Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 derails SRH as KKR snap five-match winning streak

Key facts

• KKR won by 7 wickets with 1.4 overs to spare.
• SRH were bowled out for 165 in 19 overs after being 105/1 in the 9th over.
• Travis Head scored 61 off 28 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes).
• Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36 and was named Player of the Match.
• Sunil Narine claimed 2 for 31 and reached 200 IPL wickets.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored the chase with 59 off 47 balls.
• KKR moved to 7 points; SRH remain 3rd with 12 points.
• This was the first time SRH lost all 10 wickets in IPL 2026.

A collapse that rewrote the script

At 105 for 1 in the ninth over, Sunrisers Hyderabad were cruising towards a total well beyond 200. Travis Head, on 61 off 28 balls, was dismantling the Kolkata Knight Riders' pace attack with nine fours and three sixes, while Ishan Kishan had just contributed a brisk 42 off 29. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal was witnessing a familiar SRH onslaught. Then Varun Chakaravarthy happened. The mystery spinner, exploiting a tacky afternoon surface, removed Head and triggered a catastrophic collapse. SRH lost nine wickets for 60 runs in the space of ten overs, getting bowled out for 165 in exactly 19 overs — the first time this season they had lost all ten wickets in an innings. The turnaround was so complete that Pat Cummins, the SRH captain, later admitted: "From the position we were in, we should have got at least 180-190. Our batting has cost us this game."

Chakaravarthy and Narine spin a web

Chakaravarthy finished with figures of 3 for 36 from his four overs, breaking the back of the SRH lineup. His plan, as he explained after the match, was to cramp Head for room and prevent him from extending his arms. The ploy worked perfectly, and the pressure was compounded by Sunil Narine's relentless squeeze from the other end, who returned 2 for 31. Narine also reached a monumental milestone during his spell — 200 IPL wickets, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest overseas bowlers in the tournament's history. Kartik Tyagi chipped in with 2 for 30, cleaning up the tail, while the fielding energy spiked, highlighted by a breathtaking one-handed screamer from Rovman Powell in the outfield. Chakaravarthy, reflecting on his resurgence, noted that spinners naturally struggle on flat wickets early in the season but find their rhythm as surfaces begin to wear. "The plan was to cramp Head for room," he said. "I'm confident I'll be fully fit within three days."

Raghuvanshi and Rahane anchor the chase

Chasing 166, KKR needed a solid start, and Finn Allen provided exactly that — a rapid 29 off 13 balls, with three fours and two sixes, putting the hosts on the back foot immediately. After Allen's dismissal, captain Ajinkya Rahane and the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi constructed a composed 84-run partnership that safely navigated the chase. Rahane played a measured knock of 43 off 36 deliveries before falling to debutant Sakib Hussain (1 for 17). But Raghuvanshi proved to be the anchor, registering a flawless 59 off 47 balls, striking five boundaries and two maximums. "Rahane and Allen started well, and that made life easy for me," Raghuvanshi said. "I still have a lot to work on — my coach wasn't happy with the way I got out." Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches, smoking an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls alongside Cameron Green (3*) to seal the chase at 169 for 3 in 18.2 overs. The winning runs came via a boundary off Eshan Malinga, pulled to deep mid-wicket.

A must-win lifeline for KKR

Entering the match in eighth place with just five points, KKR were desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. This victory, their third in a row, gives them a massive lifeline. "This was a must-win game for us," Rahane said. "The bowling unit has been doing very well collectively, and the support staff — including Dwayne Bravo and Tim Southee — have done a great job." Rahane credited the spinners for consistently picking up wickets, adding that the team had two or three practice sessions during the break and that staying mentally fresh was key. He praised Chakaravarthy's confidence, work ethic, and attitude, noting that he has been taking on the tough overs consistently. For SRH, the defeat snapped a brilliant five-match winning streak, but they remain in a strong position — third on the points table with 12 points. Cummins described the loss as a "wake-up call" ahead of the business end of the tournament.

What lies ahead for both sides

Sunrisers Hyderabad will treat this defeat as a minor blip and quickly move on. They remain at home and will face the Punjab Kings on Wednesday, May 6. The focus will be on addressing the middle-order collapse that proved costly. Kolkata Knight Riders, brimming with confidence after three wins on the bounce, will head to the capital to take on the Delhi Capitals on Friday, May 8. Rahane emphasized that if KKR maintains this consistency, they are poised to make a serious impact in the competition. Chakaravarthy echoed that sentiment, highlighting a surge of positive energy within the squad. The match also marked the end of SRH's five-match winning streak and the first time KKR bowled out an opposition this season. As the IPL 2026 playoff race intensifies, both teams know that every game from here on is effectively a knockout.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 triggered a SRH collapse from 105/1 to 165 all out, earning him Player of the Match.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2 for 31.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 59 off 47 anchored KKR's chase of 166, with Rinku Singh finishing on 22* off 11.
• KKR snapped SRH's five-match winning streak and moved to 7 points, keeping playoff hopes alive.
• SRH remain third with 12 points but face a wake-up call ahead of their next match against Punjab Kings on May 6.
• This was the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all 10 wickets and KKR bowled out an opposition.