Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 triggers SRH collapse as KKR keep playoff hopes alive with 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 being 105 for 1 in the 9th over.
• Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36; Sunil Narine claimed 2 for 31 and reached 200 IPL wickets.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored 59 off 47 balls; Ajinkya Rahane made 43 off 36.
• Travis Head top-scored for SRH with 61 off 28 balls; Ishan Kishan added 42 off 29.
• KKR chased down 169 for 3 in 18.2 overs, snapping SRH's five-match winning streak.
• SRH remain 3rd on points table with 12 points; KKR move to 8th place with 7 points.

A dramatic reversal in Uppal

The Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a stunning seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon, reviving their playoff hopes in the process. Chasing a modest 166, KKR reached 169 for 3 with 1.4 overs to spare, but the match was defined by a catastrophic middle-order collapse from the hosts. SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The decision appeared vindicated as Travis Head and Ishan Kishan launched a blistering assault, taking the score to 105 for 1 by the ninth over. Head smashed 61 off just 28 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, while Kishan contributed 42 off 29 deliveries. At that stage, a total beyond 200 seemed inevitable.

Spin twins trigger SRH's implosion

The match turned decisively when KKR's spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine entered the attack. Chakaravarthy, bowling on a tacky afternoon surface, exploited the conditions to claim 3 for 36, breaking the backbone of SRH's batting order. Narine applied relentless pressure from the other end, finishing with 2 for 31. Rovman Powell's breathtaking one-handed catch in the outfield epitomised KKR's sharpened fielding intensity. Once Head and Kishan departed, SRH lost nine wickets for just 60 runs, a collapse that saw them bowled out for 165 in exactly 19 overs. Kartik Tyagi cleaned up the tail with 2 for 30. It was the first time in IPL 2026 that SRH lost all ten wickets in an innings, and the first time KKR bowled out an opposition this season.

Raghuvanshi anchors the chase

KKR's reply began aggressively through opener Finn Allen, who smashed 29 off 13 balls in the Powerplay before falling. Captain Ajinkya Rahane then combined with young Angkrish Raghuvanshi in a composed partnership that steadied the innings. Rahane scored a measured 43 off 36 deliveries before being dismissed by debutant Sakib Hussain (1 for 17). Raghuvanshi, however, anchored the chase with a flawless 59 off 47 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. His innings ensured the required run rate never escalated. After Raghuvanshi fell to Shivang Kumar (1 for 31), Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, including two fours and a six, alongside Cameron Green (3 not out).

Narine reaches 200 IPL wickets

During his spell, Sunil Narine reached the monumental milestone of 200 TATA IPL wickets, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest overseas bowlers in the tournament's history. The veteran spinner's two wickets in this match were crucial in applying the squeeze that led to SRH's collapse. Varun Chakaravarthy was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 3 for 36, which initiated the middle-order collapse and completely derailed SRH's momentum. The victory gave KKR a massive lifeline after they entered the match in eighth place with just five points from eight games.

Playoff implications and what lies ahead

For KKR, this was a must-win game. Sitting eighth on the points table with five points before the match, the victory lifts them to seven points and keeps their playoff hopes alive. They will need to treat every remaining game as a knockout if they are to qualify. Despite the defeat snapping their five-match winning streak, SRH remain in a strong position, sitting third with 12 points. Captain Pat Cummins and his side will view the middle-order collapse as a wake-up call ahead of the business end of the tournament. The match was played on May 3, 2026, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, with umpires Abhijeet Bengeri and Jayaraman Madanagopal officiating.

The bottom line

• Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 triggered SRH's collapse from 105/1 to 165 all out, the first time SRH lost all 10 wickets in IPL 2026.
• Angkrish Raghuvanshi's unbeaten 59 off 47 anchored KKR's chase of 166, earning him the anchor role in a must-win game.
• Sunil Narine reached 200 IPL wickets during his spell of 2 for 31, becoming one of the tournament's most accomplished overseas bowlers.
• KKR snapped SRH's five-match winning streak, keeping their own playoff hopes alive with 7 points from 9 games.
• SRH remain third on the points table with 12 points but must address their middle-order fragility ahead of the knockout phase.
• The match was the first time in IPL 2026 that KKR bowled out an opposition, highlighting a defensive turnaround.