IPL 2026: KKR's Late Collapse After Green's 79 Against GT
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad, April 17 (NationPress) A remarkable innings from Cameron Green, who scored 79 runs off 55 balls, was overshadowed by a stunning collapse in the late order as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were dismissed for 180 runs in their 20 overs against Gujarat Titans (GT) during the IPL 2026 match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Despite Green's impressive performance, which included seven fours and four sixes, KKR lost their last six wickets for a mere 33 runs in the closing stages. Kagiso Rabada emerged as the star bowler for GT with figures of 3-33, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna played crucial roles in restricting the KKR batsmen, although Ashok Sharma and Rashid Khan were more expensive.
After KKR chose to bat first, Siraj made an impact immediately by dismissing captain Ajinkya Rahane for a golden duck in the first over. Rabada compounded the early troubles by getting Angkrish Raghuvanshi caught behind in the second over. With Tim Seifert (12) caught at point from a short ball by Siraj, KKR found themselves in a precarious position at 32/3 after just four overs.
The recovery for KKR was spearheaded by Rovman Powell, who contributed a quick 27 off 20 balls, including two towering sixes, thereby relieving some pressure on the GT bowlers. His partnership with Green, which yielded 55 runs, helped stabilize the innings until Ashok Sharma’s slower ball deceived him.
Green, who initially struggled at 27 off 29 balls, found his rhythm in the 12th over, hitting Rashid for a six and a four, eventually scoring 33 runs off just 18 balls against the spinners. His partnership with Anukul Roy added 60 runs in 23 balls, propelling KKR from 87/4 to 139/4 within three overs.
However, the dismissal of Roy (9) by Prasidh Krishna in the 15th over sparked a dramatic collapse. Rinku Singh continued his poor form, falling to Rabada, while Ramandeep Singh (17) was dismissed after a brief display of boundaries.
In a bizarre finish, Green, who reached 75 off 44 balls, became almost a bystander as wickets fell around him, facing only two deliveries during that chaotic period. He could only manage four runs from his final 11 balls before being caught behind off Rashid on the last ball of the innings. From a position where 200 seemed reachable, KKR ended with 180—a total that appears inadequate on a pitch conducive to scoring.
Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 180 in 20 overs (Cameron Green 79, Rovman Powell 27; Kagiso Rabada 3-29, Mohammed Siraj 2-23) against Gujarat Titans.