NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders finally ended their long wait for a victory in IPL 2026, edging past Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a tense finish at Eden Gardens on Sunday. A composed unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku Singh guided KKR over the line with two balls to spare, as they finally broke a six-match winless streak after 22 frustrating days. The win also lifted them off the bottom of the table and offered much-needed relief to a side that had repeatedly faltered from winning positions earlier in the season.As it happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026
Chakravarthy–Narine break RR’s early dominance
RR, opted to bat first, began in commanding fashion as Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) tore into the KKR attack, racing to 81 without loss in just 8.3 overs. The pair looked set for a big total, scoring freely against the seamers and putting KKR immediately under pressure. However, the introduction of spin completely changed the complexion of the innings.Varun Chakravarthy (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) combined in devastating fashion, applying relentless control and choking the scoring rate. Chakravarthy struck at key moments, including the dismissal of Sooryavanshi, while Narine built pressure from the other end with tight lines and variations. From a dominant 81/0, RR suddenly found themselves slipping to 117/4, with momentum shifting sharply towards KKR.The collapse deepened further as Kartik Tyagi produced a disciplined spell at the death, taking 3/22 and ensuring RR never recovered. Despite brief contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to a below-par 155/9, a total that did not reflect their strong start but highlighted their middle-order fragility once again.
KKR’s collapse, and Rinku’s redemption
Chasing 156, KKR suffered an immediate setback as both openers were dismissed without scoring, including a first-ball strike from Jofra Archer. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also fell cheaply, leaving the home side under immense pressure early in the innings.Cameron Green briefly reignited hopes with a counterattacking 27 off 13 balls, striking four boundaries and a six, but his dismissal through a sharp stumping by Dhruv Jurel off Ravi Bishnoi swung momentum back towards RR. Soon after, KKR were in deep trouble at 70/5 as RR’s bowlers tightened the screws.It was at this point that RR appeared firmly in control, but the match turned on a crucial dropped chance on Rinku Singh. From there, the vice-captain played with remarkable composure under pressure, refusing to take unnecessary risks while gradually rebuilding the chase. Alongside him, Anukul Roy played a vital supporting role, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries.The duo stitched together a match-winning 76-run stand off just 37 balls, completely shifting the pressure back onto RR. Rinku’s unbeaten 53 off 34 balls was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as he found boundaries at crucial moments while keeping the chase on track. Roy’s unbeaten 29 off 16 provided the perfect finishing support, including timely boundaries that ensured the asking rate never spiralled out of reach.
KKR finally break the jinx
In the end, KKR crossed the line with two balls remaining, completing a much-needed turnaround after repeated failures in tight finishes earlier in the season. The victory marked their first win in seven matches and offered a sense of stability to a campaign that had threatened to derail early.For Rajasthan Royals, it was another game where a strong start with the bat was undone by a dramatic collapse and an inability to close out the chase despite early dominance. Their spin struggle in the middle overs and lack of death-overs penetration with the ball ultimately cost them the match.
