After a nightmare start to IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders tasted sweet success on Sunday, defeating Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a high-octane clash at Eden Gardens. Rinku Singh’s match-winning knock propelled KKR to their first victory following six winless games, including three straight defeats.
RR set a modest target of 156, batting first. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi lit up the powerplay with an 81-run opening stand. Suryavanshi fell for 46 (28 balls, 6×4, 2×6), and Jaiswal made 39 (29 balls, 6×4). The rest struggled, with Hetmyer on 15 and Parag on 12, as KKR’s Tyagi (3/??), Chakaravarthy (3/??), and Narine (2/??) ran through the lineup, restricting RR to 155/9.
Chasing, KKR lost Seifert (0) and Rahane (0) inside five runs. Green (27 off 13) and Powell (23) fought back, but wickets tumbled to 85/6. That’s when Rinku (53* off 34, 5×4, 2×6) and Anukul Roy (29* off 16, 3×4) turned the tide with a 76-run partnership, sealing victory in the 20th over.
Jadeja grabbed two wickets for RR, but it wasn’t enough. KKR climb to ninth, breathing new life into their campaign after early setbacks against Punjab Kings (rain-affected no-result) and prior losses. RR, third-placed, now lick wounds from consecutive defeats post their winning streak.
This triumph isn’t just points—it’s a statement of resilience for KKR, with Rinku’s cool head under pressure proving decisive.
