Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh combine to help KKR snap second-longest losing streak in IPL

Match Overview

After an exasperating wait that lasted seven matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first win of the IPL 2026 season as they beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four wickets and two balls to spare at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 19. The win has helped KKR end their second-longest losing streak of seven matches in IPL history.

Rinku Singh aced a tough chase of 156 as he remained unbeaten on 53 off 34 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 155.88. He added 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Anukul Roy to save KKR from yet another embarrassing defeat.

Anukul also displayed composure and finished unbeaten on 29 off 16, laced with a boundary and two sixes. His strike rate of 181.25 kept the pressure off the KKR vice-captain.

However, the chase began on a horrid note for the hosts as they lost both their openers (Ajinkya Rahane and Tim Seifert) for ducks. Their top scorer of the last game, Cameron Green, got off to another start (27 off 13) before a wonderful stumping from Dhruv Jurel put an end to his stay in the middle.

KKR were staring down the barrel at 85/6 in 13.3 overs after losing Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell and Ramandeep Singh but a timely hand by Rinku and Anukul pulled them out of their misery.

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The game didn't quite start on a positive note for KKR, though, as the opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal were quick to get off the blocks. Both Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal batted in their trademark style and added 81 runs in just 8.4 overs. Skipper Rahane seemed clueless and had no answers to the onslaught until Varun Chakravarthy stepped up and ended Sooryavanshi's stay.

Jaiwal fell to Sunil Narine not long after, and KKR grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. Player of the Match (POTM) Chakravarthy looked the Chakravarthy of old as he finished with figures of 3/14 in his four overs and dismissed Riyan Parag and Jurel too.

He was equally well complemented by Kartik Tyagi, who kept the speed gun on fire and accounted for Ravindra Jadeja, Shimron Hetmyer and Ravi Bishnoi as Rajasthan couldn't capitalise on their blistering start and managed only 155.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the Match

Varun Chakravarthy

After going wicketless in the first three games this season, Varun found his rhythm in the last fixture against Gujarat Titans (GT) and just picked it up from where he had left. Varun got the big wicket of Vaibhav as the southpaw tried to deposit him into the stands, and it turned the game on its head.

Turning Point

Varun's spell of 3/14 was the turning point as Rajasthan couldn't really recover from the dent. Varun put a stranglehold over Rajasthan, and the visitors just kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

What the captains said

Winning Team Captain, Ajinkya Rahane (KKR)

"Really happy to be here. Feels really good. There were a lot of emotions during the game. I'm really happy for Rinku, Anukul and Varun. The way Varun bowled... Anukul had a fantastic domestic competition. Most of the practice sessions, we have had conversations. It's about reading the situation well. Cricket is a simple game. This victory will give us confidence. The bowlers are coming nicely together. Batting wise, we can still improve. Kartik Tyagi has been really good. Since the practice games we played, he has been really clear about what he wants to do in the middle. He's still young, but the confidence he has is amazing. Really happy to see him gaining that confidence as a fast bowler. There's lots to learn. Batting wise, we've had a bad powerplay for the last three games. Sometimes I feel strike rate is over rated. A wicket like this... we saw what happened today. This was a great escape for us. As a batting unit, we need to learn very quickly. We'll get those five or six extra days now... The atmosphere we have is very amazing. The fans have been fantastic throughout. Last five games were really bad for us. This victory belongs to them. They have been amazing and very positive. You get those positive vibes."

Losing Team Captain, Riyan Parag (RR)

"We assessed it was a 170 wicket. So we were dead under par. It was our game. No excuses there. We can't be dropping catches. We can't be bowling lines that favour the batsmen. There was a lot of spin on the wicket. The way Jaddu, Bishi and Punja bowled, I thought the way forward was spin [and hence he bowled an over]. Brijesh was almost there to bowl the 14th and the 16th [overs] as well. But they lost wickets and there were left-handers. So I bowled... Once Bishnoi's over was done, I felt spinners might go [for runs] here given the left-handers. I feel the game plan was there. It was a 170 wicket... we tried giving ourselves time, but it didn't come off. I felt Punja bowled really well. There were a few nerves in his first over."