Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane hailed the form of his bowling group after they kept Sunrisers Hyderabad to a below-par total and then guided KKR to a seven-wicket triumph with 10 balls remaining in an IPL 2026 clash on Sunday.
KKR’s bowling turnaround sets up the chase
Rahane credited a run of steady performances with the ball for turning the contest in KKR’s favour, pointing out that the same discipline helped limit SRH when it looked like they could push for a much bigger score.
- Rahane said the team had “come back with the ball” strongly and that it appeared SRH might reach something in the 190–200 range, which would have made the chase difficult.
- He stressed that the spinners were especially effective, noting that they kept taking wickets at crucial moments.
- He added that the bowling unit has been performing well across the previous five to six games and described the win as important heading into the break.
On the night, Varun Chakravarthy produced a decisive spell of 3/36, while Sunil Narine—playing his milestone innings—finished with figures of 2/31. Their bowling work ensured SRH were bowled out for 165 in 19 overs, allowing KKR to chase the target comfortably.
Post-match quotes and the role of coaching
During the presentation, Rahane also highlighted how small turning points can decide T20 matches, and he made special mention of the bowling staff behind the scenes.
- He said “small moments” in T20 cricket are extremely important and expressed happiness with the result.
- Rahane credited KKR’s bowling coaches, naming Dwayne Bravo and Tim Southee, for helping the unit stay clear in their plans.
- He explained that there will be spells where batters score, but the key is maintaining mental clarity and executing the approach.
KKR’s preparation and Chakravarthy’s continued wicket run
After their April 26 victory over Lucknow Super Giants, the KKR squad took a short break to refresh and regroup ahead of the SRH game. Rahane said the time helped the players return mentally fresh.
- Rahane noted that the team had two or three practice sessions focused on staying sharp mentally.
- He said support staff did a good job in keeping things steady, and despite an earlier start where KKR lost their first five matches, the atmosphere remained calm.
For Chakravarthy, it was yet another highlight: it marked his fourth consecutive match in which he picked up at least two wickets. His impact earned him the Player of the Match award.
- Rahane said he was “really happy” for Chakravarthy and that the bowler was always confident.
- He praised Chakravarthy’s hard work, attitude, and ability to bowl during demanding overs.
Chase details, Cummins’ comments, and Raghuvanshi’s dismissal
In the run chase, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rahane combined to build momentum, registering a 84-run stand for the second wicket across 11 overs. Rahane made 43 off 36 deliveries as KKR ultimately chased down the target with 10 balls to spare to record their third straight win.
Meanwhile, SRH captain Pat Cummins felt his side failed to adapt after a strong start and ended up with a total that fell short of what they had been aiming for.
- Cummins said it was “not our best day,” adding that SRH were sharp early but then slipped in execution.
- He suggested they may have targeted 200 before settling for 180, but the outcome was different.
- He pointed out that the opening eight to ten overs were excellent, yet KKR used match-ups well, and the second half of the innings didn’t go as planned.
- Cummins added that the scoring rate dried up and slowed down, and SRH probably should have aimed at around 180.
- He said margins were tight, with SRH showing fight until the end, but that his over costing 27 likely swung the game—though they did have moments that went unrewarded by fine margins.
“Just living my dream”: Raghuvanshi reflects on his wicket
Raghuvanshi’s innings ended in the 17th over, with KKR still on the brink of victory. Despite the dismissal, he said he was simply happy that his side won and described returning to the dugout as seeing his coach react to how he got out.
- He said communication was excellent when he batted with Ajinkya, which helped calm him down.
- Raghuvanshi said he used to dream of playing in this setup and described the experience as “just me living my dream,” adding that there are many stars to learn from and that he wouldn’t change anything.
On how he was dismissed, Raghuvanshi explained that he tried to play an aerial drive over extra cover but ended up caught by Eshan Malinga off Shivang Kumar’s bowling. He said he wanted to hit it straight back over the bowler’s head, admitted disappointment, and suggested an inside-out option might have been better. He also referenced that he had been batting well in the nets and noted that the manner of his dismissal in the previous match had not helped build momentum.
