New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders have finally ended their long wait for victory in IPL 2026. Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a tense final at Eden Gardens on Sunday. The vice-captain scored an unbeaten 53 runs Ranko Singh guided KKR over the line with two balls to spare, as they finally snapped a six-match winless streak after 22 frustrating days. The win also moved them off the bottom of the table and offered much-needed relief to a side that had repeatedly struggled with winning positions earlier in the season.As It Happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026
Chakraborty – Narayan broke RR’s early dominance.
RR chose to bat first, starting in commanding fashion. Yeshsavi Jaiswal (39) and young sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi (46) tore through the KKR attack, reaching 81 for no loss in just 8.3 overs. The pair looked poised for a big total, scoring freely against the seamers and immediately putting KKR under pressure. However, the introduction of spin changed the complexion of the innings.Varun Chakraborty (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) combined in devastating fashion, consistently exerting control and reducing the scoring rate. Chakraborty attacked at key moments, including sacking Suryavanshi, while Narine built pressure at the other end with tight lines and variations. From a dominant 81/0, RR suddenly found themselves slipping to 117/4, with the momentum quickly shifting towards KKR.The collapse deepened as Karthik Tyagi played a disciplined act at the death, taking 3/22 and ensuring that RR never recovered. Despite short partnerships from Shimron Hetmyer and Ryan Parag, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to below 155/9, which did not reflect their strong start but once again highlighted the weakness of their middle order.
KKR’s demise, and Rinko’s redemption
Chasing 156, KKR suffered an immediate setback as both openers were dismissed for no runs, including a first-ball strike. Jofra Archer. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also fell cheaply, putting the home side under severe pressure early in the innings.Cameron Green briefly struck back with a 13-ball 27, which included four fours and a six, but his dismissal by Dhruv Jorrell’s sharp stumping off Ravi Bishnoi swung the momentum back to RR. Soon after, KKR were in deep trouble at 70/5 as the RR bowlers tightened the screws.It was then that RR looked firmly in control, but the match turned with a crucial chance dropped to Rinku Singh. From there, the vice-captain played with unusual composure under pressure, refusing to take unnecessary risks while gradually rebuilding the chase. Along with him, Anukul Roy played an important supporting role, punishing the spinning strike and loose delivery.The duo combined for a match-winning 76 off just 37 balls, shifting the pressure squarely back to RR. Rinko’s unbeaten 53 off 34 balls was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as he found boundaries at crucial moments while keeping the chase on track. Roy’s unbeaten 29 off 16 provided excellent finishing support, including timely boundaries that ensured the asking rate was never out of reach.
KKR finally broke the jinx.
In the end, KKR crossed the line with two balls to spare, completing a much-needed turnaround after repeated setbacks in a tight final earlier in the season. The victory marked their first win in seven matches and gave a sense of stability to a campaign that was in danger of being derailed early on.For Rajasthan Royals, it was another game where a strong start with the bat was undone by a dramatic collapse and failure to finish the chase despite early dominance. His spin struggles in the middle overs and lack of penetration with the ball in the death overs eventually cost him the match.
