IPL 2026: KKR vs DC Match 70 - Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) will lock horns in the last game in the round-robin phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, May 24.

This evening game is going to have major playoff implications if the Rajasthan Royals lose the afternoon game they play on the same day against the Mumbai Indians. A defeat for the Royals would restrict them to 14 points in 14 matches.

KKR have 13 points already in the bank, and a win would be enough for them to make it to the playoffs, unless the Punjab Kings win their last game. If the Punjab Kings win on Saturday, they will finish on 15 points with a better net run rate than KKR, who will then have to win by a huge margin. Delhi Capitals will come into the fray if both Punjab and Rajasthan lose their respective matches and the Axar Patel-led side wins comprehensively.

Predicted Impact Players for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):

Finn Allen: Finn Allen has been in tremendous form since returning to the side five games ago. He will look to get his team off to a flying start.

Vaibhav Arora: Vaibhav Arora was given several opportunities to showcase his potential, but the right-arm seamer had an underwhelming stint before losing his place in the side.

Ramandeep Singh: Ramandeep Singh's story in IPL 2026 is similar to that of Arora. A former regular player who lost his place after insipid performances at the start of the campaign.

Rahul Tripathi: While Tejasvi Dahiya came in as the concussion substitute in the last game in place of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who has been ruled out of the tournament, on Sunday, Rahul Tripathi could get a chance, especially if KKR are still in contention for a spot in the playoffs, as his experience can prove to be crucial.

Prashant Solanki: Prashant Solanki is a talented young leg-spinner who previously represented the Chennai Super Kings. He hasn't played a game so far in IPL 2026.

Predicted Impact Players for Delhi Capitals (DC):

Ashutosh Sharma: DC’s designated Impact Subs player whilst chasing a total, Ashutosh Sharma has scored 153 runs at a strike-rate of 184.34.

Vipraj Nigam: A spin-bowling all-rounder, Vipraj Nigam has played five times this season but has contributed to only two wickets and 15 runs. If the pitch favours the spinners like it did in the last game, Nigam could make his way back into the side.

Sameer Rizvi: Sameer Rizvi had an amazing start to the season. He has scored 252 this season at an average of 147.36 from 11 matches.

Pathum Nissanka: Pathum Nissanka blew hot and cold in his maiden IPL stint. Not being able to convert starts into substantial scores turned out to be a problem for him.

Karun Nair: Karun Nair was given a few opportunities at the top of the order, but he couldn't make them count. His fielding was also insipid as he dropped a few catches that cost the Capitals.

Expert Opinion and Final Prediction

• Home Advantage: There have been five completed games at the Eden Gardens this season, and KKR have won the last three.
• Recent Form: KKR have won the last three meetings between these two sides. The head-to-head in the last five games stands at 3-2 in favour of the Knights.
• Balanced Side: DC have a slightly more balanced side compared to KKR, as the playoffs beckon them. However, the players haven't fired as a unit.
• Prediction: Considering these factors, expect a close game with the Kolkata Knight Riders being slight favourites to end the group stage with a win.