Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured their third consecutive victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by seven wickets at the Eden Gardens on May 3. The win ended SRH's impressive winning streak, as KKR chased down a target of 167 with ease.
Rahane and Raghuvanshi Shine with the Bat
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were the architects of KKR's successful chase. Rahane, playing a mature innings, scored a well-compiled 68 off 48 balls, while Raghuvanshi smashed a fiery 57 off just 34 deliveries. The duo added 112 runs for the second wicket, taking the game away from SRH.
Rahane's innings was a testament to his experience, as he anchored the chase with precision. He struck six boundaries and two sixes, rotating the strike effectively. Raghuvanshi, on the other hand, was aggressive from the start, hitting four fours and four sixes, putting pressure on the SRH bowlers.
SRH Innings: A Competitive Total
Earlier, SRH posted a competitive total of 166 for 6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant knock from their captain, David Warner. Warner scored 72 off 52 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes. He was well-supported by Abdul Samad, who contributed 34 off 28 balls.
However, KKR bowlers, led by Pat Cummins, kept the scoring in check. Cummins took two wickets for 28 runs, while Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine also picked up a wicket each. The disciplined bowling effort ensured that SRH could not accelerate in the death overs.
KKR's Chase: Clinical and Composed
KKR's chase got off to a steady start, with openers Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill adding 35 runs in the powerplay. However, it was the partnership between Rahane and Raghuvanshi that turned the tide. After Raghuvanshi's dismissal, Rahane continued to anchor the innings, finishing the match in style with a boundary.
KKR reached 167 for 3 in 19.1 overs, with Rahane remaining unbeaten on 68. The victory was a testament to the team's depth and form, as they continue to climb the points table.
Post-Match Reactions
KKR captain Shreyas Iyer praised the team's performance, saying, "It was a complete team effort. The bowlers set it up, and the batsmen finished it off. Rahane and Raghuvanshi played exceptional knocks."
SRH captain David Warner acknowledged the defeat, stating, "We were 15-20 runs short. KKR bowled well in the middle overs, and we couldn't capitalize in the end."
With this win, KKR moved to third place in the points table, while SRH remained in fourth. Both teams will look to build on their performances in the upcoming matches.
