IPL 2026: KKR dismantle SRH batting order to secure third consecutive victory in Hyderabad
Pat Cummins' pre-match caution proved prescient as Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine led the charge to a seven-wicket win for the visitors.
Kolkata Knight Riders have extended their winning streak to three matches in IPL 2026, chasing down a target of 166 against hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium. Despite the hosts posting a competitive total of 165, bolstered by a 61-run opening partnership between Travis Head and Ishan Kishan, the innings collapsed in the middle overs. The visitors successfully completed the run chase in 18.2 overs, overturning the trend of the last three encounters between the teams since 2025 where the side batting first had dominated with high scores.
The match took place on a hot day, conditions that ultimately favoured the spinners over the batters. While Sunrisers Hyderabad cruised to 71/1 in the powerplay, the momentum shifted dramatically as the KKR spin duo dismantled the batting lineup. Varun Chakravarthy, who had returned to the side as an impact player in the previous match, took three wickets for 36 runs, while Sunil Narine contributed with two wickets for 31. The hosts lost eight wickets for 58 runs between overs 11 and 19, a stark contrast to their strong start.
Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins acknowledged at the toss that winning every game is unlikely, a sentiment validated by the defeat. The South African mainstay of the SRH batting, Heinrich Klaasen, fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Rovman Powell at midwicket. With Nitish Reddy indisposed and missing from the lineup, the back end of the innings lacked the drive required to sustain the innings, leaving the team well short of the required total.
In reply, the KKR batters complemented the excellent show of their bowlers on a strip tailored for batting. Impact player Finn Allen, who replaced fellow New Zealander Tim Seifert in the XI, was dismissed early for 27 runs after smashing Cummins in the fourth over. However, the skipper Ajinkya Rahane provided the calm presence Kolkata needed, guiding the team to victory.
Rahane scored 43 runs before falling on the threshold of victory, but his 84-run partnership for the second wicket with Angkrish Raghuvanshi ensured there were no more hiccups. Raghuvanshi contributed 59 runs to complete the chase. This result marked a significant shift in the rivalry, breaking a pattern where the team batting first had previously scored upwards of 200 runs and won by margins of 80, 110, and 65 runs respectively in the three matches played since 2025.
