The excitement for IPL 2026 has been dampened for cricket enthusiasts in Kolkata. Following the release of the official fixtures by the BCCI, it has been confirmed that the two biggest icons of Indian cricket—MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli—will not be playing at the legendary Eden Gardens this season. This news has triggered a wave of disappointment among fans who eagerly wait for the clash of titans in the “City of Joy.”

As per the IPL 2026 schedule, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play seven home matches, but none are against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) or Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Due to the tournament’s group rotation and home-away scheduling format, KKR’s encounters with Dhoni’s CSK and Kohli’s RCB will take place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, respectively.

For many fans, this is particularly painful as rumors circulate about MS Dhoni potentially approaching his final professional season. The opportunity to see “Thala” at Eden Gardens, a venue that has always showered him with immense love, was high on the bucket list of many Kolkata residents. Similarly, the electric atmosphere generated by Virat Kohli’s presence at Eden is legendary. Social media is currently flooded with posts from disappointed supporters, calling it a “missed opportunity” for the city. Unless these teams meet in the playoffs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata will have to celebrate IPL 2026 without its two most charismatic visiting superstars.