In the 45th match of IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a comprehensive victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at their home ground. The match, played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, saw the hosts' five-match winning streak come to an end. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders have now secured a hat-trick of wins, while after failing to win any of their first six matches this season, the KKR side is making a strong comeback in the tournament.
SRH's Batting Collapse After Explosive Start
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings was marked by a consistent fall of wickets. The team was eventually bowled out for 165 runs in 19 overs. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed early, scoring only 15 runs. However, Travis Head took charge and played an aggressive knock of 61 runs off just 28 balls. 5 overs. Despite this solid foundation, the middle and lower order failed to capitalize as the innings crumbled thereafter.
Varun Chakaravarthy Leads KKR's Bowling Attack
The Hyderabad side lost their final 9 wickets for a mere 60 runs, resulting in a total of 165. Kolkata Knight Riders' bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Varun Chakaravarthy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets. Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi supported well with 2 wickets each. On top of that, Vaibhav Arora, Cameron Green, and Anukul Roy chipped in with one wicket apiece to dismantle the SRH batting lineup.
KKR's Clinical Run Chase
Chasing a target of 166, KKR got off to a brisk start. Finn Allen played a quick cameo of 29 runs from 13 deliveries before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. Following his departure, Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi stabilized the innings and guided the team toward the target. Rahane scored 43 runs off 36 balls, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi top-scored with 59 runs off 47 balls. 2 overs with only 3 wickets down.
Key Match Highlights and Points Table Standings
This victory marks the third win for Kolkata Knight Riders this season. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced their fourth defeat in 10 matches. Despite the loss, SRH remains in the top 3 of the points table. Kolkata Knight Riders, despite their recent surge in form, currently occupy the 8th position in the standings.