IPL 2026: Chakravarthy Spins Web, Raghuvanshi Shines as KKR Outclass SRH by Seven Wickets

A three-wicket haul from Varun Chakravarthy and a half-century from Angkrish Raghuvanshi were the highlights as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cruised to a seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.

KKR has risen to eight spot in the table with their third win, having also endured five losses and a no result, giving them seven points.

SRH is at the fourth spot, with six wins and four losses, giving them 12 points.

SRH won the toss and opted to bat first. However, despite knocks from Travis Head (61 in 27 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) and Ishan Kishan (42 in 29 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes), the Men in Orange failed to capitalise, with Varun Chakravarthy (3/36) and Sunil Narine (2/31) getting quick wickets, causing SRH to collapse from 105/1 to 165 all out.

How did KKR’s explosive powerplay set the tone in the run-chase against SRH?

Later, in a run-chase of 166 runs, Finn Allen (29 in 13 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and an 84-run stand with skipper Ajinkya Rahane (43 in 35 balls, with three fours and a six) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (59 in 47 balls, with five fours and two sixes) took KKR to a seven-wicket win with 10 balls left.

During a run-chase of 166 runs, KKR openers' skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen collected 22 runs in the first three overs.

In the fourth over by skipper Pat Cummins, Allen smacked him for two sixes and fours each and the SRH skipper gave away 27 runs.

However, Cummins got the last laugh, removing him for 13-ball 29, with three fours and two sixes. KKR was 49/1 in four overs.

KKR reached the 50-run mark in 4.1 overs. KKR continued their aggression against SRH, targeting their best bowler of the tournament, Eshan Malinga, with Eshan Malinga smashing him for two sixes. At the end of six overs, KKR was 71/1.

How did Raghuvanshi and Rahane anchor KKR’s chase against SRH?

Raghuvanshi and skipper Rahane took KKR to the 100-run mark in 9.2 overs.

Halfway through, KKR was 105/1, with Raghuvanshi (34*) and Rahane (34*) unbeaten.

Raghuvanshi continued to take down Eshan, getting a couple of boundaries in the 12th over. Raghuvanshi raced to his third fifty of the season in 39 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes.

The 84-run stand ended, courtesy of Sakib Hussain, who got KKR skipper Rahane for 36-ball 43, with three fours and a six. KKR was 133/2 in 14 overs.

Shivang gets Raghuvanshi for a 47-ball 59, with five boundaries and two sixes, with a catch from Eshan Malinga at long-off. KKR was 151/3 in 16.4 overs.

Rinku Singh (22* in 11 balls, with two fours and a six) and Cameron Green (3*) helped KKR to a seven-wicket win in 18.2 overs.

Cummins, Shivang and Sakib took a wicket each.

(With inputs from ANI)