IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders secured their first win of the Indian Premier League 2026 with a tense four-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Sunday, thanks to a composed finish from Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy.
Chasing a modest target of 156, KKR endured a disastrous start, slipping to 2/2 within the first two overs. Jofra Archer dismissed Tim Seifert off the opening delivery, while Nandre Burger removed captain Ajinkya Rahane for a second successive duck.
Despite brief resistance from Cameron Green (27 off 13) and Rovman Powell (23), Rajasthan’s spin attack, led by Ravindra Jadeja (2/8), kept the chase in check. Debutant Yash Raj Punja also chipped in with a wicket, leaving KKR struggling at 97/6 in the 15th over.
With the game slipping away, Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy stitched together a crucial seventh-wicket stand, balancing caution with calculated aggression.
Anukul shifted momentum with a six off Ravi Bishnoi, while Rinku gradually found rhythm after an early reprieve.
The duo chipped away at the target, reducing the equation from 40 off four overs to nine in the final over.
Facing Brijesh Sharma, Rinku finished the chase in style, hitting two boundaries and a top-edged six to complete his unbeaten 53 and seal victory with two balls to spare. Anukul remained unbeaten on 29, playing a vital supporting role.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals posted 155/9, with contributions from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. KKR’s bowlers, including Varun Chakaravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, and Sunil Narine, had done well to restrict them.
The win ends KKR’s six-match losing streak, providing a crucial boost to their campaign.
Brief Scores:
Rajasthan Royals 155/9 (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 46, Yashasvi Jaiswal 39; Varun Chakaravarthy 3-14, Kartik Tyagi 3-22) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (Rinku Singh 53*, Anukul Roy 29*; Ravindra Jadeja 2-8, Yash Punja 1-25) by four wickets.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals Collapse To 155/9 vs Kolkata Knight Riders At Eden Gardens
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