In the IPL 2026 clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl first against the Mumbai Indians (MI), who are already out of playoff contention. KKR, needing to win their last two matches to keep their hopes alive, remained unchanged from their previous game. Rahane expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform well, highlighting the positive atmosphere in the dressing room despite a mixed season. He stated, "It's always about the comeback... guys have been fantastic."

Mumbai's captain Hardik Pandya returned to the lineup after injury and addressed a question from former coach Ravi Shastri regarding whether MI was playing for pride. Pandya affirmed the importance of winning every game and representing the team's legacy, saying, "Every game you play, you want to win... just want to make sure that we keep the head high." Both teams fielded strong lineups, with MI welcoming back key players Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, while KKR aimed to capitalize on their home advantage.