Kolkata Knight Riders, the three-time IPL champions, have turned their IPL 2026 campaign around in dramatic fashion. With 25 matches already played, they had looked far from playoff-ready—losing five of their six games, with one washout thrown into the mix. Then came the shift: six victories in seven matches, and suddenly KKR are back in the frame for qualification. For Abhinav Mukund, the transformation is simply “a great story”.
KKR’s turnaround after a shaky start
Speaking after KKR beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by four wickets on Wednesday at Eden Gardens, Mukund pointed to the side’s planning and how well they’ve matched their approach to conditions. He said KKR have “got their tactics right” and have “got their combinations right,” adding that while their batting may not yet be producing at full volume, the areas where the franchise typically holds an advantage—especially spin—have been executed well.
Mukund also highlighted the way the pace unit has found momentum, noting that their fast bowlers have “come together a little bit,” with Cam Green bowling effectively and taking wickets. In his view, a team that is building form at the right time becomes dangerous, and rivals will now be more hesitant about facing Kolkata.
He added that the dynamic has changed for opponents, saying that teams will feel they would rather meet Punjab Kings (PBKS) than KKR—something that would not have sounded true at the start of the tournament.
How the spin attack has driven results
As the league stage has progressed and spinners have increasingly played a larger role in matches, KKR have looked better equipped to exploit that trend. Sunil Narine has been especially impactful, striking at a 6.40 economy rate—the best mark in the tournament so far—while also collecting 14 wickets. Varun Chakravarthy, after a difficult beginning to the campaign, has gathered ten wickets and is maintaining an economy rate of 8.78. Anukul Roy has also contributed in key moments, influencing the outcomes in more than one match.
- Sunil Narine: 14 wickets, economy rate of 6.40 (best in the tournament so far)
- Varun Chakravarthy: 10 wickets, economy rate of 8.78, after a poor start
- Anukul Roy: has influenced a couple of results with his contributions
- Kartik Tyagi: climbed to No. 5 on the Purple Cap table
Wasim Jaffer on the changing chemistry and key adjustments
Wasim Jaffer believes the current balance is closer to what KKR have needed in their better seasons. He said that in recent successful campaigns, Varun and Narine have performed strongly, and that the addition of Anukul in the mix has helped the bowling group find stability—despite the fact that Anukul did not bowl much in the match being discussed.
Jaffer stressed that this is the theme behind their rise: both Varun and Narine were not at their peak form when the competition began, but they are now delivering consistently. He also suggested that the early struggles may have come from trying to nail the correct combinations and roles—such as identifying who opens, where each player fits, and how Cam Green should be integrated into the bowling plans.
He noted that a few selections and availability issues may have disrupted rhythm early on, mentioning that Mustafizur Rahman and Harshit Rana missed out, and that Matheesha Pathirana did not arrive in time. In Jaffer’s assessment, KKR have ultimately found the right set of pieces “in the nick of time,” which has coincided with the turnaround.
One league match to define the fairy tale
With the league stage set to close soon, KKR now have just a single game remaining. They face Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday at Eden Gardens. If they win that match and a couple of other results fall their way, KKR could turn their late surge into a full playoff script—exactly the kind of fairy tale Abhinav Mukund alluded to when he described the season’s momentum as “a great story”.
