161/6 (19.4)
CR : 8.19
155/9 (20.0)
CR : 7.75
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Varun Chakaravarthy
3/14
Most Sixes in the Match: Rinku Singh (2 Maximums)
Most Fours in the Match: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (6 Fours)
Most Dot Balls in the Match: Varun Chakaravarthy (13 dots)
Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders Captain): "[Feelings on first win of the season] First of all, really happy to be here. I got five extra minutes after the game. There were a lot of emotions going on during the game. Personally, I am really happy for Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy and Varun Chakaravarthy. The way he bowled in the middle, he was going through a tough phase but he has bowled well in the last three games. Rinku, again, going through tough phase mentally. Really happy to see him finish the game. Anukul Roy, he had a fantastic domestic season. Today, he could not bowl because of the left-handers. But really happy to see how they batted for us.
[On chat with Rinku and Varun] I like to have one-on-one conversations. All the coaches have been having a conversation with the players. It is about reading the situations well. I think cricket is a simple game if you keep it simple. Last three games, bowlers are coming to their own, bowling in groups. Batting wise, yes, we need some improvements. Again, as I said, lots of positives to take from this game.
[On Kartik Tyagi] He has been really good. From the practice games, he has been really clear about his ability. What he wants to do in the middle, when you have a guy like that, who's really clear. Coming and playing after a long time. The confidence he has to what he wants to bowl in different situations is good to see. The pace at which he's been bowling is fantastic.
[On batting] There's lots to learn from every game. Batting powerplay has not been good for us in the last three games. Sometimes I feel strike-rate is overrated. On this kind of wicket, you have to focus on singles and doubles, it is not about hitting big sixes. Last couple of games, we made those errors. It was a great escape for us. Thankfully, we will get those 5 days now. We need to reflect and learn from our mistakes. As a team we have to come together probably, be honest with each other and have clear communication. The atmosphere in the dressing room in excellent.
[On fans support] They have been fantastic. The last five games have been bad for us, this win belongs to them. Once you enter the stadium, the positive energy you feel because of the cheers is amazing."
[On chat with Rinku and Varun] I like to have one-on-one conversations. All the coaches have been having a conversation with the players. It is about reading the situations well. I think cricket is a simple game if you keep it simple. Last three games, bowlers are coming to their own, bowling in groups. Batting wise, yes, we need some improvements. Again, as I said, lots of positives to take from this game.
[On Kartik Tyagi] He has been really good. From the practice games, he has been really clear about his ability. What he wants to do in the middle, when you have a guy like that, who's really clear. Coming and playing after a long time. The confidence he has to what he wants to bowl in different situations is good to see. The pace at which he's been bowling is fantastic.
[On batting] There's lots to learn from every game. Batting powerplay has not been good for us in the last three games. Sometimes I feel strike-rate is overrated. On this kind of wicket, you have to focus on singles and doubles, it is not about hitting big sixes. Last couple of games, we made those errors. It was a great escape for us. Thankfully, we will get those 5 days now. We need to reflect and learn from our mistakes. As a team we have to come together probably, be honest with each other and have clear communication. The atmosphere in the dressing room in excellent.
[On fans support] They have been fantastic. The last five games have been bad for us, this win belongs to them. Once you enter the stadium, the positive energy you feel because of the cheers is amazing."
Player of the Match: Varun Chakaravarthy
Varun Chakaravarthy (POTM): [On how pleased he's with his performance] Before I talk about myself, let me take a moment and give credit to the entire coaching staff. Tough few weeks for us, lots of outside noise coming in. The head coach and the other coaches didn't let the outside noise affect us. We were in our own process. So I think we all deserve this win, even though it's just one win, it feels very sweet.
[On his injuries and lack of rhythm earlier] Initially, I was injured. I still have two fractures in my left hand. It is a little tough but I am trying to manage it.
[Conditions] I would say, it was a little slow. Suited us well. We could have batted better but all well.
[On what KKR aim this season] Yeah, we don't know where we'll end up, but we are just making a statement that we are not pushovers. We are just not coming here to participate. We are here to win every match. We are here to make a strong contention for the trophy. We still have hopes and I think we are gonna do well from this."
[On his injuries and lack of rhythm earlier] Initially, I was injured. I still have two fractures in my left hand. It is a little tough but I am trying to manage it.
[Conditions] I would say, it was a little slow. Suited us well. We could have batted better but all well.
[On what KKR aim this season] Yeah, we don't know where we'll end up, but we are just making a statement that we are not pushovers. We are just not coming here to participate. We are here to win every match. We are here to make a strong contention for the trophy. We still have hopes and I think we are gonna do well from this."
Highest 7th Wicket Partnerships for KKR in IPL:
81 – Andre Russell & Rinku Singh vs SRH, Kolkata, 2024
78 – Eoin Morgan & Rahul Tripathi vs DC, Sharjah, 2020
76* – Anukul Roy & Rinku Singh vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
63 – Rovman Powell & Ramandeep Singh vs CSK, Chennai, 2026
62 – Nitish Rana & Rinku Singh vs DC, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2022
81 – Andre Russell & Rinku Singh vs SRH, Kolkata, 2024
78 – Eoin Morgan & Rahul Tripathi vs DC, Sharjah, 2020
76* – Anukul Roy & Rinku Singh vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
63 – Rovman Powell & Ramandeep Singh vs CSK, Chennai, 2026
62 – Nitish Rana & Rinku Singh vs DC, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2022
Highest Individual Scores for KKR in Successful Run-Chase in IPL (Number 6 or Lower):
70*– Andre Russell vs PBKS, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2022
66 – Andre Russell vs PBKS, Pune, 2015
56* – Pat Cummins vs MI, Pune, 2022
53* – Rinku Singh vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
70*– Andre Russell vs PBKS, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2022
66 – Andre Russell vs PBKS, Pune, 2015
56* – Pat Cummins vs MI, Pune, 2022
53* – Rinku Singh vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
Highest Partnerships for 7th or Lower Wickets in Successful Run-Chases in IPL:
91* – AB de Villiers & Iqbal Abdulla (RCB) vs GL, Bengaluru, 2016
76* – Rinku Singh & Anukul Roy (KKR) vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
75* – Axar Patel & Lalit Yadav (DC) vs MI, Mumbai (Brabourne), 2022
91* – AB de Villiers & Iqbal Abdulla (RCB) vs GL, Bengaluru, 2016
76* – Rinku Singh & Anukul Roy (KKR) vs RR, Kolkata, 2026, Today*
75* – Axar Patel & Lalit Yadav (DC) vs MI, Mumbai (Brabourne), 2022
Eden Gardens served a low-scoring thriller to start the Super Sunday. KKR, finally, manage to get off the mark this year. Bowlers set it up with a commanding show and then a Rinku Singh special took them over the line. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have lost two on the bounce and now have some questions to answer.
The action doesn't stop. In the second game of this double-header, Punjab Kings will host Lucknow Super Giants. Switch tabs to follow that and other cricketing action from all around the globe.
For now, this is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues AkshayaKrishna Polya, Ninaad Dixit, Paras Yadav, Manish Bishnoi and Aman. Good bye!!!
The action doesn't stop. In the second game of this double-header, Punjab Kings will host Lucknow Super Giants. Switch tabs to follow that and other cricketing action from all around the globe.
For now, this is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues AkshayaKrishna Polya, Ninaad Dixit, Paras Yadav, Manish Bishnoi and Aman. Good bye!!!