Kolkata, May 23 -- Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals will head into the final league stage match of IPL 2026 on Sunday with uncertainty hanging over their playoff hopes and the possibility that the contest could become irrelevant even before the first ball is bowled at the Eden Gardens here.
Much of that depends on Punjab Kings' clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday. Punjab are currently ahead in the race for the final playoff berth and a win for them would officially knock Delhi Capitals out of contention. KKR would still remain mathematically alive with a possible 15 points, but their qualification chances would then depend heavily on net run rate.
The equation is complicated for three-time champions KKR. Even if Punjab ...