Final result
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets
Player of the match: AD Russell
Result · Indian Premier League
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Result · Indian Premier League
H2H · PBKS 13–21 KKRVenue par · 186Chase success · 53%POTM · AD Russell
Match preview & overview
KKR chase down 180 at Eden Gardens to beat Punjab Kings by 5 wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings by 5 wickets at Eden Gardens on 8 May 2023, successfully chasing a target of 180 in an IPL T20. Punjab Kings, who won the toss and chose to bat, posted 179/7 across their 20 overs. KKR overhauled that total with 182/5, with AD Russell named Player of the Match. The result extended KKR's all-time series lead over Punjab to 21 wins from 36 meetings.
The match was competitive throughout but KKR held their nerve in the death overs, scoring 60 runs in overs 16 to 20 for the loss of 2 wickets. Punjab had threatened to make it a tighter finish after their own strong death phase of 55 runs for 2 wickets. In the end, the margin of 5 wickets flattered KKR slightly; Punjab were well in the contest until the closing stages.
Pitch report & venue insights
Eden Gardens, Kolkata — 171-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2004–2026. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
171
T20 matches hosted
186
Avg 1st-innings score
170
Avg 2nd-innings score
53%
Chase success rate
44
Avg powerplay runs
60%
Toss-field rate
Head-to-head record
Kolkata Knight Riders lead the series 21–13 from 36 completed matches
Seasons 2007–2026
Series standing
Punjab Kings
Kolkata Knight Riders36
Total meetings
2
No results
10
In last 10
Recent encounters
Last 102026No result
2025No result
2025PBKS won by 16 runs
2024PBKS won by 8 wickets
2023KKR won by 5 wickets
2023PBKS won by 7 runs
2022KKR won by 6 wickets
2021PBKS won by 5 wickets
2021KKR won by 5 wickets
2020PBKS won by 8 wickets
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Russell wins it for KKR in a 182-run chase
Kolkata Knight Riders reached 182/5 to overhaul Punjab Kings' 179/7, with AD Russell named Player of the Match. The death overs proved decisive: KKR scored 60 runs in that phase for the loss of just 2 wickets, enough to seal a 5-wicket win.
Angle 02
Punjab's powerplay blitz still wasn't enough
Angle 03
Eden Gardens backed the chasing side again
Angle 04
KKR's head-to-head advantage holds firm
Angle 05
Toss winner chose to bat. And still lost
Key players
Players who decided it
Kolkata Knight Riders
AD Russell
Punjab Kings
Mohammed Shami
Punjab Kings
Harbhajan Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders
I Sharma
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Player performance markets around death-overs specialists may offer more signal than outright result lines at Eden Gardens, given how frequently the final four overs swing T20 matches at this venue.
- Top batter markets could be worth contextualising against the powerplay/middle-overs split: both teams lost wickets early but batters who survived into the middle overs posted the highest returns.
- The toss decision market is relevant here given Eden Gardens sides choose to field 58% of the time on winning the toss; teams that bat first against the grain take on additional variance.
- First-innings total lines may lean conservative given the average first-innings score of 186 across 171 matches at Eden Gardens; teams setting sub-180 targets have a historically tighter margin for error.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Who won the KKR vs Punjab Kings IPL 2023 match on 8 May?
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets at Eden Gardens. They chased down Punjab Kings' total of 179/7, finishing on 182/5. AD Russell was named Player of the Match.
What was the score in KKR vs Punjab Kings on 8 May 2023?
Punjab Kings posted 179/7 batting first. Kolkata Knight Riders reached the target in the second innings, finishing on 182/5 with 5 wickets in hand.
What is the head-to-head record between KKR and Punjab Kings?
Across 36 IPL meetings, Kolkata Knight Riders lead 21 wins to 13, with 2 matches producing no result. Punjab had won three of the previous four meetings before this fixture, but KKR's win here extended their overall lead.
Where to watch KKR vs Punjab Kings in the UK?
IPL matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can also stream via Sky Go or a NOW TV day pass. Check the Sky Sports schedule for kick-off times converted to BST.
Who was Player of the Match in KKR vs Punjab Kings on 8 May 2023?
AD Russell of Kolkata Knight Riders was named Player of the Match. His contribution in the death overs was central to KKR scoring 60 runs in the final phase and securing the win.
What is the chase success rate at Eden Gardens in T20 cricket?
Based on 171 T20 matches at Eden Gardens, the chase success rate sits at 53%. The average second-innings score at the ground is 170, making KKR's winning total of 182 a notch above the venue norm.
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Photo credits (4)
- Andre Russell — photo by The Madras, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- Mohammed Shami — photo by NAPARAZZI, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Harbhajan Singh — photo by Bollywood Hungama, CC BY 3.0 · source
- Ishant Sharma — photo by Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source