Varun Chakaravarthy's 3/36 Triggers SRH Collapse as KKR Seize Seven-Wicket Win

Key facts

• KKR beat SRH by 7 wickets in Match 45 of IPL 2026 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
• SRH were bowled out for 165 in 19 overs after opting to bat, losing 9 wickets for 60 runs.
• Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36 and was named Player of the Match.
• Travis Head scored 61 off 28 balls for SRH; Angkrish Raghuvanshi made 59 off 47 for KKR.
• Sunil Narine claimed 2 for 31 and reached 200 IPL wickets during the match.
• KKR chased down the target with 1.4 overs to spare, finishing at 169 for 3.
• This was the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all 10 wickets in an innings.
• KKR moved to 5 points (8th place); SRH remain 3rd with 12 points.

A Collapse That Changed the Game

Sunrisers Hyderabad were cruising at 105 for 1 in the ninth over, with Travis Head in full flow, when the match turned on its head. The Kolkata Knight Riders' spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine triggered a catastrophic collapse that saw SRH lose nine wickets for just 60 runs, bundling them out for 165 in exactly 19 overs. Chakaravarthy, exploiting the tacky afternoon pitch, finished with three for 36, while Narine applied a relentless squeeze from the other end, taking two for 31. The fielding energy spiked simultaneously, highlighted by a breathtaking one-handed catch from Rovman Powell in the outfield. Kartik Tyagi cleaned up the tail with two for 36.

Head and Kishan Set the Platform

After SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat on a dry Uppal surface, Abhishek Sharma fell cheaply for 15 off 10 balls. But Travis Head immediately assumed the role of aggressor, smashing 61 off just 28 deliveries with nine fours and three sixes. Ishan Kishan provided solid support with 42 off 29 balls, hitting four boundaries and two maximums. The hosts looked well on track for a 200-plus total, but the dismissal of Head and Kishan in quick succession triggered the collapse. The middle order failed to recover, and SRH were bowled out for the first time this season.

Raghuvanshi Anchors the Chase

KKR's chase began aggressively through opener Finn Allen, who blazed 29 off 13 balls before falling in the Powerplay. Captain Ajinkya Rahane then constructed a composed partnership with Angkrish Raghuvanshi, adding stability to the innings. Rahane scored a measured 43 off 36 deliveries before being dismissed by young Sakib Hussain. Raghuvanshi, however, proved the anchor, registering a flawless 59 off 47 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. Although Shivang Kumar eventually removed him, the platform was perfectly laid. Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, alongside Cameron Green (3 not out), sealing the chase at 169 for 3 in 18.2 overs.

Narine's Milestone and a Season First

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. The match also marked the first time in IPL 2026 that Sunrisers Hyderabad lost all 10 wickets in an innings, and the first time Kolkata Knight Riders bowled out an opposition team this season. Chakaravarthy's spell was the catalyst, earning him the Player of the Match award. His three wickets initiated the middle-order collapse that completely derailed SRH's momentum.

Playoff Implications and What Lies Ahead

This was a must-win game for KKR, who entered the match in eighth place with just five points. The victory gives them a massive lifeline, and they will need to treat every remaining game as a knockout to keep playoff hopes alive. For SRH, the defeat snapped their five-match winning streak, but they remain in a strong third position with 12 points. Pat Cummins and his side will view this middle-order collapse as a wake-up call ahead of the business end of the tournament. The collapse exposed vulnerabilities that opponents may now seek to exploit. KKR, riding this momentum, will aim to build on the win and climb the points table.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 triggered a SRH collapse of 9 wickets for 60 runs, the first time SRH were bowled out in IPL 2026.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 59 off 47 anchored KKR's chase of 166, with Rinku Singh finishing unbeaten on 22.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2 for 31, a historic milestone for an overseas bowler.
• KKR's win keeps their playoff hopes alive; SRH remain third but must address their middle-order fragility.
• The match featured a season-first for both teams: SRH all out, KKR bowling out an opponent.