Knight Riders halt Titans’ streak to keep playoff hopes alive
Finn Allen’s 93 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 82 set up a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans, ending their five-match winning run in the IPL 2026.
Kolkata Knight Riders secured a crucial 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens on 16 May 2026, ending the visitors’ five-match winning streak and keeping their own playoff ambitions in contention. The win lifted Kolkata to seventh place in the Indian Premier League 2026 points table, positioning them two points behind fourth-placed Punjab Kings.
Chasing a formidable target of 248, Gujarat Titans fell short, finishing on 218 for 4. The chase was anchored by a resilient 85 from captain Shubman Gill, who struck five fours and seven sixes off 49 balls, and a supporting 57 from Jos Buttler off 35 deliveries. Sai Sudharsan also contributed significantly, returning after retiring hurt to finish unbeaten on 53 off 28 balls, but the required run rate ultimately proved insurmountable.
Kolkata’s innings was defined by a season-high total of 247 for 2, their highest score of the tournament and the highest ever posted against Gujarat Titans. Finn Allen provided the explosive start with 93 off 35 balls, including 10 sixes, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi remained unbeaten on 82 off 44 balls. Cameron Green added a quick-fire 52 from 28 balls, with the team benefiting from a poor fielding display by Gujarat that allowed extras and boundaries to accumulate.
The turning point in the chase came in the death overs when Kolkata’s bowlers held their nerve. Sunil Narine, playing in his 200th IPL match, took 2 for 29 to dismantle the Gujarat middle order. His dismissal of Gill, caught by Anukul Roy, was followed shortly by Buttler’s exit, caught by Saurabh Dubey. Although Sudharsan reached his fifty after returning to the crease, late wickets, including Rahul Tewatia’s dismissal by Cameron Green, sealed the result.
The victory marks a significant shift in momentum for both sides. Gujarat Titans’ streak of dominance was halted by a disciplined bowling performance after a strong start involving a 42-run opening stand between Sudharsan and Gill. For Kolkata, the win provides essential breathing room in the standings, maintaining their mathematical chances of reaching the playoffs as the league stage concludes.
