Kolkata Knight Riders Defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in the 45th match of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Despite a fast start from Travis Head, Sunrisers, who came to bat first, collapsed for 165 runs. The Knight Riders spinners cast a net around the home team and took five wickets for ten wickets. Varun Chakraborty took 3 wickets for 36 runs, while Sunil Narine took 2 wickets for 31 runs.
Knight Riders got off to a great start chasing the target and Finn Allen gave them a great platform with a brilliant inning of 29 runs in 13 balls, after which Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi made a partnership of 84 runs in 66 balls. Raghuvanshi completed his half-century by scoring 59 runs in 47 balls before finally falling. Rinku Singh gave the Knight Riders their third win by playing an inning of 22 runs in 11 balls.
Here are the highlights of Match 45:
1) Head continued his form
After a brilliant inning of 76 runs in 30 balls against Mumbai Indians, Travis Head was once again on the mark with 61 runs in 28 balls as Sunrisers dominated the batting. The Australian opener hit nine fours and three sixes, forming important partnerships with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, as Sunrisers got off to a great start before the final collapse.
2) Chakraborty is back to his best form
After Sunrisers got a blazing start, Knight Riders' spinners tightened the noose on the dusty and dry Hyderabad wicket. Chakrabortywho finished with figures of 3/36 from his four overs, was the chief architect of their downfall. Head dismissed him early, but the spinner responded by dismissing him. He took the wickets of debutant R Smaran and Aniket Verma.
3) Brilliant catch by Powell to dismiss Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen has been one of the key batsmen for Sunrisers throughout the season, and had a match-winning 65 off 30 balls against Mumbai Indians. The Knight Riders needed something special to send the South Africans back early, and it came in the form of a brilliant one-handed blinder from Rovman Powell.
Klaasen bowled a short ball from Cameron Green towards square leg, but was unable to gain enough height on it. Rovman Powell completed the catch with one hand while running through mid-wicket.
4)Sunil Narine's 200th IPL wicket
Sunil Narine is a true legend of IPL. The West Indian mystery spinner has been one of the Knight Riders' most reliable customers and became the first overseas bowler to take 200 wickets in the IPL in Hyderabad. Narine's trademark beauty caused Salil Arora to lose his off-stump, putting Sunrisers' batting in jeopardy. Narine became the third player to take 200 wickets in IPL.
5) Finn Allen's explosive cameo
Returning to the team for this game, Finn Allen made a brilliant start for the Knight Riders as the New Zealand opener scored 29 runs from 13 balls to give the three-time champions a great start in their chase of 166. His innings included three fours and two sixes as he dismissed Pat Cummins early in the innings. His innings set the stage for the Knight Riders early in the innings, ensuring that the duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi could carry the innings at their own pace.
6) Raghuvanshi's brilliant half-century
Angkrish Raghuvanshi came up with the platform set by Finn Allen and ensured that he took his team forward. The batsman, who has been one of the better players of Knight Riders this season, scored a brilliant 59 runs in 47 balls and snatched the match from Sunrisers. His innings included five fours and two sixes and he shared an 84-run partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane that set the Knight Riders up for victory.
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