Xavier Bartlett’s double blow rocks KKR before rain halts play; Punjab Kings stay top of IPL 2026 points table
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their first point of IPL 2026, but their wait for a win continues after their rain-hit clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Eden Gardens was abandoned on Monday night.
Put in to bat, KKR once again struggled at the top as Australia pacer Xavier Bartlett made an immediate impact with the new ball. The right-arm quick dismissed Finn Allen and Cameron Green in quick succession, reducing KKR to 25 for 2 in just 3.4 overs before rain interrupted play.
Bartlett’s sharp outswingers proved too hot to handle. After beating Allen multiple times, he eventually found the edge to send him back for 6. He then forced an outside edge from Green, compounding KKR’s early batting woes. In the space of three deliveries, KKR slipped from 12 without loss to 16 for 2.
Earlier, Arshdeep Singh set the tone by swinging the ball both ways in the opening over, creating pressure on the KKR batters.
Persistent drizzle soon turned into heavy rain, with strong winds forcing ground staff to cover the entire field. Play was halted at 7:48 PM IST, and despite fans waiting until 11 PM, the conditions did not improve enough to resume the match.
Although the rain stopped around 10:30 PM, water accumulation near the boundary and under the covers made it impossible to prepare the ground in time for even a five-overs-per-side contest, leading to the match being officially called off.
KKR’s team combination also raised concerns as they missed their key spin duo—Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Narine was unavailable due to illness, while Varun sat out with a left-hand injury sustained in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The only bright moments for the home crowd came off the field, as co-owner Shah Rukh Khan made appearances on the big screen and later greeted fans from the balcony.
With this result, Punjab Kings remain at the top of the IPL 2026 points table with five points, while KKR will look to bounce back and register their first win in the upcoming matches.
