Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy once again proved he can swing an IPL match in a hurry as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets in their IPL 2026 meeting on Sunday. Hyderabad posted 165 after being sent in to bat, but the chase belonged to KKR, who reached the target in 18.2 overs to claim their third straight win. Chakaravarthy was the defining figure with the ball, producing a controlled spell of 4 overs for 36 runs and picking up 3 wickets. After the match, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane praised the way Chakaravarthy responded to a tough stretch and delivered at the moment the team needed him most.
Speaking with the broadcast team, Rahane said he was delighted to see the spinner’s turnaround. He noted that Chakaravarthy had struggled before the tournament and during the early part of it, but added that the comeback had been remarkable. Rahane also pointed to the spinner’s mindset and work ethic, calling his attitude and preparation a key part of his success. “Really happy for him (Varun C). He was struggling before the tournament and even going into the tournament – first couple of games. The way he came back was amazing. He was always confident. Works really hard, great attitude. You want players like him to do something for the team in tough situations. He’s been bowling the tough overs. I’m sure he will continue his performance,” Rahane said.
Rahane further reflected on the match situation, explaining that KKR’s bowling helped them claw back control after Hyderabad looked set to build a bigger total. He said the pitch offered a good batting surface and that a score in the 190–200 range would have made the chase extremely demanding. Still, he credited the bowling unit—particularly the spin bowlers—for taking wickets at crucial times. “Very good game. The way we came back with the ball. Looked like they will get 190-200. It was a good wicket to bat on. 190-200 would’ve been challenging to chase. But credit to our bowling unit, especially the spinners. They kept taking wickets. Those small moments are really important, really happy with the win,” he added.
Earlier in the day, KKR restricted SRH to 165 all out in 19 overs, keeping their discipline throughout the innings. Chakaravarthy led the charge with figures of 3/36, and from there KKR maintained enough control to chase without needing a late surge. SRH had begun aggressively, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma quickly putting pressure on the KKR bowling. During the powerplay, the hosts raced to 71/1, with Head driving the momentum—he struck a 22-ball half-century and went on to finish with 61 off 28 deliveries.
However, once Head was dismissed, the innings lost its momentum. KKR’s bowlers tightened the screws and kept taking wickets, with Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi striking twice each. Ishan Kishan attempted to keep SRH’s chase alive, contributing 42 off 29, but regular dismissals followed and Hyderabad were unable to reach a competitive total. In the end, SRH fell short, leaving KKR to complete the chase in 18.2 overs and seal a comfortable 7-wicket victory.
