New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders have begun the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season from where they left off in the last edition. The former champions, who finished eighth last season, have continued their dismal form in the 19th edition of the cash-rich league with two losses in as many games.
The Kolkata-based franchise started the campaign with a six-wicket loss to the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede last weekend and slumped to a second straight loss after a crushing 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Starting a season with back-to-back defeats is never a good sign for a team, which faces an uphill task to stop the rut and get back to winning ways.
Echoes of 2012: Can KKR repeat history?The two-game opening start is not new for KKR. In IPL 2012, the Purple and Golden Army began their campaign with two back-to-back losses but remarkably stormed back to win their maiden title.
And that’s exactly why the successive losses in the opening two games are a good omen for KKR.
The 2026 season draws parallel from the historic title-winning season in 2012, when, despite the early stumble, KKR made a roaring comeback to win the title under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir.
14 years after losing the first two matches of an IPL season, KKR find themselves in a similar position.
Can KKR replicate the 2012 IPL title run in 2026?In 2012, KKR lost the first two matches to start the season on a poor note but went on a roll thereafter. KKR’s comeback was so good that they finished second in the points table after the league stage with 10 wins in 16 matches, including play-off wins overs Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Chennai Super Kings.
In the final, KKR again defeated CSK to claim their maiden IPL crown.
Chasing a target of 191 at Chennai, KKR won with two balls to spare, courtesey Manvinder Bisla (89 off 48) and Jacques Kallis (69 off 49).
Gambhir led from the front and scored 590 runs and was among the top scorers of the season. Sunil Narine picked up 24 wickets to and was declared as the most valuable player of the tournament.
Rahane would aim to take inspiration from Gambhir to replicate the historic season.
