Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have developed an exciting rivalry in the Indian Premier League since Lucknow joined the competition in 2022. Although the rivalry is relatively young, their matches have regularly produced close finishes, big totals and memorable individual performances. Kolkata vs Lucknow Head-to-Head in IPL
As of the end of the 2026 IPL season, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants have faced each other 8 times in the IPL. Lucknow Super Giants have won 5 matches, while Kolkata Knight Riders have won 3. Their latest meeting in April 2026 was especially dramatic, as the match ended in a tie and KKR won the Super Over.
KKR vs LSG Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 8 | 8 |
| Wins | 3 | 5 |
| Losses | 5 | 3 |
| Tied Matches | 1* | 1* |
| Super Over Result | Won 1 | Lost 1 |
| First Meeting | 2022 | 2022 |
*The April 2026 match was officially tied after 20 overs, but KKR won the Super Over. For aggregate head-to-head purposes, it is counted as a KKR victory. Kolkata vs Lucknow Head-to-Head in IPL
The overall record shows that LSG have the advantage in the young rivalry, but KKR have also produced several significant victories.
Beginning of the Rivalry in 2022
The KKR-LSG rivalry began in the 2022 IPL season, when Lucknow Super Giants entered the tournament for the first time.
Their first meeting took place on 7 May 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. LSG produced a dominant performance, scoring 176/7 before bowling KKR out for just 101.
Lucknow won by 75 runs, giving them an emphatic start to their rivalry with Kolkata.
LSG’s bowling attack was able to put sustained pressure on KKR’s batting lineup, while their own batting unit produced a competitive total.
The 2022 Thriller
The second meeting between the teams in 2022 was completely different.
On 18 May 2022, LSG and KKR played a high-scoring thriller at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy.
Lucknow produced one of the most remarkable batting performances in IPL history. Quinton de Kock scored an unbeaten 140, while KL Rahul made 68 not out. The pair added 210 runs without losing a wicket, creating the highest opening partnership in IPL history.
LSG finished with 210/0.
KKR, however, came extremely close to chasing the enormous target. Kolkata scored 208/8, losing by only 2 runs.
The match remains one of the defining encounters in the short history of the KKR-LSG rivalry.
2023: Another One-Run Thriller
The rivalry became even closer in 2023.
On 20 May 2023, KKR hosted LSG at Eden Gardens. Lucknow scored 176/8, while Kolkata replied with 175/7.
LSG won by just 1 run.
The result was significant because it continued LSG’s winning record against KKR. It also demonstrated how competitive the matchup had become. After three meetings, Lucknow had won all three.
The narrow margins in these early matches helped establish KKR vs LSG as a fixture capable of producing tense finishes.
KKR’s Response in 2024
The 2024 IPL season marked an important change in the rivalry.
The teams met twice during the league stage, and Kolkata won both matches.
First Match in 2024
On 14 April 2024, KKR faced LSG at Eden Gardens.
Lucknow scored 161/7 from their 20 overs. Kolkata then produced a strong chase, reaching 162/2 in only 15.4 overs to win by 8 wickets.
The result gave KKR their first victory over LSG after losing their first three meetings.
Second Match in 2024
The second meeting took place on 5 May 2024 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
This time, KKR produced a much more dominant performance.
Kolkata scored 235/6, while LSG were bowled out for just 137. KKR therefore won by 98 runs, their biggest victory over Lucknow.
The two victories in 2024 changed the head-to-head balance and showed that KKR had developed effective strategies against LSG.
2025: LSG Regain the Advantage
The teams met once during the 2025 IPL season, at Eden Gardens on 8 April 2025.
The match produced another high-scoring contest.
KKR scored 234/7, an enormous total that would normally put a team in a strong position. However, LSG responded with an even bigger score of 238/3.
Lucknow won by 4 runs.
The result gave LSG the lead in the overall head-to-head record once again.
The match also demonstrated the increasingly aggressive nature of modern T20 cricket, with both teams crossing the 230-run mark.
2026: A Dramatic Super Over Finish
The rivalry produced perhaps its most dramatic finish in 2026.
The first meeting of the season took place on 9 April 2026 at Eden Gardens. KKR scored 181/4, but LSG successfully chased the target, finishing on 182/7 and winning by 3 wickets.
The match featured a remarkable late contribution from Mukul Choudhary, who scored an unbeaten 54 from 27 balls to help LSG complete the chase.
The teams met again on 26 April 2026 at Lucknow.
This time, the contest went down to the final delivery. Both sides finished on 155, forcing a Super Over.
KKR’s Sunil Narine then produced a decisive Super Over, taking two wickets while LSG managed only one run. KKR needed just two runs and Rinku Singh finished the contest with a boundary.
It was KKR’s first victory over LSG in 2026 and their third overall victory in the head-to-head rivalry.
Complete KKR vs LSG Match History
| Season | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Pune | LSG won by 75 runs |
| 2022 | Navi Mumbai | LSG won by 2 runs |
| 2023 | Kolkata | LSG won by 1 run |
| 2024 | Kolkata | KKR won by 8 wickets |
| 2024 | Lucknow | KKR won by 98 runs |
| 2025 | Kolkata | LSG won by 4 runs |
| 2026 | Kolkata | LSG won by 3 wickets |
| 2026 | Lucknow | Match tied; KKR won Super Over |
The match history highlights just how competitive the rivalry has become. Five of the eight meetings have been decided by four runs or fewer, by a single run, or by a Super Over.
Highest Team Performances
Both teams have produced extremely high scores in this rivalry.
LSG’s most remarkable batting performance came in 2022 when they scored 210/0. Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 140 and KL Rahul’s 68 formed a historic opening partnership.
KKR’s highest score against LSG came in 2025, when they made 234/7 at Eden Gardens. However, that total was not enough because LSG scored 238/3.
The 2025 match remains one of the highest-scoring games in this fixture.
Biggest Wins
KKR’s biggest victory against LSG came in 2024 when they won by 98 runs.
LSG’s biggest victory came in their first-ever meeting, when they defeated KKR by 75 runs in 2022.
These two matches represent the biggest margins in a rivalry that has otherwise been dominated by close finishes.
Key Players in the Rivalry
Several high-profile players have played major roles in KKR-LSG matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Important KKR players across the rivalry have included:
- Sunil Narine
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- Shreyas Iyer
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Nitish Rana
Sunil Narine has been particularly influential with both bat and ball. His Super Over performance in 2026 was decisive in one of the rivalry’s most dramatic matches.
Rinku Singh has also become an important finishing option for Kolkata, including his role in the 2026 Super Over victory.
Lucknow Super Giants
LSG have featured several major T20 players, including:
- KL Rahul
- Quinton de Kock
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant
- Marcus Stoinis
- Krunal Pandya
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Aiden Markram
Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 140 remains one of the most memorable individual innings in the fixture.
Batting vs Bowling Battle
The KKR-LSG matchup has often been defined by aggressive batting.
LSG’s 210/0 in 2022 demonstrated their ability to dominate from the beginning of an innings. KKR’s 235/6 in 2024 and 234/7 in 2025 showed a similar capacity for high scoring.
At the same time, both teams have produced strong bowling performances.
KKR’s spin options have traditionally been important at Eden Gardens and other Indian venues. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy can create pressure during the middle overs, while LSG have relied on bowlers such as Ravi Bishnoi and their pace options.
The contrasting styles make this matchup tactically interesting.
KKR vs LSG at Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens has hosted several memorable matches between the two teams.
KKR’s first victory over LSG came at Eden Gardens in 2024. They won by eight wickets after successfully chasing 162.
However, LSG have also produced important results in Kolkata. They won there in 2023 by one run, in 2025 by four runs and again in 2026 by three wickets.
This shows that home advantage has not guaranteed results in this fixture.
KKR vs LSG at Lucknow
The Ekana Cricket Stadium has also produced important matches.
KKR’s 98-run victory in 2024 was particularly dominant. However, LSG’s home advantage was challenged again in 2026 when KKR won a tied match via the Super Over.
The 2026 encounter added another dramatic chapter to the rivalry.
Why This Rivalry Is So Competitive
One of the defining characteristics of KKR vs LSG is the number of close finishes.
The first two meetings in 2022 were separated by 75 runs and 2 runs. The 2023 match was decided by only 1 run. In 2025, LSG won by 4 runs. In 2026, LSG won by 3 wickets before KKR later won via a Super Over.
This combination of high-scoring games and narrow margins has made the fixture particularly entertaining.
Overall Head-to-Head Summary
After eight IPL meetings, Lucknow Super Giants lead Kolkata Knight Riders 5-3 when the 2026 Super Over result is counted as a KKR win. The raw 20-over results include one tie, which KKR won in the Super Over.
| Statistic | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 8 |
| LSG Wins | 5 |
| KKR Wins | 3 |
| Tied after 20 overs | 1 |
| Super Over winner | KKR |
| LSG’s biggest win | 75 runs |
| KKR’s biggest win | 98 runs |
| Highest LSG total | 210/0 |
| Highest KKR total | 235/6 |
Conclusion
The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants head-to-head rivalry may be young, but it has already produced some of the IPL’s most exciting matches.
LSG won the first three meetings between the teams, including victories by 75 runs, two runs and one run. KKR then responded with two wins in 2024, including a huge 98-run victory at Lucknow. LSG regained the advantage in 2025 and won the first 2026 meeting by three wickets.
The second 2026 meeting added another memorable chapter when the match was tied and KKR won the Super Over.
Overall, LSG lead the head-to-head 5-3, but the results also show how closely matched these teams have been. With high-scoring encounters, narrow finishes and outstanding individual performances, KKR vs LSG remains an important IPL matchup to follow.
5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times have KKR and LSG played against each other in the IPL?
Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants have played 8 IPL matches against each other through the 2026 season.
2. Who has won more matches between KKR and LSG?
The head-to-head record is 4-4, with both Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants winning four matches.
3. What is the highest team score in KKR vs LSG matches?
Lucknow Super Giants’ highest score is 238/3, scored in the 2025 IPL. KKR’s highest is 235/6, achieved in 2024.
4. Who scored 140 not out in a KKR vs LSG IPL match?
Quinton de Kock scored an unbeaten 140 off 70 balls for LSG in 2022, helping his team score 210/0.
5. What was the result of the latest KKR vs LSG match?
In their latest meeting during the 2026 IPL, KKR won after the match was tied and decided by a Super Over. Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine played key roles in the victory.