In T20 cricket, games often focus not on the big shots but on the small moments, and Kolkata Knight Riders were left to rue a few of those when a promising chase fizzled out against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens, with youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi caught in the middle of it all.
Chasing 226, KKR knew they needed a steady start and a clear head in the middle overs. Instead, they found themselves early in the game. Ajinkya Rahane’s slow start at the top didn’t help, his eight off 10 balls putting pressure on the rest and when the partnership failed to build, IPL-2026-sunrisers-hyderabad-beat-kolkata-knight-riders-eden-kolkata-2890908-2026-04-02″ target=”_blank”>02″ target=”_blank”>the innings never really settled down.
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KKR vs SRH, IPL 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
Rushing to a blistering 28 off seven balls and picking up where he left off not too long ago, Finn Allen shone early. But once he chipped one back to Harsh Dubey, the early momentum was gone and KKR were left scrambling to pull things together.
This responsibility fell on Raghuvanshi. The 21-year-old looked confident, finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking. His 52 off 29 balls, with six fours and two sixes, gave KKR something to work for at a time when the chase could have run away.
But even though he was batting well, the first signs of trouble were already creeping in. IPL 2026: 2 major mishaps effectively turned KKR’s positive start into trouble vs SRH. (Photo: PTI)
TWO HARA-KIRI MOMENTS
A moment of confusion almost cost KKR another wicket when Malinga ran out. Cameron Green drove the ball back towards the non-striker’s end and struck out as Raghuvanshi, caught in the line, tried to get out of the way as the ball bounced away from him. There was also a brief collision with Eshan Malinga moving towards the ball. When Raghuvanshi looked up, Green was almost beside him, forcing a hasty challenge to escape. Malinga collected and threw to the keeper, but a bit of wayward effort and Raghuvanshi’s desperate dive almost saved it.
However, KKR were not so lucky on the next ball.
Raghuvanshi drives it back to the bowler once more and departs. This time Malinga got to the ball with his boot, stopping it just short of the stumps. Both batsmen froze for a split second before deciding to run, but the hesitation proved costly. Malinga recovered quickly, picked up the ball and broke the stumps. At first it looked like Raghuvanshi, running towards the non-striker’s end, was out and even started to come back. But the TV umpire confirmed that the bats had not crossed at the moment the wicket was broken, meaning it was Green who had to walk out.
Then came the moment that hurt KKR the most.
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The ball pushed back led to confusion again. Rinku Singh started out, then stopped when he saw the fielder fast approaching. Raghuvanshi had already committed and was well past the halfway mark. When he tried to turn around, it was too late. Malinga was sharp, the throw accurate and Raghuvanshi ran out 52.
He paused briefly before walking back, as if going over the conversation in his head. Rinku Singh’s reaction captured the moment. There was frustration and a brief exchange that reflected the significance of what had just unfolded. In a pursuit of this magnitude, partnerships rely on trust as much as stroke play, and that understanding has broken down at a critical point.
The watching experts were clear in their assessment. Piyush Chawla said: “I think it was a bad run. If you see, Cameron Green was involved in that mess when he lost the wicket. The ball was there but he ran. Then when he ran out himself, it was a hard-hit shot that went quickly straight to the fielder. He kept going for a run and if Rinku had committed, and if Rinku had committed, he would have done it back, so he wouldn’t have had a chance to return. huge difference, two big names are running out.’
Sunil Gavaskar added: “And in both cases I think you have to say it was Raghuvanshi. In both cases you would say that because the first time it was him who initiated the run, which is why Cameron Green responded from the non-striker’s end. And the second time, as you said, there was no run in him at all.” Cameroon Green’s disastrous start to IPL 2026 continued, but this time it may not be their fault alone. (Photo: IPL)
From 120 for 4 in 11 overs, KKR lost their way. Rinku fell soon after and the rest hurriedly followed him. Sunil Narine struck with a couple of late hits but the game was already out of their reach.
KKR were eventually bowled out for 161, well short of the target, and slipped to their second straight defeat after faltering in a chase of 227 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at home.
For Raghuvanshi, it was one of those nights that will stay with him. He played well, showed intent and looked in control for most of his innings, but two immature calls between the wickets changed everything. For KKR, it was a reminder that in a chase like this, it’s not always about the big shots you miss, but the little moments you screw up.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
03 Apr 2026 07:26 IST
