Raghuvanshi's 59 guides KKR past SRH by 7 wickets in IPL 2026
Synopsis
Raghuvanshi's composed 59 and Varun's three-wicket haul made light work of SRH's modest 165. KKR's chase was textbook — controlled powerplay, anchor-aggressor partnership, and clinical finishing. For SRH, Head's early fireworks could not mask a middle-order implosion that handed KKR an easy seven-wicket victory.
Key Takeaways
Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored 59 off 47 balls with five fours and two sixes to guide KKR's chase.
Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36 to spark SRH's middle-order collapse.
Travis Head struck 61 off 28 balls for SRH but lacked support from the middle order.
Ajinkya Rahane contributed a steady 43 off 36 balls in the chase.
KKR chased down 165 in 18.2 overs , winning by seven wickets with 10 balls to spare.
Sunil Narine reached his 200th IPL wicket during the match.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi struck an assured 59 off 47 balls as Kolkata Knight Riders overpowered Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in an IPL 2026 clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on 3 May. KKR chased down SRH's modest 165 in just 18.2 overs, with Varun Chakaravarthy's 3 for 36 having earlier restricted the opposition.
SRH's batting collapse
Batting first, SRH began aggressively, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma attacking from the opening over. Head dominated early, striking multiple boundaries, and brought up a quick fifty off just 22 balls. However, his aggressive approach was cut short when he was caught in the deep for 61 off 28 balls. Abhishek fell earlier to Kartik Tyagi for 15, and the momentum shifted decisively in KKR's favour after Head's dismissal.
Varun's bowling masterclass
Varun Chakaravarthy was the standout bowler for KKR, claiming 3 for 36 and triggering a middle-order collapse. Varun removed Smaran Ravichandran and Aniket Verma in quick succession, destabilising SRH's innings. Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi added two wickets each, with Narine reaching his 200th IPL wicket during the process by dismissing Ishan Kishan.
Kishan's rearguard effort
Ishan Kishan attempted to stabilise the innings with a composed 42 off 29 balls, but wickets fell at the other end, preventing any substantial recovery. Cameron Green also chipped in by removing Heinrich Klaasen (11) in the deep. SRH's tail caved in, and KKR wrapped up the innings in 19 overs with the opposition restricted to 165.
Raghuvanshi's composed chase
KKR's chase began cautiously, with openers Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen managing just 14 runs in the opening two overs. Allen, who replaced Tim Seifert in the XI, soon counter-attacked with two sixes and two fours off Pat Cummins in a single over, scoring a brisk 29 off 13 balls. However, his aggressive intent was cut short when he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Klaasen.
Rahane then anchored the innings while Raghuvanshi played with freedom and confidence. The youngster struck two sixes off Eshan Malinga in the final powerplay over as KKR reached 71 for 1 after six overs. The pair stitched together a crucial 84-run stand, rotating the strike and picking boundaries without taking unnecessary risks, bringing KKR to 105 for 1 at the halfway mark.
Late breakthroughs and KKR's finish
Raghuvanshi showed maturity throughout his innings, bringing up his half-century off 39 balls and continuing to guide KKR closer to the target. The partnership was broken in the 15th over when Sakib Hussain, used as an impact substitute, dismissed Rahane with a short delivery, caught at square leg by Smaran Ravichandran for a steady 43 off 36 balls. Raghuvanshi fell in the 17th over, attempting a big shot off Shivang Kumar, finishing with 59 adorned with five fours and two sixes.
Despite losing both set batters in the latter stages, KKR remained in complete control. Rinku Singh and Cameron Green applied the finishing touches, guiding the team home with 10 balls to spare and sealing a dominant seven-wicket victory.
Point of View
Anchor, then accelerate. While Head's 61 off 28 promised fireworks for SRH, the absence of a second anchor in the middle order proved costly. KKR's chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with Rahane and Raghuvanshi refusing to panic against a modest total. Varun's spell exposed SRH's vulnerability to quality spin, a structural weakness that will haunt them if they do not address their middle-order composition.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Angkrish Raghuvanshi's score in the KKR vs SRH IPL match?
Raghuvanshi scored 59 off 47 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. His composed innings guided KKR through the chase and earned him player-of-the-match honours for his role in the seven-wicket victory.
How did Varun Chakaravarthy perform in the match?
Varun Chakaravarthy took 3 for 36, triggering SRH's middle-order collapse. He removed Smaran Ravichandran and Aniket Verma in quick succession, proving to be the standout bowler for KKR.
What was SRH's final total and how did KKR chase it?
SRH scored 165 all out in 19 overs. KKR chased it down in 18.2 overs, losing three wickets, with Raghuvanshi and Rahane's 84-run partnership forming the backbone of the successful chase.
Who was the top scorer for SRH in the match?
Travis Head was SRH's top scorer with 61 off 28 balls, including multiple boundaries. However, his early exit triggered a collapse that prevented SRH from posting a competitive total.
How many balls did KKR take to complete the chase?
KKR completed the chase in 18.2 overs, winning by seven wickets with 10 balls remaining, demonstrating their dominance over SRH's bowling attack.
