to stay alive in the race for the final playoff spot. Mumbai are already been eliminated from the tournament, but Kolkata still hold chances. KKR have to win their remaining matches and gather 15 points, but it won’t be enough, as they will also be dependent on others to qualify for the playoffs. Earlier, in this season, MI and KKR met each other on 29 March, where Mumbai defeated Kolkata by 6 wickets in a last-over thriller. Batting first, KKR scored 220 runs, losing four wickets in 20 overs. In response, MI chased down 221 runs, losing four wickets in 19.1 overs with five balls remaining. Shardul Thakur was awarded POTM for his all-around performance. He bagged a three-wicket haul, conceding 39 runs in his four overs. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma (78) and Ryan Rickelton (81) outclassed KKR with the bat during the 221-run chase. KKR vs MI, Match Details Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, match 65 Date: 20 May, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM IST, toss at 7:00 PM IST 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 MI, head-to-head record Kolkata and Mumbai have met 36 times in IPL history, with MI dominating the rivalry with 25 wins compared to KKR’s 11. Knight Riders’ highest score against MI Paltan is 232, while MI’s best stands at 224. Despite Mumbai’s advantage, this showdown holds special significance since red-hot KKR will fight tooth and nail to keep their playoff hopes alive against eliminated Mumbai. Raghuvanshi, Tyagi keep KKR’s qualification hopes alive Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the leading run-scorer for KKR. He has scored 422 runs in 12 matches with a strike rate of 146.52. Kartik Tyagi has taken 16 wickets in 12 matches, while giving away runs at an economy of 9.44. For KKR to keep their hopes alive for playoffs, Kolkata need both of them to perform in today’s game. Rickelton, Ghazanfar to play for Mumbai’s pride Ryan Rickelton, as an opener, has provided quick starts to Mumbai. He has scored 430 runs in 10 matches with an explosive strike rate of 190.26, including an unbeaten 123-run knock. Allah Ghazanfar has taken 13 wickets in 9 matches and leaked runs at an economy of 10.02. Rohit Sharma struggles against Sunil Narine in matchups The KKR legend, Sunil Narine, has troubled ‘Hitman’ several times in the past. The Windies mystery spinner has dismissed Rohit Sharma eight times in the tournament’s history. Rohit has scored 145 runs, facing 137 balls with a strike rate of 105.83 in 22 innings. Narine has conceded runs with a cheap economy of 6.35. Eden Gardens, pitch report The iconic Eden Gardens appears well set for a balanced contest despite rain over the last few days. The grass cover and cool, breezy conditions are expected to aid seamers with early swing and movement, while the consistent bounce should help batters once they settle in. With short square boundaries and a quick outfield, scores of 180-190 could be competitive, though totals beyond 200 remain achievable. Teams winning the toss may prefer chasing. Kolkata weather report The weather in Kolkata is expected to be cloudy but pleasant for the match. There are chances of rain in the ‘City of Joy’. The temperature is set to hover around 28 degrees Celsius at night. The humidity, according to Accuweather, is expected to be 89% so it is expected to be a hot and humid evening in Kolkata on Wednesday.