Rinku Singh leads KKR’s chase against RR at Eden. (Image credit: IPL)
New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders finally ended their long wait for victory in IPL 2026, edging out Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a tense finale at Eden Gardens on Sunday. An unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku Singh took KKR over the line with two balls, as they finally broke a six-match winless run after 22 frustrating days.
The win also lifted them from the bottom of the table and provided much-needed relief for a team that had repeatedly stumbled from winning positions earlier in the season.As it happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026
Chakravarthy-Naraine broke RR’s early dominance
RR, who chose to bat first, started in dominating style as Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) stormed the KKR attack, racing to 81 without loss in just 8.3 overs. The duo looked set to make a big total, scoring freely past the seamers and immediately putting KKR under pressure.
However, the introduction of spin completely changed the format of innings.Varun Chakravarthy (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) combined in devastating fashion, imposing relentless control and stifling the scoring rate. Chakravarthy scored in key moments, including Suryavanshi’s dismissal, while Narine kept up the pressure from the other end with cohesive lines and variations. From a dominant level of 81/0, RR suddenly found themselves sliding to 117/4, with momentum shifting sharply towards KKR.
The collapse deepened further when Kartik Tyagi delivered a controlled spell at the death, taking 3/22 and ensuring RR never recovered. Despite short-handed contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Ryan Parag, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to a sub-par of 155/9, a total that did not reflect their strong start but once again highlighted their fragility in the middle order.
KKR’s collapse and Renko’s salvation
Chasing 156, KKR suffered an immediate setback as both their openers were dismissed without scoring, including the first-ball knock of
Jofra Archer
. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also fell cheaply, leaving the hosts under immense pressure at the start of the innings.Cameron Green briefly revived hopes with a counter-attacking 27 off 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six, but his dismissal via a sharp hit by Dhruv Gurel off Ravi Bishnoi turned the momentum back towards RR. Soon after, KKR were in deep trouble at 70/5 as RR bowlers tightened the screws.At this stage, RR looked firmly in control, but the match ended with Rinku Singh missing a crucial chance.
From there, the vice-captain played remarkably calmly under pressure, refusing to take unnecessary risks while gradually rebuilding the chase. Alongside him, Anukul Roy played a vital supporting role, rotating the batting and punishing loose deliveries.The duo compiled a match-winning 76 off just 37 balls, shifting all the pressure to RR. Renko’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 perfect final support, including a timely boundary that ensured the asking rate did not spiral out of hand.
KKR finally broke the jinx
Eventually, 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 was the team’s first in seven matches and gave a sense of stability to a season that was threatening to be derailed early.For Rajasthan Royals, it was another match where a strong start to the bat was undone by a dramatic collapse and inability to finish off the chase despite early dominance. Their rotational struggle in the middle and lack of penetration with the ball cost them the game in the end.
