Kolkata Knight Riders’ playoff equation for IPL 2026 took a notable turn after their 29-run win over Gujarat Titans on Saturday. Before the match, KKR’s chances were listed at 3.6%, but that figure has now climbed to 7.1%. At the same time, Gujarat’s probability of qualification slipped from 98% to 96.1%.
Quick facts: playoff probabilities shift
- KKR’s playoff chance increased from 3.6% to 7.1% after the 29-run victory.
- Gujarat Titans’ qualification probability fell from 98% to 96.1%.
- RCB have the top advancement chance at 96.5%.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad sit third with a 70.8% chance.
- Rajasthan Royals (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) are at 51.2%, down from 51.6% before the KKR vs GT game.
- Chennai Super Kings’ qualification chance dropped from 28.4% to 28%.
Finn Allen’s 93 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 82 proved decisive as KKR punished Gujarat for sloppy fielding and claimed a 29-run win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Allen struck quickly with a 35-ball innings, giving KKR momentum before Raghuvanshi continued the acceleration. Raghuvanshi finished unbeaten on 82 off 44 deliveries, while Cameron Green closed things out with a strong 52* from 28 balls.
In total, KKR amassed 108 runs in just 53 balls, posting a season-best 247 for two. Their late surge set a challenging target and left Gujarat chasing with little room for error.
Gujarat’s response was led by skipper Shubman Gill, who made 85 off 49 balls, and Jos Buttler, who scored 57 off 35. Sai Sudharsan added 53 not out from 28 balls, but the effort still fell short as Gujarat finished on 218 for four.
The win moved KKR to 11 points from 12 matches, lifting them to seventh in the standings. Their path now demands pressure—KKR must win both of their remaining matches to stay in the hunt for a knockout berth. Gujarat, meanwhile, held onto second place with 16 points, with one match left.
Gill’s chase run and Gujarat’s setbacks
During Gujarat’s chase, they stayed positive despite an early blow. In-form opener Sai Sudharsan retired hurt after being struck on the elbow by pacer Kartik Tyagi on 23, though he later returned to the crease.
At the other end, Gill delivered a batting masterclass to keep Gujarat within reach. He struck five fours and seven sixes, while Buttler matched his intensity through a major second-wicket stand worth 128 runs. That partnership came off just 73 balls and kept the chase alive deep into the innings.
After surviving a tight start with four dot balls against Narine, Gill shifted gears with a slog-sweep over cow corner. He then stepped down the track to clear long-on again, and he also punished Varun Chakravarthy—hitting two sixes and two fours in a single over.
KKR’s chase resistance held for stretches, even with the contest influenced by a late injury. Matheesha Pathirana, brought in as the Impact Sub for Finn Allen, suffered a hamstring injury during his second over and had to depart.
Gill’s innings finally ended when Narine deceived him into a false shot. Anukul Roy took a well-judged catch at fine leg, and Narine returned to mark the moment with 2/29 in his landmark 200th appearance for KKR.
After Gill’s dismissal, Sudharsan briefly revived the chase by smashing 21 runs off Tyagi, while Buttler reached his fifty with a four and a six off the same pacer. However, Buttler’s dismissal in the 19th over effectively ended Gujarat’s hopes as KKR closed out a crucial victory in front of their home crowd.
KKR’s 247/2: Allen sets the tone
Kolkata were asked to bat first by Gill on a sticky pitch that had been kept under covers after rain. Gujarat’s bowling struggled to find control, with poor catching adding to their problems as KKR unleashed a relentless batting display.
Allen (93 off 35 balls) set the tempo immediately, with KKR racing to 100 in nine overs. They then accelerated further—reaching 200 in eight more overs as the Green-Raghuvanshi combination delivered the crucial late momentum.
Allen survived a difficult chance on 14 when Jason Holder reached in with fingertips at cover off Mohammed Siraj. From there, the Kiwi opener took charge of the scoring again, launching back-to-back sixes—one over mid-off and another whipped over midwicket off a 149kph delivery—to move to 28 off just 11 balls.
While Allen dominated from one end, Ajinkya Rahane never quite settled, scratching out 14 off 14 before Siraj cleaned him up. After Rahane’s departure, there was a brief dip in the scoring rate inside the powerplay before Allen found another gear.
Holder brought another chance when he induced a mishit, but Siraj spilled a straightforward catch at long-on. Rashid was then hit hard as Allen struck two sixes and a four, racing to a 21-ball half-century.
Raghuvanshi played the perfect support role as Allen stormed towards his milestone, before taking over the reins in the death overs to help KKR reach their season-best total of 247 for two.
