Match 12 of the Indian Premier League 2026 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings ended in a no result after persistent rain forced the game to be abandoned at the Eden Gardens on Monday.
With no further play possible due to worsening weather conditions, both teams were awarded one point each. The outcome allowed Punjab Kings to retain the top position in the points table, while Kolkata climbed to eighth place with their first point of the season.
Early Wickets Before Rain Halted Play
After winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, opted to bat first on what appeared to be a challenging surface under overcast skies.
However, the decision backfired early as pacer Xavier Bartlett struck twice in the second over. He dismissed opener Finn Allen and all-rounder Cameron Green, leaving Kolkata struggling at 25/2 in just 3.4 overs.
At the time rain interrupted play, Rahane was unbeaten on 8, while young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi was batting on 7. Despite waiting for conditions to improve, heavy rainfall continued, forcing officials to call off the match.
Punjab Kings Remain Unbeaten In IPL 2026
The shared points ensured that Punjab Kings maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament and stayed firmly at the top of the points table.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their first point of the campaign after losing their opening two matches, moving them up to eighth place.
IPL 2026 Points Table (After Match 12)
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.637 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2.501 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2.233 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.170 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.275 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -0.206 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -0.542 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -1.964 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.424 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -2.517 |
R Ashwin Questions KKR’s Decision To Bat First
Earlier in the day, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had expressed surprise at Kolkata’s decision to bat first, especially given the looming threat of rain.
Taking to social media platform X, Ashwin questioned the tactical choice, noting that a moist pitch and soggy outfield could have made bowling difficult if the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method came into play.
He suggested that with an inexperienced bowling attack, chasing might have been the safer option in rain-affected conditions.
KKR Miss Key Spinners Due To Injury And Illness
Kolkata were also forced to make changes to their lineup as two of their frontline spinners were unavailable.
Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy missed the match due to injury, while veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine was ruled out after falling ill.
Their absence weakened Kolkata’s bowling strength, adding to the team’s challenges in the rain-hit contest.
Next Match: MI vs RR In Guwahati
Attention now shifts to the upcoming clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, scheduled to be played in Guwahati on Tuesday.
With the tournament still in its early stages, teams will look to build momentum before the mid-season phase intensifies competition.