Kolkata Knight Riders eye must-win at Eden as Rajasthan Royals aim to spoil party

Riding high on their new-found confidence, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will look to finally get it right at home and keep their playoff hopes alive when they take on a struggling Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match here on Sunday.

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With four league matches remaining, KKR's equation is straightforward -- win all four and reach 17 points, a total that should secure a spot in the top-four without relying on the other results. The challenge, though simple on paper, is steep in reality.

The final leg of their campaign includes two home matches -- against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday and Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday -- followed by two away fixtures, against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 10 and an in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (May 17). While SRH have lost steam, RCB are charging up the table, making that final clash in Bengaluru potentially a high-stakes encounter.

But that's still far away. For now, the Knights must stay focused on what's immediately in front -- the two back-to-back games at Eden Gardens, starting with the Royals. Interestingly, both RR and CSK are among the most inconsistent sides this season and were the first to be eliminated.