Varun Chakaravarthy's spin masterclass ends SRH's five-match streak as KKR keep playoff hopes alive

Key facts

• KKR beat SRH by 7 wickets with 1.4 overs to spare at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on May 3.
• Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36 and won Player of the Match for triggering SRH's collapse.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2 for 31.
• SRH were bowled out for 165 in 19 overs after being 105/1 in the 9th over.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi anchored KKR's chase with an unbeaten 59 off 47 balls.
• KKR snapped SRH's five-match winning streak and moved to 5 points, staying 8th on the table.
• This was the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all 10 wickets in an innings.

Lede: KKR's spin duo turns the tide in Uppal

The Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a remarkable seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, ending the hosts' five-match winning streak and injecting fresh life into their own playoff campaign. Chasing 166 on a dry afternoon surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, KKR reached 169 for 3 in 18.2 overs, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi's composed 59 off 47 deliveries anchoring the chase. The win was set up by a devastating middle-overs collapse from SRH, who lost nine wickets for 60 runs after being 105 for 1 in the ninth over. Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy returned match-winning figures of 3 for 36, while veteran Sunil Narine applied relentless pressure from the other end with 2 for 31.

SRH's top-order fireworks give way to a stunning collapse

Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a typically tacky Uppal pitch. Travis Head immediately took the attack to the KKR pace bowlers, smashing 61 off just 28 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Ishan Kishan supported with 42 off 29 deliveries, and at 105 for 1 in the ninth over, a total beyond 200 seemed likely. The match flipped completely when Chakaravarthy entered the attack. He exploited the surface's grip to break the back of the SRH lineup, dismissing Head and Heinrich Klaasen in quick succession. Narine squeezed from the other end, and the fielding energy spiked, highlighted by a one-handed screamer from Rovman Powell. Kartik Tyagi (2 for 30) cleaned up the tail, bowling out SRH for 165 in exactly 19 overs — the first time this season the Knight Riders have bowled out an opposition.

Raghuvanshi and Rahane steer the chase with composure

KKR needed early momentum in their chase, and opener Finn Allen provided it with a rapid 29 off 13 balls in the Powerplay. After his dismissal, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi constructed a composed 84-run partnership that safely navigated the middle overs. Rahane made 43 off 36 before falling to young Sakib Hussain, but Raghuvanshi held firm, registering a flawless fifty with five boundaries and two sixes. Raghuvanshi was eventually dismissed by Shivang Kumar, but by then the required rate was well under control. Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches, smoking an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, including two fours and a six, to seal the chase with 1.4 overs to spare. The win gave KKR three consecutive victories after losing their first five matches of the season.

Chakaravarthy and Narine reach personal milestones

Varun Chakaravarthy's spell of 3 for 36 earned him the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on his resurgence, he explained that spinners naturally struggle on flat wickets early in the tournament but find rhythm as surfaces wear. His plan against Travis Head was to cramp him for room and prevent him from extending his arms. Chakaravarthy also took a blow on the leg during the match but said he expects to be fully fit within three days. Sunil Narine reached the monumental milestone of 200 IPL wickets during his spell, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest overseas bowlers in the tournament's history. His figures of 2 for 31 helped maintain pressure during the middle overs.

Captains react: Cummins admits batting failure, Rahane praises team fight

SRH captain Pat Cummins acknowledged that his side's batting cost them the game. "The first 8-10 overs were excellent, and we did well against the matchups, but we just couldn't get the act right in the rest of the contest," he said. "The deck wasn't the best to have a go on, but from the position we were in, we should have got at least 180-190." Cummins said the defeat would serve as a wake-up call ahead of the business end of the tournament. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane called it a very good game and praised the way his team fought back with the ball. He credited the spinners for consistently picking up wickets and highlighted the support staff, including Dwayne Bravo and Tim Southee, for their work. Rahane noted that even during the phase when KKR lost their first five matches, the atmosphere in the camp remained calm.

Playoff implications: KKR's lifeline, SRH's wake-up call

Entering the match in eighth place with just five points, KKR's victory gives them a massive lifeline in the playoff race. They will need to ride this momentum and treat every remaining game as a knockout. The Knight Riders next face the Delhi Capitals in the capital on Friday, May 8. Despite the defeat snapping their five-match winning streak, SRH remains in a strong position, sitting third on the points table with 12 points. They will treat this loss as a minor blip and quickly move on, staying at home to prepare for their next challenge against the Punjab Kings on Wednesday, May 6. Cummins said his side will look at the middle-order collapse as a wake-up call to address before the business end of the tournament.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 triggered a SRH collapse from 105/1 to 165 all out, the first time KKR bowled out an opponent this season.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's unbeaten 59 off 47 anchored KKR's chase, with support from Rahane (43) and Rinku Singh (22*).
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2 for 31, becoming one of the tournament's most successful overseas bowlers.
• KKR snapped SRH's five-match winning streak and moved to 5 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive after starting the season with five losses.
• SRH remain third on the points table with 12 points but must address their middle-order fragility after losing 9 wickets for 60 runs.
• KKR next face Delhi Capitals on May 8, while SRH host Punjab Kings on May 6.