IPL 2026 Match 6 takes place on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) host the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a 7:30 PM IST clash.
KKR are the favorites to win at their spin-friendly fortress, where they hold a dominant 8-3 head-to-head record against SRH. With Pat Cummins still sidelined due to a lumbar stress injury, the absence of SRH’s captain and strike bowler tilts the advantage further towards the home side.
IPL 2026 Match 6 KKR vs SRH Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 6, IPL 2026 (TATA IPL) |
| Teams | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Date | Thursday, April 2, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| KKR Captain | Ajinkya Rahane |
| SRH Captain (Stand-in) | Ishan Kishan (Pat Cummins injured) |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
IPL 2026 Match 6 Odds for KKR vs SRH
The betting market reflects KKR’s home advantage and SRH’s early-season struggles.
KKR is the slight favorite across major platforms, with win odds ranging between 1.72 and 1.82. SRH, despite their explosive batting lineup, are priced as underdogs at 1.95-2.10. Both teams lost their opening matches, so expect a tightly contested affair.
| Platform | KKR Win Odds | SRH Win Odds | Toss Odds (KKR) | Toss Odds (SRH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.78 | 2.05 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| Stake | 1.75 | 2.00 | 1.85 | 1.85 |
| 4RABET | 1.82 | 2.10 | 1.85 | 1.90 |
| BetVibe | 1.72 | 1.95 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
IPL 2026 Match 6 Toss Prediction for KKR vs SRH
Eden Gardens presents a classic toss conundrum.
The pitch here favors spinners as the match progresses, making batting first an attractive option. Unlike Chinnaswamy, where dew makes chasing easier, Eden’s black soil surface slows down in the second innings. The ball grips and turns, giving Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine significant advantages when defending.
However, dew remains a factor in evening games in Kolkata during early April. Teams bowling second often struggle to grip the ball after the 14th and 15th overs. Recent T20 World Cup 2026 matches at this venue have seen an average first-innings score of approximately 182 runs, with four of five games won by the team batting first.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to bat first.
KKR Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 6
KKR enters this fixture after a six-wicket loss to the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on March 29. Despite posting 220/4, their bowling attack was torn apart by Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finn Allen | WK-Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Ajinkya Rahane (c) | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter |
| 4 | Cameron Green | All-rounder |
| 5 | Rinku Singh | Batter |
| 6 | Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder |
| 7 | Sunil Narine | All-rounder |
| 8 | Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler |
| 9 | Vaibhav Arora | Bowler |
| 10 | Blessing Muzarabani | Bowler |
| 11 | Kartik Tyagi | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Anukul Roy | Spinner |
Key Injury/Availability Updates:
Matheesha Pathirana remains a concern. The Sri Lankan yorker specialist was a doubt heading into the opening game, and assistant coach Shane Watson provided no clear timeline on his return. KKR spent ₹18 crore on Pathirana at the auction, so his absence creates a significant death-over bowling gap.
Harshit Rana is unavailable due to national team commitments. His absence against MI was felt, as the pace attack lacked penetration.
The good news? Ajinkya Rahane smashed 67 off 40 balls in the opener, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi added a fluent 51 off 29. The batting looks settled. The bowling is the concern.
SRH Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 6
SRH also lost their opener, going down to RCB by six wickets in just 15.4 overs at Chinnaswamy on March 28. The defending champions chased 202 with 26 balls to spare.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Travis Head | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan (c, wk) | WK-Batter |
| 4 | Heinrich Klaasen | WK-Batter |
| 5 | Aniket Verma | Batter |
| 6 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder |
| 7 | Salil Arora | All-rounder |
| 8 | Harshal Patel | Bowler |
| 9 | Harsh Dubey | Bowler |
| 10 | Jaydev Unadkat | Bowler |
| 11 | Eshan Malinga | Bowler |
| 12 (Impact) | Zeeshan Ansari / Liam Livingstone | Spinner / All-rounder |
Key Injury/Absence Updates:
Pat Cummins remains out with a lumbar stress injury sustained before the 2025-26 Ashes. He has resumed bowling in the nets every third day and targets a mid-season return. SRH head coach Daniel Vettori confirmed Cummins is “probably two weeks away” from match fitness.
Jack Edwards is ruled out for the entire IPL 2026 season due to a foot injury. His replacement, Nathan Payne, has been added to the squad.
The silver lining? Ishan Kishan looked exceptional in the opener, smashing 80 off 38 balls in his captaincy debut. Aniket Verma also impressed with a blazing 43 off 18 balls late in the innings.
Eden Gardens Pitch Report IPL 2026
Eden Gardens is a spin paradise that rewards smart bowling and disciplined batting.
Stadium Details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Capacity | 66,000 |
| Pitch Type | Black soil, spin-friendly |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 156-180 runs (T20S, recent) |
| Boundary Size | 66m (square), 76m (straight) |
| Best Strategy | Bat first (pitch slows down in 2nd innings) |
What to expect from the surface on April 2:
Pacers get early assistance. The first 3-4 overs offer bounce and occasional seam movement. After that, the surface flattens for batters.
Spinners dominate the middle overs. The black soil surface grips, and variations in pace become crucial. This is where Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine thrive against SRH’s middle order.
The second innings becomes tricky. The pitch slows significantly, making stroke play harder. Chasing teams often lose momentum between overs 12 and 18.
Dew can arrive after 8 PM. Evening games in April see moderate dew, affecting spinners’ grip. However, it’s not as severe as Bengaluru or Mumbai.
Expected score range: 160-190 per innings in typical conditions.
Kolkata Weather Report, April 2, 2026
Early April in Kolkata brings hot, dry conditions. Perfect for cricket, though the heat will test player endurance.
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Clear to partly cloudy |
| Temperature | 27°C – 35°C (evening: 27-29°C) |
| Humidity | Moderate (~60-70%) |
| Wind Speed | Light winds, 15-20 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Minimal |
| Dew Factor | Moderate dew expected from the 15th over of the 2nd innings |
| Rain Probability | Less than 5% |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very Low |
KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Last 5 Matches
Overall Head-to-Head (IPL History):
| Matches Played | KKR Wins | SRH Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
KKR’s dominance in this rivalry is remarkable. They have won four of their last five meetings against SRH, including three consecutive victories in IPL 2024 (league stage and playoffs).
Last 5 Matches:
| Match | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | May 25, 2025 | SRH | 110 runs | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| IPL 2025 | April 3, 2025 | KKR | 80 runs | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| IPL 2024 Final | May 26, 2024 | KKR | 8 wickets | M.A. Chidambaram Stadium |
| IPL 2024 Q1 | May 21, 2024 | KKR | 8 wickets | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| IPL 2024 | April 18, 2024 | KKR | 4 runs | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad |
At Eden Gardens, KKR holds an 8-3 record against SRH. The spin-friendly conditions have consistently troubled SRH’s aggressive batting approach.
Rivalry Highlights Worth Knowing:
SRH’s highest-ever IPL score (287/3) came in 2024, fueled by Travis Head’s 102 off 41 balls. However, it wasn’t against KKR.
David Warner leads all-time run scoring in this fixture with 619 runs.
Andre Russell has claimed 25 wickets against SRH, the most by any bowler in this rivalry. His IPL retirement at the end of 2025 leaves a void.
The 2024 IPL Final saw KKR bowl out SRH for just 113 runs, the lowest score in an IPL final since 2017.
Our Prediction: KKR Has Better Chances to Win Against SRH in IPL 2026 Match 6
Bottom line up front: KKR win, defending a total in the 170-185 range.
The Case for KKR
Home advantage matters. Eden Gardens is KKR’s fortress, and the spin-friendly conditions play directly into their strengths. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine have historically tormented SRH’s middle order.
KKR’s batting is in form. Rahane’s 67 against MI showed he’s ready for another strong IPL campaign. Raghuvanshi adds youthful aggression, and Finn Allen provides explosive starts.
The 20-10 head-to-head record isn’t a coincidence. KKR’s combination of spin bowling and tactical discipline has repeatedly exposed SRH’s vulnerabilities.
The Case for SRH
Ishan Kishan is in sensational form. His 80 off 38 against RCB was a captain’s knock, and he’ll be eager to prove himself. If Kishan and Travis Head fire together in the powerplay, SRH can post a challenging total.
SRH’s batting depth is genuine. With Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, and the option of Liam Livingstone as an impact player, they have the firepower to overwhelm any bowling attack.
KKR’s pace bowling is thin. Without Pathirana and Harshit Rana, the death-over bowling falls on Arora, Muzarabani, and Tyagi. Against MI, this unit conceded 224 in 19.1 overs.
Final Verdict
The pitch, the head-to-head, and the spin bowling depth all favor KKR. Despite SRH’s explosive batting, they have historically struggled against mystery spin at Eden Gardens. Without Cummins to lead the bowling and close out tight games, SRH lacks an enforcer.
Prediction: KKR by 15-25 runs or 4-5 wickets (if chasing).
This prediction is based on publicly available squad data, injury reports, venue stats, and historical records as of April 1, 2026. Official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
