Varun Chakravarthy's 3-36 triggers SRH collapse as KKR win by seven wickets

Key facts

• Varun Chakravarthy took 3 for 36, earning Player of the Match.
• Sunil Narine claimed 2 for 31, reaching 200 IPL wickets.
• Kartik Tyagi returned 2 for 30, including the wicket of Abhishek Sharma.
• Travis Head scored 61 off 28 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) for SRH.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored KKR's chase with 59 off 47 balls.
• SRH lost 9 wickets for 60 runs after being 105 for 1 in 8.5 overs.
• KKR chased 166 with 1.4 overs to spare, finishing at 169 for 3.

A dramatic turnaround in Uppal

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pulled off a stunning seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, snapping the hosts' five-match winning streak. Chasing 166, KKR reached 169 for 3 in 18.2 overs, a win that breathed life into their faltering playoff campaign. SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat on a dry afternoon pitch, a decision that initially appeared sound. Travis Head and Ishan Kishan powered the hosts to 105 for 1 by the 9th over, setting the stage for a total well beyond 200.

Chakravarthy and Narine dismantle SRH's middle order

The match turned decisively in the middle overs when KKR's spinners seized control. Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership by dismissing Head in the ninth over, finishing with 3 for 36. Sunil Narine applied relentless pressure from the other end, claiming 2 for 31, and reached the milestone of 200 IPL wickets during his spell. SRH collapsed spectacularly, losing 9 wickets for just 60 runs after being 105 for 1. Heinrich Klaasen fell for 11, caught by a brilliant one-handed effort from Rovman Powell in the deep, and Ravichandran Smaran made only 4. Kartik Tyagi cleaned up the tail with 2 for 30, bowling SRH out for 165 in exactly 19 overs.

Raghuvanshi and Rahane steer the chase

KKR's reply began with a blistering Powerplay from Finn Allen, who smashed 29 off 13 balls before falling to Pat Cummins. Captain Ajinkya Rahane then anchored the innings with a measured 43 off 36 deliveries, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi provided the backbone with an unbeaten 59 off 47 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. Rahane and Raghuvanshi added 84 runs off 66 balls for the second wicket, effectively shutting SRH out of the game. Rinku Singh finished the chase with an aggressive 22 not out off 11 balls, sealing the win with 10 balls to spare.

A must-win lifeline for KKR

Entering the match in 8th place with just 5 points, KKR treated this fixture as a knockout. The victory gives them a massive lifeline in the playoff race, moving them to 7 points. They will need to ride this momentum and win every remaining game to qualify. For SRH, the defeat snapped a five-match winning streak but leaves them comfortably in 3rd place with 12 points. The middle-order collapse, however, serves as a wake-up call ahead of the tournament's business end.

Match statistics and milestones

This match marked the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all 10 wickets in an innings, and the first time KKR bowled out an opposition team this season. Sunil Narine's 200th IPL wicket cements his legacy as one of the tournament's greatest overseas bowlers. Travis Head scored his second consecutive half-century, reaching the mark off 22 balls, and finished with 9 fours and 3 sixes. Ishan Kishan contributed 42 off 29 balls, but SRH's batting depth failed to fire.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakravarthy's 3 for 36 triggered a catastrophic SRH collapse, turning a commanding position into a below-par total.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets, underscoring his enduring impact as a spinner.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's unbeaten 59 anchored KKR's chase, showcasing composure under pressure.
• KKR's win keeps their playoff hopes alive, while SRH must address their middle-order fragility.
• SRH lost 9 wickets for 60 runs after being 105 for 1, a collapse that defined the match.