Varun Chakaravarthy's 3-36 triggers SRH collapse as KKR snap five-match winning streak

Key facts

• KKR won by 7 wickets, chasing 166 with 1.4 overs to spare.
• SRH were bowled out for 165 in 19 overs after being 105/1 in the 9th over.
• Varun Chakaravarthy took 3/36 and was named Player of the Match.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2/31.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored an unbeaten 59 off 47 balls.
• Travis Head top-scored for SRH with 61 off 28 balls.
• KKR moved to 5 points (8th place); SRH remain 3rd with 12 points.
• This was the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all 10 wickets.

Lede: KKR stun SRH in must-win contest

The Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a remarkable comeback at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets to end the hosts' five-match winning streak. The victory, achieved with 1.4 overs to spare, keeps KKR's playoff hopes alive after they entered the match in eighth place with just five points. SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat on a dry afternoon surface, a decision that initially appeared vindicated as Travis Head tore into the KKR pace attack. Head's 61 off 28 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes, powered SRH to 105 for one in the ninth over, setting the stage for a total well beyond 200.

The collapse: Nine wickets for 60 runs

The match turned decisively when KKR's spinners took control. Varun Chakaravarthy, exploiting the tacky pitch, claimed three for 36, while Sunil Narine applied relentless pressure from the other end, finishing with two for 31. The fielding energy spiked, highlighted by a one-handed screamer from Rovman Powell in the outfield. After Head and Ishan Kishan (42 off 29) departed, SRH suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing nine wickets for just 60 runs. Kartik Tyagi cleaned up the tail with two for 30, bowling out SRH for 165 in exactly 19 overs. This 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 this season.

Chase anchored by Raghuvanshi and Rahane

Chasing 166, KKR needed a strong start and got it from Finn Allen, who smashed 29 off 13 balls in the Powerplay. After Allen's dismissal, captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi constructed a composed 84-run partnership. Rahane scored 43 off 36 before falling to debutant Sakib Hussain. Raghuvanshi, the 20-year-old, anchored the innings with a flawless 59 off 47 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. Although Shivang Kumar removed him, Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, sealing the chase at 169 for three in 18.2 overs.

Milestone for Narine, resurgence for Chakaravarthy

Sunil Narine reached the monumental milestone of 200 IPL wickets during his spell, cementing his legacy as one of the tournament's greatest overseas bowlers. Varun Chakaravarthy, who took a blow on the leg during his spell, said he expects to be fully fit within three days. He explained that spinners struggle on flat wickets early in the season but find rhythm as surfaces wear. Chakaravarthy credited the plan to cramp Travis Head for room and prevent him from extending his arms. He praised the batting unit for a clinical finish and highlighted a surge of positive energy within the squad, believing that consistency could make KKR a serious contender.

Captain's perspective: Rahane and Cummins reflect

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane called it a very good game, praising the team's fightback with the ball. He noted that a total of 190-200 would have been challenging on that surface and credited the spinners for consistently picking wickets. Rahane highlighted the support staff, including Dwayne Bravo and Tim Southee, and said the team had 2-3 practice sessions during the break, focusing on mental freshness. SRH captain Pat Cummins acknowledged that the first 8-10 overs were excellent but lamented the inability to get the act right thereafter. He said the deck was not the best to attack on, but from their position, they should have reached at least 180-190. Cummins admitted that batting cost them the game but added that such defeats happen.

What lies ahead for both teams

Sunrisers Hyderabad will treat this defeat as a minor blip and quickly move on. They remain at home and face the Punjab Kings on Wednesday, 6 May. Despite the loss snapping their five-match winning streak, SRH sit third on the points table with 12 points, and Cummins will look at the middle-order collapse as a wake-up call before the business end of the tournament. Kolkata Knight Riders, brimming with confidence after three consecutive wins, head to the capital to take on the Delhi Capitals on Friday, 8 May. With just five points from eight matches, KKR must treat every upcoming game as a knockout to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Chakaravarthy's spell epitomises KKR's turnaround

Varun Chakaravarthy's three-wicket haul was the catalyst for a victory that seemed improbable when SRH were 105 for one. His ability to extract turn and bounce on a dry surface, combined with Narine's economy, exposed SRH's vulnerability in the middle overs. The win not only snapped SRH's momentum but also demonstrated KKR's resilience after losing their first five matches of the season. Rahane noted that even during the losing streak, the atmosphere in the camp remained calm. With Chakaravarthy finding his rhythm and the batting unit clicking, KKR have the pieces to make a late surge. For SRH, the collapse serves as a stark reminder that no total is safe if wickets fall in clusters.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakaravarthy's 3-36 triggered SRH's collapse from 105/1 to 165 all out.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's unbeaten 59 anchored KKR's chase of 166.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets, becoming one of the tournament's greatest overseas bowlers.
• KKR snapped SRH's five-match winning streak, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
• SRH lost all 10 wickets for the first time in IPL 2026, a wake-up call for the middle order.
• KKR have won three consecutive matches after losing their first five of the season.