Eden Gardens Washout! Rain Plays Spoilsport in KKR vs PBKS Match 12
By Crick tv
Updated: Apr 07, 2026 06:50 PM
Welcome back, cricket fam, to another electrifying update right here on CrickTV! Grab your chai and settle in, because the Indian Premier League 2026 just threw us a massive, rain-soaked curveball. The hype for Match 12 between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens was absolutely off the charts. But Mother Nature had a completely different script written for us on Monday night.
Instead of a high-octane T20 showdown, we got a 22-ball teaser before the famous Kalbaishakhi (Nor'wester) storms forced everyone off the pitch. Let’s break down everything that happened in the shortest match of the season so far!
The 22-Ball Teaser: Bartlett Breathes Fire
For those of us obsessed with visuals, the striking contrast of the dark storm clouds rolling over Eden Gardens looked like a cinematic poster design happening in real-time. But on the pitch, things were looking pretty grim for the home side.
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and made the surprising call to bat first under heavy, overcast skies. Punjab Kings wasted absolutely no time capitalizing on the swinging conditions.
Enter Xavier Bartlett.
The Aussie pacer came in steaming, utilizing the superb seam position to absolutely rattle the KKR top order in just his first two overs:
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Finn Allen edged an erratic shot to the keeper, gone for 6.
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Cameron Green, after surviving a shaky first delivery, edged a test-match length ball right behind the stumps, walking back for just 4.
Before the umbrellas even had a chance to open fully, KKR was reeling at 25/2 in 3.4 overs, with Rahane (8*) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (7*) trying to survive the onslaught.
The Ultimate Buzzkill
Right when PBKS was locking in their momentum, the drizzle turned into a heavy thunderstorm. Fans waited in the stands with crossed fingers, hoping the massive puddles forming on the covers would clear up before the 11:14 PM cut-off for a 5-over shootout.
Unfortunately, the outfield was simply too wet. The umpires and captains finally shook hands, confirming the first "No Result" of the IPL 2026 season.
Points Table Chaos: What Does This Mean?
Even though the match was a wash, the math on the points table shifted drastically!
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PBKS Takes the Throne: Shreyas Iyer’s men are officially sitting at the very top of the IPL standings! With two wins and this no-result, Punjab Kings now have 5 points from three matches.
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KKR Finally Opens Their Account: It’s been a nightmare start for the three-time champions. After losing their first two matches, this washed-out game actually proved to be a lucky break, giving KKR their very first point of the tournament and bumping them ahead of the Gujarat Titans.
The Final Verdict
Was KKR saved by the bell, or was Punjab robbed of a guaranteed two points? Given the early collapse and missing stars like Sunil Narine (illness) and Varun Chakravarthy (injury), Kolkata definitely seemed to dodge a bullet. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings march forward looking like absolute title contenders.
What did you think of Xavier Bartlett's fiery opening spell? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, smash that like button, and keep it locked to CrickTV for more Dhamakedar IPL 2026 coverage, stats, and match breakdowns.
Until next time, keep the cricketing fever alive!