Kolkata Knight Riders posted a commanding 247/2 and held Gujarat Titans to 218/4, sealing a 29-run victory at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, 16 May to snap GT's five-match unbeaten streak in IPL 2026. The win lifts KKR to sixth place in the standings, just two points behind fourth-placed Punjab Kings, keeping their playoff push firmly alive.

Allen's Blinder Sets the Platform

Finn Allen was the architect of KKR's massive total, blasting 93 off just 35 balls at a strike rate of 265.71, including four boundaries and ten sixes. The New Zealander was dropped on 14 and again on 33, but GT paid a heavy price for both reprieves. Allen launched into Kagiso Rabada with successive towering sixes, punished Rashid Khan with back-to-back maximums, and brought up his half-century off just 21 balls. He was eventually dismissed off Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, caught by Rashid at long-on, but not before leaving KKR in an imposing position.

Raghuvanshi and Green Complete the Carnage

After Allen's departure ended a 95-run second-wicket stand, Angkrish Raghuvanshi took centre stage, compiling a career-best 82 not out off 44 balls — his highest IPL score — studded with four boundaries and seven sixes. Cameron Green joined him in an unbroken 108-run third-wicket partnership, finishing on 52 not out off 28 balls with three fours and four sixes. GT's sloppy catching and ragged outfield work only amplified the damage, with the hosts helping themselves to runs that tighter fielding might have denied.

Gill and Buttler Keep GT in the Hunt — Briefly

Chasing 248, GT began brightly with Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill adding 42 runs in the first three overs, before Sudharsan retired hurt after a blow to the elbow. Nishant Sindhu replaced him but fell cheaply to Sunil Narine — caught at long-off in Narine's 200th IPL appearance. Gill pressed on regardless, reaching his fifty off 33 balls and smashing Varun Chakaravarthy for back-to-back sixes. Jos Buttler contributed a fluent 57 off 35 balls, and at 177/1 in 16 overs, GT needed just 71 off the final four overs with wickets in hand.

Narine Delivers the Decisive Blow

The momentum shifted when Narine had Gill caught sweeping to Anukul Roy at the boundary for 85 off 49 balls — an innings laced with five fours and seven sixes. Buttler attempted to keep the chase alive before slicing Saurabh Dubey to long-off. Sudharsan returned from his injury to complete a fighting 53 not out off 28 balls, but the required rate had grown beyond reach. Cameron Green closed the match with a short ball that Rahmanullah Gurbaz — fielding substitute — gloved to Raghuvanshi, ending GT's charge at 218/4. Narine's figures of 2-29 were the pick of the KKR attack.

Standings and What's Next

The result ends GT's five-game winning run and injects fresh uncertainty into the top-four race. KKR's win, combined with the points gap to Punjab Kings narrowing to two, means the final playoff places remain wide open. Matheesha Pathirana left the field during GT's chase with a hamstring strain, adding an injury concern for the Titans heading into their remaining fixtures.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 247/2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out; R Sai Kishore 1-38, Mohammed Siraj 1-50) beat Gujarat Titans 218/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Jos Buttler 57; Sunil Narine 2-29, Saurabh Dubey 1-23) by 29 runs.