In a viral video circulating online, the Punjab Kings star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was seen in a playful mood as he played with the robo-dog Champak during practice ahead of his game against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The Kings were up against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday at the Eden Gardens in the 12th league-stage game of the IPL 2026. Before the game, when both skippers appeared for the toss, Chahal was seen engaging in a playful interaction with ‘Champak’.
Notably, the AI-powered quadruped has become a regular fixture at the Eden Gardens as well as other venues in the global T20 league. Players could often be seen engaging with it during warm-ups or post-match celebrations. Chahal is the latest star to be seen "playing" with the robot.
Just yesterday, Ravindra Jadeja went viral for carrying Champak on his shoulders after the RR vs GT clash. The robot dog can perform handshakes, make heart emojis with its paws, and even deliver the coin for the toss. While the robot provided entertainment, Chahal's primary focus remains on the game as PBKS looks to maintain their unbeaten streak. He has been a standout performer for Punjab this season, recently becoming the first Indian bowler to reach 350 T20 wickets.
KKR ops to bat against their Punjabi counterparts
Meanwhile, on the ground, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and elected to bat first against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Eden Gardens. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to bat, citing a dry wicket that he expects to hold up well. The Knight Riders have made some changes in their squad as the team is at a crucial stage after coming back from two losses. Rovman Powell makes his KKR debut, replacing an unwell Sunil Narine, while Navdeep Saini comes in for the injured Varun Chakaravarthy.
PBKS enters with a 2–0 record, while KKR is looking for their first win (0–2). Despite earlier rain threats, the match is underway, though the weather remains a factor.
For today's high-stakes clash at Eden Gardens, the KKR owner, Shah Rukh Khan, is confirmed to be in the stands, while Harshit Rana has also made a surprise appearance to support the team despite being ruled out of the season.
