IPL 2026 KKR vs RR: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally ended their drought in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a thrilling 4-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a clash which took place at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Sunday. The team’s vice-captain Rinku Singh anchored the chase with an unbeaten 53, guiding his side home with two balls to spare in a match that swung dramatically till the very end. 

IPL 2026 KKR vs RR: Spinner duo sets the platform

Earlier, KKR, while bowling, laid a solid foundation by restricting Royals to a modest 155/9. Mystery spinner from the side, Varun Chakravarthy starred with figures of 3/14, while veteran Sunil Narine impressed with 2/26, exhibiting their trademark spin dominance. Young pacer Kartik Tyagi also shone with the ball, clinching three wickets at the death to keep RR in check. 

KKR’s batting collapse prolongs tension 

In the pursuit of 156, KKR’s batting faltered yet again under pressure. The team was reduced to 85/6 in 13.3 overs, and appeared headed for another defeat. The situation worsened after the side received early blows from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, who rattled the top order. KKR Skipper Ajinkya Rahane failed to make a mark again, departing for a duck. 

IPL 2026 KKR vs RR: Dropped catch turns the tide in KKR’s favour

However, the match took a decisive turn when Rinku Singh, batting on the eighth number, was dropped by Burger. The miss proved to be costly for Royals and shifted the momentum entirely.

Rinku accelerated brilliantly after capitalising on the reprieve, while Ankul Roy lent a notable support with 29*. The duo stitched together a match-winning 76-run partnership off just 37 deliveries, steering KKR to their first win in the tournament after six games. 

RR falters despite strong start

Earlier, Royals were off to a brisk start, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and teen Vaibhav Sorryawanshi put on 63 runs in the powerplay. However, they lost momentum after KKR’s spin-pace attack. Chakravarthy’s landmark 200th T20 wicket triggered a collapse, with RR slipping from a strong spot to a below-par total. Jaiswal (39) and Sooryavanshi’s (46) contribution went down the drain as the middle order failed to shine. 

The long-awaited victory has elevated KKR to ninth place in the standings, offering a much-needed respite after a string of defeats. For Rajasthan Royals, this is the second consecutive defeat, with concerns mounting over their middle-order fragility.

Also read: IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals claim thrilling victory against RCB with Miller’s last-over heroics