Kolkata, April 19 (NationPress) After a challenging beginning to their IPL 2026 season, the Kolkata Knight Riders experienced a significant turnaround as Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy showcased remarkable composure in a nail-biting finish, leading the team to their inaugural victory of the season by successfully chasing down a modest target against the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

The chase started off poorly for KKR, who found themselves at a dismal 2/2 within the first two overs. Jofra Archer made an immediate impact by dismissing Tim Seifert on the very first ball, with Nandre Burger quickly following up by removing captain Ajinkya Rahane for a second consecutive duck. As wickets continued to tumble, KKR was left struggling at 84 for 5 by the 13th over.

Cameron Green briefly ignited hopes with a quickfire 27 off 13 balls, and Rovman Powell chipped in with 23. However, the spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja (2/8) and debutant Yash Raj Punja, who claimed his first IPL wicket, effectively stifled their scoring opportunities during the middle overs.

At 97 for 6 in the 15th over, KKR's chances appeared bleak. Nevertheless, Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy formed a pivotal partnership for the seventh wicket, combining caution with calculated aggression.

A critical moment occurred in the 16th over when Anukul targeted Ravi Bishnoi, hitting a six that revitalized KKR's chase. Rinku, who had faced difficulties early on and survived a dropped catch, gradually settled into his stride, effectively rotating the strike and unleashing boundaries at crucial junctures.

With 40 runs required off the last four overs, the duo steadily chipped away at the target. Rinku took the lead against Jofra Archer in the 17th over, finding gaps and keeping the chase within reach. Anukul provided perfect support, including a massive six off Archer in the 18th over, shifting the pressure back onto the Royals.

Entering the final two overs needing 21, the pair maintained their composure. Anukul’s strategic running and timely hits, paired with Rinku’s astute strokeplay, reduced the equation to nine runs off the last over.

In the 20th over, facing Brijesh Sharma, Rinku clinched the victory in thrilling fashion. After hitting two early boundaries, he completed his half-century with a top-edged six, igniting wild celebrations at Eden Gardens as KKR secured a memorable win with two balls remaining.

Rinku finished unbeaten with a composed half-century of 53*, while Anukul contributed significantly with 29 not out in the crucial closing overs.

Earlier, the Rajasthan Royals had set a competitive total through disciplined batting; however, KKR's bowlers, particularly Varun Chakaravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, and Sunil Narine, effectively limited them from achieving a more formidable score. While KKR’s batting issues nearly derailed them again, Rinku and Anukul ultimately turned the game around.

This victory is a crucial breakthrough for KKR, who had suffered six straight defeats at the start of their campaign. Although not the most polished performance, this win serves as a significant morale booster as they aim to revive their season.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 155/9 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 46, Yashasvi Jaiswal 39; Varun Chakaravarthy 3-14, Kartik Tyagi 3-22) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (Rinku Singh 53*, Anukul Roy 29*; Ravindra Jadeja 2-8, Yash Punja 1-25) by four wickets.