A Rivalry Born in 2022 — and Already Full of Drama
When Lucknow Super Giants entered the Indian Premier League in 2022 as one of two new franchises, few expected their meetings with Kolkata Knight Riders to produce the kind of drama that decades-old rivalries struggle to deliver. Yet across just 6 meetings spanning four IPL seasons (2022–2025), these two sides have produced a 75-run blowout, a 98-run demolition, a 1-run thriller, and a 2-run nail-biter. The head-to-head record reads 4-2 in favour of Lucknow Super Giants, but the numbers barely scratch the surface of a fixture that has swung between total domination and agonising margins.
What makes this rivalry compelling is not its length but its intensity. Of the 6 completed matches, 3 have been decided by margins of 4 runs or fewer. That 50% rate of ultra-close finishes is among the highest for any IPL pairing with more than 5 meetings. Kolkata Knight Riders own the most lopsided result — a 98-run annihilation in Lucknow in 2024 — while Lucknow have repeatedly found ways to win the tight contests, converting pressure into points with clinical efficiency.
All-Time Head-to-Head Record
| Metric | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Matches won | 2 | 4 |
| Win percentage | 33.3% | 66.7% |
| Biggest victory (runs) | 98 | 75 |
| Biggest victory (wickets) | 8 wickets | — |
| Closest win (runs) | — | 1 run |
| Total meetings | 6 | 6 |
The 6-match sample size is small compared to legacy rivalries, but the win distribution is already stark. Lucknow have won four of the six encounters, losing only when Kolkata Knight Riders produced overwhelming performances — the 8-wicket rout in April 2024 and the 98-run demolition in May 2024. In every close contest, Lucknow have prevailed.
Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Apr 2025 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Lucknow Super Giants | 4 runs | N Pooran |
| 5 May 2024 | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | Kolkata Knight Riders | 98 runs | SP Narine |
| 14 Apr 2024 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Kolkata Knight Riders | 8 wickets | PD Salt |
| 20 May 2023 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Lucknow Super Giants | 1 run | N Pooran |
| 18 May 2022 | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai | Lucknow Super Giants | 2 runs | Q de Kock |
The pattern is unmistakable. When Kolkata Knight Riders win, they win big — 98 runs and 8 wickets represent two of the most comprehensive victories in any IPL fixture in 2024. When Lucknow Super Giants win, they win by the barest of margins — 1 run in 2023, 2 runs in 2022, 4 runs in 2025. This divergence in winning margins suggests two sides with fundamentally different temperaments under pressure.
Defining Moments
The 98-Run Demolition — Lucknow, 5 May 2024
The single most dominant display in this fixture's brief history came at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow during Match 54 of IPL 2024. Sunil Narine was named Player of the Match after Kolkata Knight Riders posted a mammoth total that Lucknow Super Giants could never threaten. A 98-run margin is exceptional in any T20 context — it placed this result among the ten largest victories by runs in all IPL history up to that point. For KKR, it was a statement of their 2024 intent during a season that would ultimately deliver them their third IPL title.
The 1-Run Heartbreak — Kolkata, 20 May 2023
If the 98-run result was about power, Match 68 of IPL 2023 at Eden Gardens was about nerve. Lucknow Super Giants defended their total by just 1 run — the smallest margin of victory in the history of this fixture and one of the tightest finishes in the entire 2023 season. Nicholas Pooran was named Player of the Match, continuing a personal love affair with this fixture that would see him pick up three Player of the Match awards across just four appearances against Kolkata. For KKR, the loss was devastating — one run short, with the Eden Gardens crowd left in stunned silence.
Pooran's 2025 Encore — Kolkata, 8 April 2025
When the two sides met at Eden Gardens in April 2025, the script felt familiar. Kolkata Knight Riders, playing at home with a passionate crowd behind them, looked set to control the contest. Instead, Nicholas Pooran produced another match-defining performance to deliver Lucknow a 4-run win. It was Pooran's third Player of the Match award in this fixture — a remarkable record that makes him the single most influential individual in the KKR-LSG rivalry. No other player has dominated a specific IPL head-to-head fixture to this degree in such a short span.
Venue Split
| Venue | Meetings | KKR Wins | LSG Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| MCA Stadium, Pune | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The venue distribution reflects the fixture's unusual origins. Because Lucknow Super Giants entered the IPL in 2022 — a season played at neutral venues in Maharashtra due to COVID-19 protocols — the first two meetings took place in Pune and Navi Mumbai rather than at either team's home ground. Eden Gardens has hosted the most meetings (3), but Kolkata Knight Riders have won just once there against Lucknow, losing the other two by 1 run and 4 runs respectively. The only meeting at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium produced KKR's record 98-run win, meaning Kolkata's best result against Lucknow came away from home. This home-ground paradox adds an intriguing layer to future meetings at both venues.
Lucknow's Early Dominance — 2022 to 2023
In the first three meetings between these sides — spanning IPL 2022 and 2023 — Lucknow Super Giants won all three by margins of 75 runs, 2 runs, and 1 run. This 3-0 start established Lucknow as the dominant force in the fixture during the franchise's formative years. The 75-run victory in Pune on 7 May 2022, in just the second-ever meeting between the sides, was driven by Avesh Khan's Player of the Match performance and set the tone for what followed. Kolkata Knight Riders did not register their first win in this fixture until 14 April 2024 — nearly two years and three matches after the rivalry began. That barren run made KKR's eventual breakthrough all the more emphatic, as they won their next two meetings by 8 wickets and 98 runs before Lucknow reasserted themselves in 2025.
The Rivalry's Place in IPL History
At just 6 meetings, the Kolkata Knight Riders versus Lucknow Super Giants fixture is one of the IPL's youngest rivalries. It lacks the decades of history that define MI vs CSK or RCB vs KKR. Yet what it lacks in volume, it compensates for in volatility. A 50% rate of results decided by 4 runs or fewer, combined with the presence of 98-run and 75-run blowouts at the other extreme, makes this fixture statistically one of the most unpredictable in the tournament. With both franchises committed to building competitive squads and Eden Gardens likely to remain the primary battleground, the KKR-LSG rivalry will be revisited every IPL season — and if the first 6 meetings are any indication, every encounter will be worth watching until the final delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the head-to-head record between KKR and LSG in the IPL?
Across 6 completed IPL meetings from 2022 to 2025, Lucknow Super Giants lead the head-to-head 4-2 against Kolkata Knight Riders, winning 66.7% of their encounters.
When did KKR and LSG first play each other in the IPL?
The first meeting between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants took place on 7 May 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune during IPL 2022. Lucknow won by 75 runs, with Avesh Khan named Player of the Match.
What is the biggest victory in KKR vs LSG matches?
Kolkata Knight Riders hold the record for the largest victory margin in this fixture — a 98-run win at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 5 May 2024. Sunil Narine was named Player of the Match.
What is the closest finish in KKR vs LSG history?
The closest result was a 1-run victory for Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 20 May 2023 during Match 68 of IPL 2023. Nicholas Pooran won the Player of the Match award.
Which venue has hosted the most KKR vs LSG matches?
Eden Gardens in Kolkata has hosted 3 of the 6 KKR vs LSG meetings, making it the most frequent venue for this fixture. Lucknow have won 2 of those 3 matches at Eden Gardens.
Who has won the most Player of the Match awards in KKR vs LSG games?
Nicholas Pooran holds the record with 3 Player of the Match awards in KKR vs LSG fixtures (2023, 2025, and one more), making him the most influential individual in this rivalry.
Where can I watch KKR vs LSG IPL matches?
All IPL matches, including Kolkata Knight Riders versus Lucknow Super Giants fixtures, are broadcast live on JioStar across all IPL seasons in India. Streaming is available on the JioCinema platform.