In the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-punjab-kings-look-to-continue-winning-momentum-against-lucknow-super-giants-23626447" rel="nofollow">IPL 2026</a> match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Riyan Parag has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The Royals will enter the clash with two changes, where Shimron Hetmyer and Brijesh Sharma will replace Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Tushar Deshpande, respectively.
After winning the toss, RR skipper Parag said, "We're batting first. Looks like a pretty dry wicket; the grass was cut yesterday. It could turn in the first innings and remain the same later on. Let's set the tone at the start: our focus is on doing better, last match was a learning phase, we need to take it into the games. Hetmyer and Brijesh are back, they replace Pretorious and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-tushar-deshpande-earns-praise-from-legendary-pacer-dale-steyn-23624283" rel="nofollow">Tushar Deshpande</a>".
On the other hand, KKR captain <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-kkr-skipper-ajinkya-rahane-speaks-about-his-critics-after-loss-against-csk-23626162" rel="nofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a> said, "We were looking to bat as well. As I said in the last game as well, batsmen should bat with freedom. The kind of situation we are in at the moment right now, we want all the batters to bat freely, have that fearless approach. The bowling unit has been doing well. They started to do really well. The last three games, especially the middle overs and end overs they bowled really well. That was the reason we thought batting first. But happy to lose the toss. We believe the past is dead, future, we don't know what is rolling up. And now what we have at the moment is this moment. So giving our best, playing with freedom, and the focusing on controllables. Sometimes when you lose games, you try to think too many things. I feel the boys, the preparation has been fantastic. They're in good mindspace. Results can go either way. So it's all about being in this moment and playing with freedom. Same team".
<h2>IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals: Confirmed Playing XI</h2>
Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Tim Seifert (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi.

IPL 2026: The Royals will enter the clash with two changes, where Shimron Hetmyer and Brijesh Sharma will replace Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Tushar Deshpande

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals win toss, opt to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders

IPL 2026: Yashasvi Jaiswal-Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provide strong start as RR reach 95 runs in 10 overs

The Royals will enter the clash with two changes, where Shimron Hetmyer and Brijesh Sharma will replace Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Tushar Deshpande, respectively

IPL 2026: Riyan Parag wins toss, elects to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders

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