Match 12 of IPL 2026 will feature Kolkata Knight Riders facing Punjab Kings at their home ground, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Monday, 6th April. Last season's runner-up, Punjab Kings, started this season strongly, winning both their matches and currently holding the third position in the points table with four points. They won their last match by five wickets against Chennai Super Kings, successfully chasing a target of 210 runs. Captain Shreyas Iyer struck a half-century in the last match and looked in fine touch.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders have had a tough start to this season, losing both matches and currently occupying the lower half of the points table. In the last match, they failed to chase down the target of 227 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kolkata's major issue is Cameron Green's form with the bat and his not being bowling fit. Punjab head into this contest with greater confidence and aim to extend their winning streak. They have also defeated KKR in three of their last four matches.

Also Read: IPL 2026, Match 12: KKR vs PBKS weather report, stadium stats and predicted playing XIs

KKR vs PBKS Match Details 

• Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, 12th Match

• Date: 6th April 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

KKR vs PBKS Weather Report

Pitch Report - Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata is considered one of the best for batting because of its fast outfield, which makes scoring runs effortless. A flat pitch with true bounce allows batsmen to dominate.

• Win Batting First: 43%

• Win Bowling First: 57%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 170

• Average 2nd Innings: 155

KKR vs PBKS Recent Form

KKR vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• KKR Wins - 5

• PBKS Wins - 5

Top Batters to Watch – KKR vs PBKS

• Cooper Connolly (PBKS): 108 runs in this tournament 

• Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): 103 runs in this tournament 

• Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS): 80 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – KKR vs PBKS

• Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS): 5 wickets in this tournament 

• Blessing Muzarabani (KKR): 4 wickets in this tournament 

• Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS): 3 wickets in this tournament 

KKR vs PBKS Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If KKR bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–60

• Predicted Total: 180–200

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Scenario 2: If PBKS bats first

• Powerplay Score: 55–65

• Predicted Total: 190–210

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

KKR vs PBKS Predicted Playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders  

Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani Impact Subs: Finn Allen

Punjab Kings 

Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact subs: Priyansh Arya

Why Punjab Kings is the favourite

• Shreyas Iyer’s recent form 

• Chase 200+ target in the last match against CSK 

• Excellent bowling unit

KKR vs PBKS Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Punjab Kings is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer and Priyansh Arya are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Punjab Kings to win

Chennai Super Kings will host Punjab Kings in the seventh match of IPL 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Friday, 3rd April. Chennai had a tough start to the tournament, losing their opening match by eight wickets against the Rajasthan Royals, failing to defend a target of 128 runs. Both Ms Dhoni and Dewald Brevis have got into the nets for practice, and this is a positive sign for the CSK.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings began the season well, winning their first match by three wickets against Gujarat at their home ground. They successfully chased a target of 165 runs in 19.1 overs. Australia batter Cooper Connolly was the standout performer for Punjab, scoring 72 runs off 44 balls and helping his team to chase down the total.

Also Read: IPL 2026, Match 7: CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

CSK vs PBKS Match Details 

• Match: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, 7th Match

• Date: 3rd April 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

• Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

CSK vs PBKS Weather Report

Pitch Report - MA Chidambaram Stadium

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is typically a spin-friendly pitch. During T20 matches, the conditions do not entirely favour batsmen and fast bowlers due to the slow surface. The average first-innings score at this venue is 174 runs.

• Win Batting First: 57%

• Win Bowling First: 43%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 174

• Average 2nd Innings: 161

CSK vs PBKS Recent Form

CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• CSK Wins - 3

• PBKS Wins - 7

Top Batters to Watch – CSK vs PBKS

• Cooper Connolly (PBKS): 72 runs in this tournament 

• Jamie Overton (CSK): 43 runs in this tournament 

• Prabhsimran Singh (KKR): 37 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – CSK vs PBKS

• Vyshak Vijaykumar (PBKS): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Yuzi Chahal (PBKS): 2 wickets in this tournament 

• Anshul Kamboj (CSK): wickets in this tournament 

CSK vs PBKS Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If CSK bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 170–175

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Scenario 2: If PBKS bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 190–200

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

CSK vs PBKS Predicted Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings

Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed.

Punjab Kings 

Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Why Punjab Kings are the favourite

• Balanced squad 

• Excellent recent form 

• Solid middle-order

CSK vs PBKS: Every key individual Player-to-Player Head battle

CSK vs PBKS – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Punjab Kings is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Punjab Kings to win

1. CSK are structurally weakened — Dhoni (calf) and Brevis (side strain) both confirmed absent. They already scored 127 all out in M3. Their batting beyond Dube at No.5 is inexperienced or out of form.

2. Chahal is specifically deadly against this CSK team — 23 wickets vs CSK total, hat-trick at this ground, Samson dismissed 5 times. This is not a historical record built against different players — Samson plays for CSK now. The matchup is current and active.

3. PBKS batting is deeper and in better form — Arya + Prabhsimran + Connolly (72* M4) + Shreyas (world class) + Shashank finisher = 7 quality batters. No injuries.

4. The renovated pitch has grass which helps PBKS's pace attack more than CSK's spin — Arshdeep and Jansen will be more effective in PP than Henry and Kamboj. This is the single new thing this match brings that wasn't in Chepauk's historical profile.

The Punjab Kings will start their IPL 2026 campaign by facing the Gujarat Titans in the fourth match of the season at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, on 31 March. The Punjab Kings lost in the final last season and performed well throughout. They retained the core of their successful squad, relying on it to deliver consistent results. Kings' strength lies in their all-rounders Marco Jensen, Marcus Stoinis, and Azmatullah Omarzai, who contribute with both bat and ball.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans did well last year to reach the playoffs but lost in the Eliminator against the Mumbai Indians. They have been among the most consistent teams in the tournament over the past four seasons. Sai Sudarshan was the leading run-scorer last season with 759 runs, and he needs to deliver a strong start alongside Shubman Gill. In the bowling department, Prasidh Krishna was the leading wicket-taker last season with 25 wickets. Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, Glenn Phillips and Jason Holder are likely to be the four overseas players for Titans.

Also Read: RR vs CSK IPL 2026 Today Match Tips: Safe Picks, Captain Choice & Toss Prediction

PBKS vs GT Match Details 

• Match: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, 4th Match

• Date: 31th March 2026

• Time: 7:30 PM IST

• Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur 

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

PBKS vs GT Weather Report

Pitch Report - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium has a good batting surface where the ball comes to the bat. Batsmen can play their strokes freely on this track. The average first-innings score at this venue is 170 runs. Team batting first have had slightly better success recently.

• Win Batting First: 45%

• Win Bowling First: 55%

Average Scores

• Average 1st Innings: 170

• Average 2nd Innings: 160

PBKS vs GT Recent Form

PBKS vs GT Head-to-Head Record (Last 10 matches)

• PBKS Wins - 3

• GT Wins - 3

Top Batters to Watch – PBKS vs GT

• Shreyas Iyer (PBKS): 3731 runs in IPL

• Shubman Gill (GT): 3866 runs in IPL

• Jos Buttler (GT): 4120 runs in IPL

Top Bowlers to Watch – PBKS vs GT

• Yuzi Chahal (PBKS): 221 wickets in IPL

• Rashid Khan (GT): 158 wickets in IPL

• Mohammad Siraj (GT): 109 wickets in IPL

PBKS vs GT Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If GT bats first

• Powerplay Score: 45–50

• Predicted Total: 165–170

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Scenario 2: If PBKS bats first

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 175–195

• Match Result: PBKS to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

PBKS vs GT Predicted Playing XIs

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Ben Dwarshuis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Marco Jensen.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jason Holder, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Why Punjab Kings is the favourite

• Balanced squad 

• Last season's runners-up 

• Solid top-order

PBKS vs GT Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior batting strength, Punjab Kings is the favourite to win this IPL 2026 match. Shreyas Iyer, Azmatullah Omarzai and Yuzvendra Chahal are expected to be the key performers.

Prediction: Punjab Kings to win

Winning Chances

PBKS: 60%

GT: 40%

With just a few days left before the IPL 2026 begins, Shreyas Iyer, captain of Punjab Kings, was seen taking a short break. The star batter went to a local theatre to watch the action-packed movie Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which has been very popular since its release on March 19. It was a relaxing moment for him before the busy tournament started.

As soon as people found out that Iyer was at the theatre, there was a lot of excitement. Fans gathered to see him, and some even took photos and shared them on social media. His visit made the movie experience even more special for people watching Dhurandhar in Mohali.

Iyer is not the only cricketer enjoying the film. MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson were also seen watching the movie in Chennai recently. For Iyer, this movie outing was a small break from his hard training sessions before the IPL season.

Watch the video here where the PBKS skipper was seen going to watch the movie:

Shreyas Iyer went to watch Dhurandhar 2 in a theatre.pic.twitter.com/KFAiANZrao

— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 22, 2026

See also -Shreyas Iyer set to lead Mumbai in the remaining Vijay Hazare League matches amid fitness watch

How Shreyas Iyer's terrific form helped Punjab Kings turn things around in IPL

While Punjab Kings did not win the IPL 2025 trophy, Shreyas Iyer was one of the best captains of the season. The right-handed batter had won the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 but was released before this season. He then joined a struggling Punjab team and led them to the final in a strong comeback.

With the bat, Iyer led from the front. He scored more than 600 runs in the season at a good strike rate and played many important innings. His performance gave the team stability and helped them do well in the league stage.

The "Sarpanch Sahab" captaincy also made a big difference. Under him, the Punjab Kings finished at the top of the table and reached the playoffs after many years. His calm style and clear plans helped the team play better cricket.

One of the best moments came in the knockout stage, where Iker scored an unbeaten 87 to take PBKS to their first IPL final in over a decade. Even though they lost the final, the team’s journey was seen as a big success.

Punjab Kings will start their IPL 2026 season against the Gujarat Titans on March 31. Under Iyer, the team is also focusing on bonding off the field, often playing games like FIFA together to build team spirit.

With players like Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shashank Singh in the squad, Iyer feels the team has a strong Indian core. After leading two teams to IPL finals in two years, fans now hope he can help Punjab Kings win their first IPL trophy.

The Punjab Kings head into the Indian Premier League 2026 season as a side with a clear identity and structure in place. With Shreyas Iyer at the helm, they boast strong leadership, a reliable Indian bowling core, and a versatile pool of overseas players that allows them to adapt without losing balance. 

On paper, PBKS appear to have one of the most complete and well-rounded squads in the competition. With that in mind, here’s a SWOT analysis of Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2026.

PBSK IPL 2026 Squad: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Vishal Nishad, Praveen Dubey.

Strength

The Punjab Kings possess a well-rounded bowling unit with a diverse range of skill sets. Arshdeep Singh brings a valuable left-arm angle across both powerplay and death overs, while Yuzvendra Chahal adds an attacking wrist-spin option in the middle phase.

In addition, players like Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Yash Thakur offer varied support roles, ensuring depth in the attack. Even with Lockie Ferguson unavailable early on, PBKS retain enough variety to remain unpredictable and avoid becoming one-dimensional, making them a challenging bowling unit to face.

Weakness

One of the key concerns for the Punjab Kings is the limited experience within their Indian lineup, barring captain Shreyas Iyer and Arshdeep Singh. While players like Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Musheer Khan, and Vyshak Vijaykumar offer potential, most of them are still adapting to the demands of high-pressure IPL cricket. 

This lack of experience could result in inconsistency, especially in crucial phases of matches against more seasoned sides. In tight situations, the absence of proven performers may prove costly, making this a notable weakness for the team.

See Also: IPL 2026: SWOT Analysis of Gujarat Titans

Objective

Before the 2025 IPL edition, the PBKS have often been a side rich in talent but short on composure in key moments. The arrival of Shreyas Iyer presented a significant opportunity to change that narrative. He brings stability to the middle order, the ability to handle pressure situations, and a sense of structure as a captain.

If Iyer delivers a strong season, his influence could help solidify the team’s combinations and reduce unnecessary experimentation. With clearer roles and better on-field decision-making, the 2025 finalists' could finally channel their potential into consistent performances.

Threat

The biggest challenge for the squad lies in managing their numerous combinations effectively. While having multiple options is a strength, it can quickly become a weakness if it leads to constant chopping and changing.

Teams that keep searching for the perfect XI often lose rhythm and momentum in the process. For PBKS, the key will be to settle on their best combination early in the tournament and back it consistently. Stability in selection could allow players to grow into their roles, whereas excessive tinkering may disrupt balance and hinder performance.

IPL 2026 is set to begin in a few days, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The special league has played a major role in the growth of franchise cricket worldwide and in the development of Indian cricket. It has helped create star players, discover new talent, and turn domestic cricketers into well-known names.

However, some star players miss certain IPL seasons due to injuries or poor form. Every team in the league has players who will aim to perform well and make an impact in their roles.

Some players will look to make a strong comeback this season. These include Prithvi Shaw, who was picked by Delhi Capitals late in the auction, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who missed the second half of last season due to injury, and Shubman Gill, who will aim to return to India’s T20I team.

With that in mind, here is a list of five players who could make a strong comeback in IPL 2026.

Also read -IPL 2026: Top 3 Players with the Most Fours in the IPL

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw, once seen as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket, is a player who can make a strong comeback in IPL 2026. He returns to Delhi Capitals, a team where he has enjoyed success in the past, including strong opening partnerships with Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner. After a good domestic season following his move to Maharashtra, Shaw will now focus on performing well in the IPL and rebuilding his career. He has played 79 matches for Delhi Capitals and scored 1892 runs.

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is another player who can make a strong comeback this season. He missed the second half of the previous IPL due to injury. Gaikwad has been part of the Indian team setup and will look to return in form. He will also have the support of experienced players like Sanju Samson and MS Dhoni in leadership matters.

Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan’s career has gone through many phases. He started as a promising uncapped player with RCB, learning under Chris Gayle, but could not fully deliver on his early promise. Later, he performed consistently in domestic cricket and earned a place in India’s Test team. However, he is currently out of contention. Sarfaraz went unsold last season but was picked by Chennai Super Kings in this year’s auction. The Chepauk pitch could suit his style of play, especially against spin. His creative batting makes him a useful T20 player, and he will aim to perform well and move closer to a return to the national team.

Shubman Gill

India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will see IPL 2026 as a chance to return to the T20I side. This makes him another strong candidate for a comeback this season. Gill has played 118 IPL matches and scored 3866 runs. He will aim to deliver consistent performances and strengthen his place in the shorter format.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is another player who can make a strong comeback in IPL 2026. The experienced spinner is currently out of the Indian team but remains one of the best bowlers in the league. He is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, with 221 wickets in 174 matches. Chahal will look to use this season to prove his form and push for a return to international cricket.

FAQs

Photos and videos from the pre-wedding celebrations of Kuldeep Yadav in Mussoorie are quickly going viral on social media. Family members and friends gathered there to celebrate the special occasion with Kuldeep and Vanshika Chadha.

During the event, a video went viral in which former Indian team coach T. Dilip was seen dancing with great energy on the stage. His lively dance became one of the highlights of the night and added more fun to the celebration.

Besides Dilip, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina and Kuldeep were also seen dancing to popular Bollywood songs. Their performance became a special attraction for the guests. As soon as the video appeared online, fans loved it and started sharing it widely.

Watch the viral moment here:

T Dilip was dancing in full flow at Kuldeep Yadav’s sangeet ceremony. I’ve never seen T Dilip like this before. 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/8uhrj7iTcn

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) March 14, 2026

Also read -Watch: Kuldeep Yadav and Vanshika Chadha’s stunning look at sangeet celebration ahead of IPL 2026

Cricketers Join the Celebration

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also joined the sangeet ceremony. He was seen dancing and enjoying the music with other guests. This fun moment of the cricketers is being liked by both the guests at the event and people on social media.

Kuldeep Yadav is set to marry his childhood friend Vanshika Chadha on March 14, 2026, in Mussoorie. The wedding celebrations started with the Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies on March 13, followed by the sangeet ceremony in the evening. The wedding is being held privately at a luxury resort, with only family members and close friends attending.

Kuldeep did not get many chances to play in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. India national cricket team won the title in the tournament, but Kuldeep played only one match. He bowled three overs and took one wicket for 14 runs in the group-stage game against the Pakistan national cricket team. Because the team had many spin bowling options, he did not get more chances to play.

Kuldeep Yadav Set to Rejoin Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026

Kuldeep will soon play in the Indian Premier League 2026. He has been part of the Delhi Capitals since 2022 and will again play an important role as a spin bowler for the team. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kuldeep has played 98 matches for two teams and taken 102 wickets. His best bowling figure is 4/14, which highlights his strong performance as a wicket-taking spinner in the league. For now, Kuldeep is enjoying his wedding celebrations, and the dance video from his sangeet ceremony is creating a lot of buzz among fans.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 champion Kuldeep Yadav is set to marry the love of his life, Vanshika Chadha, in a beautiful wedding ceremony in Mussoorie today, Saturday, March 14. The wedding will be small but grand.

Many photos and videos from their wedding celebrations are now appearing online. Some of them show special moments from their sangeet ceremony. The couple looked very stylish in their matching traditional outfits.

Vanshika wore a beautiful lehenga with detailed embroidery that shone brightly. The outfit had a flowing layered skirt, a matching blouse, and a light embroidered dupatta. She completed her look with statement jewellery, including a choker-style necklace.

Kuldeep wore a royal navy blue velvet sherwani. The sherwani had delicate embroidered designs and was paired with simple black bottoms. He also wore a heavily embroidered multi-coloured shawl over one shoulder, which gave his outfit a royal look.

Watch the video here: 

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Wedding Celebrations Go Viral

Earlier, videos from the haldi ceremony of Kuldeep Yadav also went viral online. In the videos, Kuldeep and his close friend Yuzvendra Chahal were seen applying haldi to the couple as part of the wedding ritual. Videos of them dancing during the celebration also spread widely online.

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A post shared by Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal23)

In the recently finished ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Kuldeep played only one match. It was the group-stage game against the Pakistan national cricket team in Colombo. In that match, he bowled three overs and took 1 wicket for 14 runs.

The conditions at R. Premadasa Stadium allowed India to play three spinners, and the team won the match by 61 runs. After that, in other matches where the pitch helped batsmen more, the team management chose Varun Chakravarthy as the second spinner along with Axar Patel.

After the wedding celebrations, Kuldeep will join the Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The tournament will begin on March 28 in Bengaluru. For the 31-year-old cricketer, it will soon be back to cricket as usual.

See also -Kuldeep Yadav to marry childhood friend in March after T20 World Cup 2026 win

Kuldeep Yadav’s T20I and IPL Stats

Kuldeep Yadav has been an important spinner for the India national cricket team in Twenty20 International cricket. In T20Is, he has played 54 matches and taken 95 wickets. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kuldeep has played 98 matches for two teams and taken 102 wickets. His best bowling figure is 4/14, which highlights his strong performance as a wicket-taking spinner in the league.

The aggressive nature of modern T20 cricket has made expensive bowling figures more common. In the recently finished T20 World Cup 2026semifinal between India and England, which had a total of 499 runs, only two bowlers had an economy rate below 10 runs per over.

With the evolution of the format, Indian bowlers have sometimes suffered heavy runs. In fact, four of the five most expensive four-over spells by Indian bowlers have come since 2022.

Bowlers now face aggressive batting, bigger bat sizes, and smaller boundaries. There is little room for error, so most expensive bowling spells are a recent memory.

On that note, here is the list of the top five most expensive four-over spells by an Indian bowler in T20Is.

Also read -IND vs ENG: Which team has hit more sixes ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-final?

1. Jasprit Bumrah (0–58; India vs New Zealand, 2026 5th T20I; Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram)

This is a surprising entry on the list. Jasprit Bumrah is known for his excellent bowling and has a T20I economy rate of 6.55. However, he had a rare bad day in the final match of the 2026 home series against New Zealand. India scored a huge total of 271 runs. New Zealand fought hard in the chase, led by Finn Allen. Bumrah’s four overs are usually very reliable, but in this match, he became the most expensive bowler.

It was only the second time in T20Is that he gave away 50 or more runs in four overs. The first time happened in the 2022 home series against Australia when he was dealing with a back injury.

2. Arshdeep Singh (2–62; India vs South Africa, 2022 2nd T20I; Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati)

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is one of the few bowlers from India to concede more than 60 runs in a four-over spell in T20Is. India scored 237 runs in the match, but South Africa chased strongly. David Miller played a brilliant innings and scored a century.

Arshdeep had a very difficult game. He bowled several no-balls and also gave away 26 runs in the final over. This became the worst bowling performance of his T20I career. He has also conceded 60 or more runs in other T20 matches in the Indian Premier League.

3. Varun Chakaravarthy (1–64; India vs England, T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal; Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai)

The mystery spinner had the worst match of his career in the semifinal of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against England. Varun came into the match with average form and was attacked by the England batters. Jacob Bethell welcomed him with three sixes in a row.

Varun did take the wicket of Jos Buttler, but he could not stop the heavy scoring on a flat pitch. England’s batters kept attacking during his spell. His figures of 1-64 became the joint second-most expensive spell in T20 World Cup history.

4. Yuzvendra Chahal (0–64; South Africa vs India, 2018 2nd T20I; SuperSport Park, Centurion)

Yuzvendra Chahal shares the record for the most expensive spell by an Indian spinner in T20I history. This happened during India’s 2018 tour of South Africa. India set a target of 189 runs, but the South African batters attacked Chahal in the chase. Heinrich Klaasen played very aggressively against him. In one over, Klaasen scored 23 runs with three sixes. Chahal conceded seven sixes in four overs as South Africa chased the target with eight balls left.

5. Prasidh Krishna (0–68; India vs Australia, 2023 3rd T20I; Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati)

Prasidh Krishna holds the record for the most expensive bowling spell by a player from India in T20I history. The match was against Australia in 2023. India scored 223 runs and tried to defend the total in heavy dew.

Prasidh gave away 45 runs in his first three overs. However, he bowled a good 18th over and conceded only six runs. In the final over, he had to defend 21 runs against Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell hit five boundaries, including four in a row, and Australia won the match on the last ball. Prasidh’s figures of 0-68 are also among the most expensive spells in T20I history.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 will witness another thrilling contest between India and Pakistan on February 15 at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The arch-rivals are facing each other after the Asia Cup 2025 final, which will make the World Cup encounter even more exciting and interesting for the fans. 

Ahead of the game, India's cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal took to his social media account to share an animated image where he took a subtle dig at Pakistan's spinner Usman Tariq, who is in the limelight lately due to his bowling action. Tariq, while bowling, pauses for a few seconds before bowling. The logic behind this is to confuse the batter and play mind games against them. 

Watch the post here:

Best way to play 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/eLiD2pSit9

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 15, 2026

However, he has received quite a lot of criticism regarding his bowling action and the time he takes to deliver. When he dismissed Cameron Green in the Australia tour, the batter went on to mimic his action while going back to the pavilion. There were many conversations around his action and whether it is legal and well within ICC's rules. 

Dismissing all the accusations, Usman Tariq was selected in Pakistan'sWorld Cup squad and played the first two matches as well. He will also play in the upcoming match against India. 

Will Abhishek Sharma play today against Pakistan?

India's star opener Abhishek Sharma was left out of the playing XI in the match against Namibia as he was injured. His participation in Pakistan's match was also under suspicion, but Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav revealed during the press conference that the left-hand batter will play the match against Pakistan since it's an important contest and he has recovered. 

The T20 World Cup 2026 hasn't been going great for Abhishek, as he was out for a duck in the first match against the USA and then had to sit out in the second game. But he played against Pakistan and was out for a duck again. Hence, the in-form batter has struggled hard to keep the runs coming in the marquee event.

Meanwhile, this is the first time he is playing a T20 World Cup for India. If India qualify for the Super 8, Abhishek will get a few more matches to prove how brilliant he is as a batter, especially in the powerplay.