Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered a convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match 45 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad, on May 3 to gain two valuable points.
SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat first in hot and humid conditions in Hyderabad, and the SRH openers did not disappoint. The duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put on a quick 44-run partnership in just 3.4 overs. Abhishek was dismissed on 15 by Kartik Tyagi. The Australian opener, however, was the star of the show for SRH, scoring 61 runs in just 28 balls. Ishan Kishan played a handy cameo of 42 runs to help his side reach a respectable total of 165 in 19 overs.
KKR bowlers put on a clinic to bundle the SRH side in just 19 overs, claiming all of their 10 wickets. Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three valuable wickets, giving away just 36 runs. He got brilliant support at the other end by Sunil Narine, who also picked up two wickets, becoming only the third player ever to pick up 200-plus IPL wickets. Vaibhav Arora, Cameroon Green, and Anukul Roy picked up one wicket each.
In response, KKR approached the chase with composure and control. Finn Allen provided early impetus with a brisk 29 off just 13 balls, setting the tone for the innings. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane then steadied the chase with a well-paced 43, ensuring there were no hiccups after the powerplay.
The standout performer, however, was Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who anchored the innings brilliantly with a composed 59 off 47 deliveries. He rotated strike effectively while finding boundaries at crucial junctures to keep the required rate in check. Towards the end, Rinku Singh played a handy unbeaten cameo (22* off 11), finishing the chase in style alongside Cameron Green, as KKR reached 169/3 in 18.2 overs.
Among the bowlers, Pat Cummins, Shivang Kumar, and Sakib Hussain chipped in with a wicket each, but SRH lacked the penetration needed to defend a modest total.
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