Rinku Singh leads KKR’s run against RR at Eden. (Photo credit: IPL) NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders finally ended their long wait to win IPL 2026 by beating Rajasthan Royals by four wickets at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. A composed unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku 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 lifted them off the bottom of the table and offered much-needed relief to a side that had repeatedly faltered from winning positions earlier in the season.How It Happened: KKR vs RR, IPL 2026
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Chakravarthy-Narine break RR’s early dominance
Opting to bat first, RR got off to a commanding start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) burst into the KKR attack and raced to 81 for no loss in just 8.3 overs. The pair looked set for a big total, scoring freely against the seamers and putting KKR under immediate pressure. However, the introduction of spin has completely changed the face of the innings.Varun Chakravarthy (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) combined in devastating fashion, applying relentless control and stifling the scoring rate. Chakravarthy struck at key moments, including dismissing Sooryavanshi, while Narine created pressure from the other end with tight lines and variations. From a commanding 81/0, RR suddenly found themselves slumping to 117/4 with the momentum shifting sharply towards KKR.The collapse deepened further as Kartik Tyagi produced a disciplined spell at the death, taking 3/22 and ensuring RR never recovered. Despite brief contributions from Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals were restricted to a sub-par 155/9, not reflecting their strong start but re-emphasizing their middle-order fragility.
The collapse of KKR and the redemption of Rink
Chasing 156, KKR suffered instant defeat as both openers were dismissed without scoring, including a first-ball strike from Jofra Archer. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also fell cheaply, leaving the home team under immense pressure at the start of the innings.Cameron Green briefly revived hopes with a counter-attack of 27 off 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six, but his dismissal by a sharp stumble by Dhruv Jurel against Ravi Bishnoi backfired for RR. Soon after, KKR were in deep trouble at 70/5 as the RR bowlers tightened the screws.It was at this point that RR seemed to have their will but the match produced a crucial missed chance for Rinka Singh. From there, the vice-captain played with remarkable composure under pressure, refusing to take any unnecessary risks as the chase gradually resumed. Alongside him, Anukul Roy played a vital supporting role, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries.The duo put together a match winning 76 runs off just 37 balls, shifting the pressure completely back to RR. Rinku’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 perfect finishing support, including timely boundaries that ensured the required rate never slipped out of reach.
KKR finally break the jinx
Finally, KKR crossed the line with two balls to spare, completing a much-needed turnaround after repeated failures in the tight end earlier in the season. The win marked their first win in seven games and offered a sense of stability to a campaign that threatened to derail prematurely.It was another game for Rajasthan Royals where a strong start with the bat was marred by a dramatic collapse and an inability to end the chase despite early dominance. Their struggle with spin in the middle overs and lack of penetration with the ball in the death overs ultimately cost them the match.
