Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head into IPL 2026 with a schedule that offers a mix of early challenges, crucial home advantage and a potentially decisive finish. Their campaign begins with a blockbuster clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. Facing a five-time champion side in their own backyard is never easy, and this high-intensity opener will test KKR right from the start. It’s the kind of match that can set the tone for the rest of the season.

After that tough start, KKR will be relieved to return home for a favourable stretch at Eden Gardens. They play three consecutive matches in front of their home crowd – against Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 2), Punjab Kings (April 6) and Lucknow Super Giants (April 9). This phase could prove crucial, as building momentum early in the tournament often defines a team’s campaign. Eden Gardens has traditionally been a stronghold for KKR, and making the most of these fixtures could give them a solid position on the points table.

However, the schedule soon becomes more demanding. KKR embark on a busy travel phase in mid-April, beginning with an away clash against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on April 14, followed by another challenging fixture against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 17. After a brief return home, they head to Lucknow again on April 26, making this a period where squad rotation and fitness management will be key. Adding to the challenge, KKR will also feature in two afternoon matches – hosting Rajasthan Royals on April 19 and traveling to Hyderabad to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 3, both starting at 3:30 PM IST. Afternoon games often demand tactical adjustments due to heat and pitch behaviour.

The latter half of the season, however, offers KKR a significant advantage. They finish their league campaign with three consecutive home matches at Eden Gardens – against Gujarat Titans (May 16), Mumbai Indians (May 20), and Delhi Capitals (May 24). This strong home finish could play a decisive role in their playoff push, especially if qualification comes down to the final few games. In between, they will also face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur on May 13, a unique neutral-venue encounter.

KKR entered the auction with one of the biggest purses, making headlines with big signings like Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana. However, injuries to key players like Pathirana and Harshit Rana have forced adjustments, with Navdeep Saini coming in as a replacement. Despite these setbacks, KKR still have the depth and firepower to mount a strong campaign. If they can navigate the tough middle phase and capitalize on their home advantage late in the season, they could be serious contenders for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

Also READ: “My wife played a huge role in calming me down” – Varun Chakravarthy on panic attacks and his rise with KKR

KKR Full IPL 2026 Schedule

• March 29 – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Mumbai – 7:30 PM IST
• April 2 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
• April 6 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
• April 9 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
• April 14 – Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Chennai – 7:30 PM IST
• April 17 – Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM IST
• April 19 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals – Kolkata – 3:30 PM IST
• April 26 – Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Lucknow – 7:30 PM IST
• May 3 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Hyderabad – 3:30 PM IST
• May 8 – Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Delhi – 7:30 PM IST
• May 13 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Raipur – 7:30 PM IST
• May 16 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
• May 20 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
• May 24 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST

Also READ: SWOT analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR’s report card ahead of IPL 2026

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday.According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), during the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the continuous support and guidance provided by the Central Government towards the development of Uttarakhand.CM Dhami noted that with this support, the state is achieving new milestones of growth. He also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Uttarakhand.On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented a replica of Shaktipeeth Maa Surkanda Devi, along with Badri cow ghee, five varieties of rajma sourced from different districts of the state, and honey.The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for approving Rs 500 crore assistance for Haridwar Kumbh-2027, initiating a feasibility study under the river-linking project by the National Water Development Agency, sanctioning Rs 100 crore for the development of Chauraasi Kutiya in Rajaji National Park, signing an MoU for the Naini-Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh, and extending support for safe helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra.He also expressed gratitude for the approvals of key infrastructure projects such as the undergrounding of electric lines in Rishikesh, Champawat bypass, Dehradun Ring Road, and the Dehradun-Mussoorie Road.As per the CMO, during the meeting, the Chief Minister provided detailed information on the steps taken by the state government based on the Prime Minister’s suggestions during his Uttarakhand visit. He highlighted that efforts are underway to develop Uttarakhand as a global wedding destination, with locations such as Chopta, Duggalbitta, Patwadangar, and the Sharda Corridor being developed, while Ramnagar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Triyuginarayan have already gained popularity. A dedicated wedding destination policy is also being formulated.He further informed that regions such as Bel Kedar, Anjanisain-Tehri, and Lohaghat-Shyamlatal have been identified as Spiritual Economic Zones. The introduction of the winter pilgrimage has significantly increased the number of devotees.The number of pilgrims visiting Adi Kailash increased from 1,761 in 2022 to 36,453 in 2025, supported by the launch of helicopter services. The state is also promoting adventure tourism activities such as river rafting, paragliding, and kayaking. Under the “Vocal for Local” initiative, local products are being promoted globally through the House of Himalayas brand.The Chief Minister also briefed the Prime Minister about initiatives like “One District One Fair,” cluster school schemes, Bharat Darshan, and Uttarakhand Darshan programs aimed at boosting education, tourism, rural economy, and self-employment.CM Dhami requested the extension of the Regional Rapid Transit System from Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also sought policy support for establishing defence equipment manufacturing units in the state, citing Uttarakhand’s strategic location, skilled manpower, and industrial infrastructure.As per the CMO, proposals were made for setting up defence industrial hubs in Kotdwar, Haridwar, and Dehradun, along with the development of a BI-Duck bridge in Raiwala and the expansion of the Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi.The Chief Minister proposed the introduction of seaplane services in Tehri Lake and requested the construction of the Delhi-Haldwani Expressway, which would improve connectivity to Kashipur, Rudrapur industrial areas, Pantnagar Airport, and Jim Corbett National Park, while strengthening logistics for hilly regions.Emphasising rail connectivity, he urged early inauguration of the Rishikesh-Vyasi section under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, construction of a road-cum-rail tunnel in the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line, survey for the Bageshwar-Karnaprayag rail line, and doubling of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail track. He also proposed a new Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line to improve connectivity to Gangotri and Yamunotri and strengthen supply chains for local products.The Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to Uttarakhand for inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies of key projects. Proposed inaugurations include the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and Tehri Pumped Storage Plant, while foundation stones are planned for the Pantnagar Airport expansion and Banbasa Land Port project.CM Dhami noted that the Banbasa Land Port, located on the India-Nepal border, will enhance trade, connectivity, and regional cooperation and strengthen international connectivity via the Asian Highway.The Chief Minister also highlighted several key reforms and initiatives in the state. Over 6,000 homestays have been registered under the homestay scheme, and the country’s first free marketing portal, “Uttarastays” has been launched. Centres of Excellence for apple, cherry, plum, and pear cultivation have been established in Chaubatia, Almora, along with farmer training programs. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, selected border villages are being developed by promoting local culture, cuisine, and handicrafts.He described the “Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme” as a game-changer for rural livelihoods, providing employment through solar energy projects. Under the “Chief Minister Entrepreneurship Scheme,” thousands of entrepreneurs have received incubation support. The “Devbhoomi Parivar Scheme” is creating a unified digital database of families to ensure transparent delivery of government schemes.Additionally, the state has implemented the “Agniveer Reservation Rules-2025,” providing 10% reservation in state services for former Agniveers. Through the “Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas Bill-2026,” processes have been simplified by amending various laws and repealing over 500 outdated regulations. The Chief Minister emphasised that major reforms have been undertaken in the industrial, labour, mining, revenue, and urban development sectors to improve ease of doing business in the state.

Bill Gates’ ex-wife and philanthropist Melinda French Gates recently shared the rule she follows when she is upset. Speaking at Bloomberg Business‘s Leaders with Francine Lacqua podcast this week (via Fortune), Gates said “If I’m unhappy with work you have done, you will hear from me within 48 hours”, adding, “I’m not going to tell you right away, because I need time to think it through.” Melinda Gates continued saying “If I’m angry about something [I do this] to calm down.” “That’s on me,” she added. Explaining further, Gates said that this practice is less about withholding criticism and more about delivering it with honesty, integrity, and grace. On the contrary, if the employee does not hear from Gates during this feedback window, it means they are in the clear.“If they pass the 48-hour mark, they can be confident that the job they did was a good job,” she said. “You’re not going to get to your performance review and have a surprise.”Melinda French Gates described her 48-hour feedback mantra as “gracious, thoughtful, before you go into it.” Gates has followed this practice over years when she co-chaired the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2000 to 2024.

Melinda French Gates on leadership

During the podcast, Bloomberg’s Lacqua described French Gates’ way of handling feedback as her “leadership superpower,” saying it takes emotional control and honesty. “Being clear is kind,” French Gates replied, “because I’m giving them feedback so they can actually grow and become better.”

Dumbfounding’ advice for Melinda French Gates

Earlier this year, Gates revealed that her path to a $17.4 billion fortune began with an unusual piece of advice from a hiring manager at IBM. A hiring manager at the US-based multinational technology company told her to turn down the job, and instead join Microsoft, which was relatively new at that time. Gates then said : “My hiring manager at IBM, a female, said to me, ‘Okay, are you ready to accept the job offer?’ And I said, ‘Well, I have one more company to go interview—this little company, Microsoft. It was tiny,” French Gates said during an interview.“And she said, ‘If they give you an offer, you should take it.’ And it dumbfounded me,” she added.

Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo)

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has urged Mumbai Indians to make full use of Rohit Sharma on the field, instead of restricting him to the Impact Player role. Rohit, who captained MI to five Indian Premier League titles, was largely deployed as an Impact Player last season. This meant his involvement was limited to batting, and according to Kaif, the team missed out on the leadership presence of their seasoned campaigner. Despite the curtailed role, Rohit still managed a solid campaign with 418 runs from 15 matches, averaging 29.86 at a strike rate of 149.29.

The franchise had handed over captaincy duties to Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024. While that season ended in disappointment with MI finishing last, the team bounced back strongly in 2025, progressing to Qualifier 2. Kaif believes Rohit’s reduced role last year was a mistake, especially in high-pressure moments. He pointed to the Qualifier 2 clash against Punjab Kings, where MI fell short despite a match-winning innings from Shreyas Iyer. In that situation, Kaif felt Hardik could have benefited from Rohit’s on-field guidance.

Mohammad Kaif post

In a post shared on X, Kaif stressed that MI should take advantage of a fitter and leaner Rohit, insisting that the veteran cannot be limited to being just an Impact Player. He highlighted that Rohit’s presence during crucial phases would not only support Hardik’s captaincy but also positively influence his own batting rhythm. “Mumbai Indians should fully utilise the fitter and leaner Rohit Sharma. He can’t be just an impact player, MI will need him in crunch situations. Also his inputs to captain Hardik Pandya will be precious. Last year in Qualifier 2 against Kings XI, when Shreyas Iyer was hitting, Hardik needed Rohit next to him. Full involvement in game will help Rohit the batter too,” Kaif wrote. Mumbai Indians began their IPL 2026 campaign with a home fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.