Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 3, 2026. This victory not only avenged their earlier defeat but also marked KKR’s third consecutive win, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
In a match played under hot and dry conditions, with temperatures soaring between 35°C and 40°C, KKR chased down a target of 166 runs, scoring 169 runs for the loss of just three wickets in 18.2 overs.
Travis Head shone for SRH, scoring an impressive 61 runs, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win. SRH struggled significantly during their innings, losing eight wickets for just 48 runs at one point, ultimately being bowled out for 165 runs in 19 overs.
Key match statistics:
- KKR’s Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 wickets for 36 runs.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi contributed significantly with 59 runs for KKR.
- The match marked KKR’s rise to eighth place in the standings with seven points after this win.
Pat Cummins, captain of SRH, elected to bat first after winning the toss. However, it was KKR’s spinners, led by Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, who turned the tide decisively against SRH.
This victory is crucial for KKR as they seek to recover from an earlier loss to SRH at Eden Gardens. The team is now looking forward to maintaining this momentum as they aim for a spot in the playoffs of IPL 2026.
